The Beast Within (Shinkai/Kaishin)

Barely Escaped Death

Shinichi woke up to blinding sunlight and a pounding headache. The surface was comfortable and the soft pillow soothed a little bit his head. Sapphire eyes pried themselves open and Shinichi was able to confirm his suspicions. A hospital bed.

"Ah... what happened..."

Shinichi smiled as he saw Agasa-hakase deep asleep on a chair inside the room, leaned on his hand. The last thing he remembered was... KID.
Swallowing dry, the detective sat slowly up and massaged his temples. He had barely escaped with his life and dear god, his bones ached.
"Hakase!" he called out and the old man jolted awake, confused expression relaxing as he saw his favorite neighbor awake.
"Shinichi! Oh god I'm so glad you woke up. Take it easy, two ribs of yours are broken and you have a few burns... Just what on earth happened there?"
His eyes became sorrowful.
"Don't tell me KID really bombed up a building."
Shinichi's shoulders slumped down and he sighed, slowly lowering himself back into the cushioned mattress.
"I'm afraid that's what happened." His voice was just as low. "He wanted my death and I don't understand why."

Agasa-hakase eyed the detective with something like a mix of fondness and concern visible in his eyes.
"...you will investigate this, right?"
"Of course!" Shinichi looked up, face full of determination, "That was attempted murder and I have to figure out why KID did that, changed like this, became so... so... cold."
Agasa shook his head with a gentle sigh before picking up the eye contact again. He knew he couldn't prevent Shinichi to stick his nose into dangerous business, especially after the entire episode of the Black Organization and the fiasco of a becoming a child again.
"Where do you want to start with? Kaitou KID is Japan's mystery number one, even you never managed to catch him. What if he isn't satisfied with his work? What if he kills you for real?"
Shinichi kept to himself for a moment, then turned to look out of the window into the blinding morning light instead.
"I will take a look at the demolished museum. I know KID is good... but so am I."
Turning back to Agasa, the boy set up a smirk which sent shivers down the old man's back.
"Do you know the truth behind detectives? We are the ones who can perform a perfect crime. KID is another league than the Black Organization, that goes without saying. However... behind all his masks, he is still a human."
His voice dropped into a calm whisper.
"And every human makes mistakes."

Agasa didn't quite know what to answer and as Shinichi realized that, he snorted and his expression softened up again.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Can you give me a lift to the ruins?"
The old man opened his mouth to protest but silenced as Shinichi raised his hand, cutting him off.
"I know I know, my ribs need rest and I'm putting myself at risk if I show myself in public to KID. But I'm sure of this."
"Shinichi-"
"We both know I will squish myself into a train if you don't drive me."
Agasa protested profusely while the stubborn detective dressed himself but knew he had no chance against him. A stubborn Shinichi was a force of nature to behold.

At the remains of the former museum, Shinichi received without any problems the permission to inspect the area. KID had done one hell of work. Absentmindly touching his chin, Shinichi fell into deep thoughts while his eyes darted back and forth between the scattered evidence of KID's last performance.
The detective just couldn't understand why. KID was a man of honor, he never promised what he couldn't hold and devoted himself to his work like nobody else had ever done. Sure, Shinichi didn't quite approve of his night life but in KID he had found both a worthy rival and ally in times of emergency. The Black Organization was gone and without KID's help at times, like his dressup as Miyano Shiho to fool Bourbon, things wouldn't have turned out the way they did. KID had become his secret helper so often Shinichi couldn't even count it, mostly even allowing himself to be framed as the culprit while trying to lay a trail of evidence which would lead his Meitantei to the one truth.
KID always chose his words as careful as possible and spoke in riddles every single time they met but that was exactly what Shinichi admired about the thief. KID was a complex character and able to challenge Shinichi like nobody else could.
So why?
Why did he try to kill him?

Shinichi had to admit his defeat and retreat from the crime scene without being a step further.
He couldn't get the image out of his head, how KID stood before him juggling grenades, calm and collected like a true serial killer. Like Gin, Korn, he could take any of the Black Organization and the KID from last night would match perfectly with their own appearance. Shinichi shivered and grimaced, the painkillers started to wear off and his ribs hurted hell. He was used to pain as a detective, Shinichi forgot how often he was shot in his time as Conan and Shinichi but he had his own limits.
For now, he had to retreat.

Fast forward to the next KID heist and Agasa-hakase's senseless attempts to keep Shinichi out of the entire affair. Much to Shinichi's distaste, the crime was supposed to happen inside a museum surrounded with thick and eery forest. He had no choice, had he? Shinichi had to attend and try to coax KID into a small talk to find out anything about his current condition. Because the way his icy smile pierced through his body couldn't leave his head anymore.
Shinichi wasn't on best terms with the Task Force and especially Nakamori-keibu didn't know he was Conan and everyone shared the opinion that Shinichi tried to replace the witty seven year old boy. Nonetheless, Shinichi had done a great job so far and after the last catastrophe, some of the officers became just the slightest bit protective over their last hope against the moonlight magician.

With every second Shinichi became more nervous. His ticking watch was unbearable loud within the silent shuffling crowd of Task Force members and even Nakamori-keibu sweatdropped. Shinichi let out a breath he didn't remember holding in and observed his close surroundings a last time, then flashed another glance towards the statue he was going to protect.

Three.

Two.

One.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"