More Than A Gemstone (Kaishin)

Incapacitated Magician

"...hold still Bakaito!"

"But it hurts!"

"Don't be such a baby! I said hold still!"
A snatch forward and the wail of an annoyed magician took all for Aoko to finish her work. She sat back, grinning to herself, watching the craft she had made with a scarf of hers and an ice pack Kaito had had inside his fridge.
"The doc said you need to rest, so take it easy. Use the cane Tou-san gave you! And come over later, I'm making dinner today."

The magician pushed up his lip in a soft pout, not happy about that. For now he was stuck on the couch with an ice pack neatly resting on his knee, fixated by Aoko's scarf.
"Remember to take your pills."
"Are you my mother, Ahoko~?"
The teenage girl smacked him with a laugh, causing another soft whine of his.
"Shut up idiot. Don't do anything stupid!"
"What, you're just gonna leave me now?"
"Exactly. I have some housework left to do and you'd be just in the way if I'd let you come along."
Kaito made a noise of disagreement but Aoko was already on her way towards the living room doors. She turned back with a sweet smile.
"I'll help you take care of your doves tomorrow before school, yea? Take it easy."

And she was gone.

Kaito's smile fell as he looked down on his swollen knee, then to the brand new package of pills right next to him.
Infectious Arthritis, the doctor had said.
Take this antibiotic three times a day, he had said.
"You're funny..." Kaito muttered to himself, switching on the television. At least he had also been given a few painkillers... That should numb down the pain just fine. The healing process, however, was an entirely different topic.
Guilt had been gnawing on him for the past couple of hours and Kaito didn't even have a chance to go out and find Pandora now... who had up and left him after being screamed at by him.

In all honesty, Kaito did feel like he deserved this. It wasn't that kid's fault he couldn't talk without putting a curse on someone. And it wasn't his fault he had no father any longer, or was hunting down a criminal syndicate for revenge, or was stealing jewelry as a white shoot-me target.
"I'm going to get some therapy once this is over... if this is ever going to be over..."
Kaito was content with the knowledge that he wasn't going to make it, most likely. What was he, a teen, against the most dangerous criminals the world had ever seen?

Shinichi Kudo came to his mind, and Kaito found himself smiling just the tiniest bit. That guy had brought so many criminals to justice, all by himself, while he hadn't been a single step further in his own matters. Shinichi was truly someone to admire, and Kaito wholeheartedly admitted to that. There was no other way.
And he was good looking, too.

Kaito snorted. They had literally the same face and yet he called Shinichi handsome. He was actually surprised that lad wasn't taken, and as far as he knew he didn't get with that karate girl Mouri either.
Another chuckle. At least that distracted him for a bit, yet now he was alone again with his thoughts.

What a bore...

***

"Kudo-kun, I know you're on sick leave, but we really need you for this-"
Shinichi sighed and yet, he felt something akin to happiness bubbling up inside his stomach. Finally something to do again. And while he still couldn't see and nothing in his condition had changed, there was a way he could help.

Somehow.

"Megure-keibu, what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Look-" a hand fell onto his shoulder, guiding him further, and Shinichi willingly followed it along, "We don't exactly know what's going on, in all honesty. According to witness statements, the murderer went from drinking coffee and chatting with his colleague in the next cubicle to running across the room and stabbing the executive director directly into his chest."
Shinichi perked up, head raising just a little.
"So there had been enough witnesses, the killer was arrested and yet you believe there is more to it."
"Bingo."

The sleuth paused, taking in the facts.
"...please describe the crime scene."
Megure nodded and flashed a glance around, past the Division One agents and over the outlet of the room.
"Office building, third level. About ten cubicles, reasonably big space to work with. Parted by walls. A space to print is on your left side, together with a table to rest documents on... a few plants are here as well, about five."
Shinichi nodded, feeling along the wall towards the place where the executive had been stabbed.
"The executive's office?"
"East side, glass windows, accessible through a glass sliding door."

That made him pause.

"Was the culprit able to see him from his cubicle?"
"Yes."
Shinichi frowned to himself. There was no way this was an aggression formed in this very moment and yet the report he had been read to a few minutes prior suggested the entire opposite... an unplanned act.
"Did you interview the witnesses?"
"Precisely. Especially the woman he had been talking to prior to charging at the victim. She claimed he hadn't seemed off at all, and he used to be good friends with the executive."

Shinichi breathed out a deep sigh and sat down on a chair nearby, falling into deep thought. No wonder Megure-keibu had thought something was off about this.
"Jealousy, perhaps?"
"Not really. Culprit has wife and kids, and had handed in his two weeks notice just recently ago for a better paid position at another company. He was described as friendly, calm, helpful and an overall gentle person."
The sleuth couldn't make a sense out of that. If the executive and he used to be friends before this attack, if there was no grounds for jealousy, and if there was no evidence for a planned crime...

How come he just suddenly snapped?