More Than A Gemstone (Kaishin)

Enough Felonies for Today

Hey everyone! Thank you all do much for your patience with my updates! I just wanted to say again how much I appreciate all of you!

Hours had passed. Shinichi was sure at this point, it had already passed dusk at this point. He shifted a little inside the closet to make himself a bit more comfortable. His sore muscles were aching- poor detective had remained rooted to the same spot, the same position, for quite the while.

And finally, it happened. Shinichi heard steps coming closer.

Pausing at the door to the master bedroom.

And then they approached. Closer.

Looking under the bed.

Behind the large armchair.

The doors began to move; Shinichi held his breath. Unfocused eyes stared into the blinding light of the room, and much to his relief it was Pandora who had found him. Said one stared at him, worried and confused. What was he doing in the closet?
He gently moved Shinichi out of the wardrobe, then pulled him into the kitchen. He must be hungry, right?

The sleuth felt awkward, being sat down at the kitchen table with a plate of warm food in front of his nose. Kaito must have moved up the stairs a while ago... it was late. Shinichi inwardly groaned, the one who had been shuffling around the entire time at the bottom floor was Pandora.

And by god, the sleuth wanted to leave. But the smell of the food in front of him and his growling stomach got the better of him- with an incredible appetite, Shinichi began to wolf down what was on his plate. It was good, so good, and he hadn't eaten since hours!

Pandora sat down across of him, staring him down. Probably figuring out what exactly he was still doing here, or what his intentions were. But Pandora had given him food, didn't rat him out to KID and the best thing of all, he was finally able to leave.

Kaito was asleep.

There was no way he'd find out about Shinichi.

The sleuth smiled as he finished up and pushed the plate away from himself. Should he wash it? It was common curtesy, and he did not want Kaito to know he had been here at all.
It would be suspicious, having a third dirty plate around, and yet, he feared making too much noise.

"Are you done?"

Shinichi froze, tiny hair on his nape rising in pure horror. That voice was... familiar. Too familiar.
"Thief got your tongue, Kudo? I'm disappointed. Breaking into people's houses isn't exactly what I expected of you."
Shinichi slowly, almost comically, turned around to face the young adult standing in the doorframe, indigos cold and analyzing. That... hadn't gone exactly planned.

"...KID, I-"
"Spare your breath. KID retired. You know this as well as I do. Why are you here?"
Shinichi swallowed the lump forming inside his throat, talking felt so hard to do at this point. To come up with something, anything.
A reason.
An apology.
Because the KID was right.

He did just break into his private house, didn't he?

"Kudo, why are you here. Is it Pandora?"
Pandora perked up at his name but didn't intervene any further. Shinichi opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, the mere seconds he sat there frozen turned into minutes. Time was frozen, in this very moment.

Finally, Shinichi lowered his head, ashamed.
"...I'm sorry."
"You don't look like you are."
"I am. I... saw Pandora in the streets, all by himself. I was a bit concerned so I asked him if he knows his way home. He just grabbed me, and, well, dragged me here."
Shinichi breathed out a soft sigh. He was being honest, after all. At least that KID couldn't scold him for.
"And let me guess, curiosity got the better of you? And then I came home. No way to escape, so you hid for... what, 4 hours?"
"Kinda, yes."

Kaito pushed himself off of the doorframe he was leaning on and approached the sleuth, lifting his chin to stare deep into those sapphire eyes. Shinichi was surprised, for sure- he didn't fight it but his heart was about to jump out of his chest at that point.
"Don't stare like that, I'm getting embarrassed."
"What, getting shy under my gaze? You're cute."
Shinichi rolled his eyes at the obvious mockery and finally pushed his hand away.
"What was that about anyway."
"Trying to see if you're lying. Checking for your intentions. Look."
Kaito paused, plopping down into the seat next to Shinichi. His eyes flew towards the clock above the stove, then back to his guest.
"...it's late. Stay over."
"What, have you lost your mind?!"

Kaito snickered; finally a change in his expression. His hand rested on Shinichi's shoulder.
"Actually, I made up my mind instead. I'm not KID any longer... and despite Pandora, there is no proof that I ever was. I'm saying... we can be friends, Kudo."
The sleuth paused. Friends with KID? He didn't even think about that. But as he imagined it, feeling himself become more familiar with the situation, Shinichi found that he did enjoy the idea of being with someone that could share his way of thinking.
"Friends, huh..."
"Yep. C'mon. You already broke into my house, that's the least you can do. I need someone to save me from Hakubastard."

Shinichi bursted into a chuckle, only to cover it up with a cough. Hakuba, huh?
"...sure. But no more felonies!"
"Only on Sundays."
"KID!"
Kaito laughed and shook his head, nudging Shinichi's shoulder.
"Stop that. Call me Kaito."
"Already? I-"
"I am sure. We've known each other since years by now. I'd be more than happy to hear you say my name. And I'll call you Shinichi!"

Shinichi opened his mouth to argue back but found himself frowning. Slowly, the name rolled off his tongue.

"Kaito."

The man next to him averted his face, cheeks just the tiniest bit of red. If anybody thought his heart was giving him a hard time with the way Shinichi said his real name, it was definitely a lie.
"Yeah... I can... get used to that. Kaito."