More Than A Gemstone (Kaishin)

A Second Opinion

Kaito felt unsettled by the latest events. After having his information being taken in by the police for their report on this case, he was on his way home once again... Pandora in tow. This time, he chose to walk him.

God beware the boy gets startled and makes another noise.

Said one seemed oddly silent next to him... Not that his absence of voice was anything new, yet Kaito noticed the subtle difference in his body language. Hanging shoulders and arms, head low instead of taking in all those fascinating spots all around them, cheeks still puffy from crying... Pandora was in a bad mood, Kaito could tell. And yet, he was so, so confused. Why didn't Pandora just undo his work? As far as he knew, witches like Akako were able to reverse their spells at any time, any day.

You're quite the riddle, Pandora...

"Mah," Kaito sighed, bored with himself, "I wonder what you'd like to eat today. Not that I could ask you... We can barely understand each other anyway."
Yet watching his company relax almost visibly at Kaito's calm voice filled his body with something akin to relief. Kaito had noticed he had become quite protective of the boy, not only because he was probably what he had been searching for since taking up the mantle of KID, but also because he emitted an aura of someone that HAD to be protected. Kaito smiled to himself, shooting a wink at the now surprised Pandora who smiled halfheartedly back.

Good to see that kid a bit cheered up.

"I think I'll experiment with something mundane today... Doesn't all have to be fancy, right?"
Pandora didn't answer, just watched him with an attentive expression. Of course, why should he even. Kaito chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"Let's just get home."

***

Kaito sat down in front of his desk, deep in his thoughts. Nevermind Aoko's rambling about the latest crash in the city (god forbid he had told her about it, he wouldn't have been able to get out of this without her visiting him spontanously), Kaito felt obliged to finally ask Akako for advice. He hated it, he wasn't going to deny that. But Pandora was a riddle he couldn't solve on his own, and the more Pandora's voice slipped out of him the more victims he had to look out for.

After all, so far there was no cure in sight.

And if Akako had been right about it not going away by itself... Kaito didn't want to know how fast Pandora could collapse entire Tokyo. He shuddered, the news headline already in front of his inner eye.

Tokyo swallowed by baterial disease

"Kuroba?"
Kaito looked up, facing the oh so familiar redheaded witch.
"What are you spacing out for, the lesson is over. We're on break and you sit here all by yourself?"
And she was right; as Kaito looked around he was the only one inside an empty classroom while students were cramped outside into the sunny space that promised freedom.

And after a suggestive glare of Kaito's, Akako understood. She sat down on Aoko's chair which was usually right next to Kaito's, and smiled a little.
"...I see. You've made your decision."
She paused, before continuing.
"You see... Without telling me you're KID... hypothetical, IF you would have been at this specific heist... only hypothetical of course, we both know you're not KID, right?"
She winked, and Kaito raised an eyebrow. So that was how she wanted to go about this.
"What would you have possibly discovered?"

Kaito flashed a glance around. Yes, they were alone. And he had to decide on what information to reveal.
"...only hypothetical of course... KID might have found immortality. Encased in a statue, broken free by a misguided missile of a certain detective."
Now it was Akako's turn to raise her eyebrows... she was interested, Kaito saw this just well. The witch's lips parted, she continuined on for the magician.
"And KID... not wanting to share this immortality... took it home, to his nest, to keep it in check. Isn't that right?"
"Bingo."

Akako eyed Kaito from head to toe, critical as ever.
"...there is no sign of immortality on you."
"Not on me, no... Neither on KID, as far as my deductions would go. But on something else..."
Kaito's voice lowered to a mere whisper, indigos were fixating Akako's eyes. She had to listen to this, she had to help him.
"On a boy... Looks young, younger than us... 16 would be my guess."

It took a second before Akako's eyes grew wide in shock and she covered her mouth for a second, staring at her counterpart. Silence fell like a thick curtain over those two; just before Kaito took it into his hands to continue.
"And this immortality... also carries a curse... the moment he speaks... I believe you saw what happened on the news."
"That was him...?" Akako mouthed, shocked. For a split second, she could recognize guilt within Kaito's eyes.
"Misunderstanding. Tried to protect KID, I guess. Saw 'em coming... and let it loose. They aren't the only ones... the bus crash? I was on it, with him, and he fell from his seat during it. That squeak he let out cursed a woman at the back... her entire arm, infected by bacteria."

Akako waved her hand to dismiss him, before speaking up herself. Her voice was shaking, she seemed genuinely unsettled.
"Do I get that right? A living boy broken out of a statue thousands of years old, cursing folk with the tone of his voice, living with KID?!"
"Precisely... and with a shining, pretty gem as his heart. His flesh grew around it, it's part of him it seems..."
The witch fell silent. That was something to digest. Finally, she shook her head, composing herself by setting up one of her usually sickly sweet smiles.

"Kuroba-kun, I have no words. Do you even understand what is in your possession? Kuroba-kun, this boy could wipe out entire nations. I-"
She cut herself off, raking a hand through her silky hair, trying to fix something but nothing was amiss. Nervousity, probably.
"N-no. He seems friendly, at least. Protective of you, but friendly. I... oh dear. Kuroba-kun, I will have to research on that. No wonder I felt such a powerful disturbance in the magical energy around us..."
She shook her head, already planning her next move.
"I'll have to look closer into this, I will get back to you, Kuroba-kun. For now... please pay attention to him. ...does he have a name?"
Kaito nodded.

"His name is Pandora."

The witch paled even further. A shaky hand clenched the table she leaned on, her voice a mere whisper.

"...t-this is even worse than I thought...