More Than A Gemstone (Kaishin)

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Shinichi had to admit, he felt a little awkward holding onto the thief like this, who was oddly silent during their entire walk back to Shinichi's place. Tensing just the slightest bit, the sleuth favored to listen to his surroundings and ignore the fact he was touching KID.

"Why are you out here, KID?" he finally asked rather quiet and promptly felt the thief tense under his hand. What, a nerve?
"I am looking for an acquaintance."
The sleuth raised an eyebrow before realization overcame him. Of course, how could he have been so stupid? Of course that magician wasn't running around as one of Shinichi's friends again, he had stumbled over him in his civilian persona! Almost immediately, Shinichi felt the excitement overcome him.

Right now, he was walking with KID's civilian identity, without knowing what it was.

Shinichi cursed his blindness at this moment, he could have arrested the thief then and there. Gotten a peek of his persona. The real KID.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything?" the sleuth questioned him, only to have KID shake his head instantly.
"I wasn't meeting up with anybody, if that's your concern."
The sleuth paused, drinking in this admittedly short conversation.
"...you're looking for your little friend, aren't you? That guy who seemingly put a curse on me."
"Bullseye, Meitantei."

KID almost sounded annoyed when he said that and Shinichi found himself understanding why. It was a bit rude to pry while receiving assistance of said person.
"...Sorry," he finally muttered, and KID nodded satisfied, "Don't apologize, it's alright. I don't suppose you have seen him anywhere?"
"Very funny." The sleuth rolled his eyes, unamused by the thief's snicker in return. A well deserved taunt.

Shinichi drifted off into deep thoughts while sharpening his senses. It wasn't long until he noticed something.
Something odd.
He adjusted his hand on KID's shoulder, trying to make sure what it was, only to be confirmed in his suspicions.

KID was limping.

"Say... Did your acquaintace leave without notice?"
"You could say so," Kaito answered dryly, not looking back. That only confirmed Shinichi's suspicions, and a frown made its way onto his lips. It was so obvious and so awful at the same time. He knew what had happened.
That boy who cursed him and his colleagues... he had finally cursed KID as well. Good for him... he had still his eyes, after all. And yet, Shinichi felt almost a little sick as he realized that KID was most likely not quite able to run from anyone like this, if walking already caused a limp. He couldn't quite feel satisfaction upon this knowledge.
It actually made him feel nauseous, in all honesty.

The leftover silence lasted the entire way back to his place, and the moment KID stopped, so did Shinichi.
"Here we are, Kudo manor. How come you didn't call one of your friends?"
"I've lost my phone while I was running to god knows where. Pity, I liked that one."

Shinichi stepped past KID, feeling along the walls to find his way through the front door. He found it hard to speak out and yet, he turned around with a soft smile on his lips.
"Thank you for your help."
"Anytime, Meitantei. Although I must say, I am surprised. Not even closing your own front door does not sound like you at all."
Shinichi's smile fell, much to Kaito's distaste.
"I don't know what came over me. I barely slept during the night, got woken up thrice, and suddenly had the incredible urge to chase you down. It was... weird."

Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"...the new's article reported marks on your door. Forced entry. What about that?"
Shinichi frowned, a cold shudder running through his body. What? Someone had entered his house before he had run away? God knew how long the intruder had stayed at his house under Shinichi's nose. Shinichi's silence said it all, and Kaito flashed a glance past him into the hallway.
"...I can check the house, if that would be acceptable for you."
"No... no. Not necessary. I'll... be fine. Just go home before someone sees you."
Shinichi's lips curled up into an amused smile as he mimicked looking KID up and down.
"Your civilian persona shouldn't be seen around my house."
"If that is your wish, Meitantei. Farewell, and enjoy your day."
Kaito bowed, and turned on his heel to walk off. The sleuth listened quietly to his disappearing footsteps and was quite impressed.

The sound of his steps did not indicate a limp at all but Shinichi knew better, he had felt it in the way his muscles moved when he walked side by side with him.
"...I hope you'll find a cure for yourself, KID," he muttered into nowhere before disappearing into his house. Time to call the police station and clear up his disappearance.

Kaito was deep in thought on his way back. That didn't suit Shinichi at all, that much he knew. Did the bacteria get to his brain? He honestly doubted that, Pandora's curse was neither getting worse nor better, it always stayed the same.
He had to know, after all. And while the painkillers did help, he knew himself he had to stop taking them soon to prevent an addiction. He wasn't looking forward to this, at all.

***

Shinichi felt unease the moment he was making himself ready for bed. While he had spent his day at the police station, clearing up his circumstances, he felt so restless once he had come home. Something was off, and he knew it just well.
Silently, the detective dialed the emergency number of the police, keeping it until the last digit set to call in a moment's notice.

"You're interesting, I have to admit that," a sweet yet cocky voice called out to him, gentle as a bell. Shinichi jerked around, phone in hand, startled to the very core. Where did this voice come from?!
"Going after a thief instead of committing felonies. Very interesting. Not what I've seen so far... I have to admit that."
Shinichi frowned, locating the noise just in the direction of the door in his bathroom.
"Who are you, why are you here, and what are you doing in my house?!"
"So many questions," the voice chuckled, and shuffling indicated they moved closer to Shinichi. The sleuth didn't hesitate, he typed in the last number and opened up his call to the police, showing his screen towards the intruder.
"Don't you come closer to me, I have the police called!"

"Oh Kudo-kun, you're a silly one."
The stranger's voice was now right in front of him, and the sleuth shuddered. Shinichi felt his bandage around his eyes being tugged up, off of his eyes, and he tried to back off but the wall behind his back stopped him from doing so.
"Don't touch me! S-stop it, hands off my bandage!"
"Beikan police department, what's your emergency?" came out of the phone in the same moment the stranger's sweet whisper reached Shinichi's ears.
"Trust me, Kudo-kun... open your eyes."

And the moment Shinichi opened his eyes, he could view the clear appearance of his bathroom, with the stranger right in front of him holding his greasy bandage. The man at the emergency hotline repeated himself, sounding nervous now.
"What is your emergency...! Hello?"

Shinichi stared at the stranger who stared back. Slowly, the phone slipped from his grasp onto the ground, hanging up the call.
"I... M-my eyes... I..."
The stranger arrogantly smirked at him, "You've been cured, Kudo-kun. Welcome back."