The Beast Within (Shinkai/Kaishin)

Partners in Crime

Baaya led them through the large doors and a hallway into a study... certainly not Hakuba's but his father's. The study was filled with books and a few wardrobes which looked pretty much bomb safe, however, Haibara honestly doubted they would be able to stop KID if he wanted any of their contents. The blond male inside a large chair looked tired, like he didn't get proper sleep for months. The girl immediately noticed the dark rings below his eyes, the barely trembling fingers and the cup of black tea next to him. Haibara swallowed down her nervousity and bowed, Shinichi doing the same.
"My name is Haibara Ai, and this is Kudo Shinichi. We came to discuss something important."
Hakuba looked up from his paperwork, frowing at the name Kudo. With a tired smile he beckoned them to sit down, then threw first a gauging glance at Haibara before examining Shinichi from head to toe. The latter stiffened at this and glared back, a silent conversation was initiated and Haibara could almost smell what was going on in both their minds.

Where is he?
Where is who?
Don't play dumb.
I won't hand him over.

"Hakuba-kun, we came because you might have valid information we need," Haibara decided to chime in and the blond broke the intense staring contest, his eyes wandered instead back to the girl. Shinichi untensed and almost exhaled loud in relief.
"Is that so? Enlighten me," Hakuba replied and folded his hands. Baaya entered the room and gave each of their guests a damping cup of green tea, then vanished again with a last worried look towards both Kudo and Hakuba. A sweet woman, Haibara had to admit that.
"What do you know about Spider?"
Hakuba tensed, barely visible and yet so obvious to the redhead. Haibara was almost relieved this trail wasn't leading them into a deadend.
"Why are you asking me about him? Did anything occur?"
"No," Shinichi said flatly, "I am just in my own investigation about other criminal syndicates and collect as much data as I can gather."
Haibara smiled. Good work, Shinichi.
Hakuba kept quiet but stood up and walked past them to a save. He opened it and his fingers searched over a few files before he finally pulled out the right one and locked everything else back inside. Not very pleased his clients were playing with him, he decided for a different strategy.
"Where is he?" Hakuba asked quietly over the table and Haibara swallowed. Shit, he wasn't going to let it go. Shinichi narrowed his eyebrows and kept the eyecontact.
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"I'm not that much of a moron to believe you that, remember, I am as much detective as you are."

Hakuba sighed and his fingers around the file tightened their grip a little bit. That was... interesting. Was Hakuba actually worried or was he just fed up with KID's bullshit? Either way, Shinichi wasn't going to allow Hakuba to see his old classmate like this.
"Kudo-kun, some of your wounds are fresh. I see fresh scars all over you, some have been made today but also last week and the week before that. You never became this injured during your cases. Kaitou KID hunted you the last heists and wanted your death. Don't you think I can count one and one together?"
Haibara swallowed and lowered guiltily her head as Shinichi shot a deathglare into her direction. Well, she kind of was at fault.
"I have no intention to cooperate if you don't tell me where he is."
Shinichi glared at the halfbritish male who replied with the same look. Back at the staring contest, Haibara interally sighed. Childish.
"Why do you want to know?"
Hakuba froze and blinked twice, certainly surprised about this question. He had spent day and night investigating Kuroba Kaito's sudden disappearance, then the case of the murderous KID and now that was going to slip through his fingers? KID hadn't come back to public since an entire month and Hakuba was finished with his nerves.
"Because he lost his mind. I need to know what happened to him. I want to see that with my own eyes."
Shinichi shook determined his head but Haibara hesitated. Perhaps she could work with that.
"If we allow you to see him once... personal... will you cooperate? KID isn't bound by anything, he can disappear whenever he pleases and flooding his hiding spot with police won't do the trick."
Both men perked up at this but while Shinichi looked like about to choke Haibara the blond was certainly pleased.
"One visit. And I want to talk to him. Then you can have my information."
"Haibara!!" Shinichi barked both fearful and angry. How could she sell KID out like this to a detective?! The redhead ignored him and stuck out her hand towards Hakube who shook it.
"Deal."

Haibara knew Shinichi wasn't going to forgive her that so soon. But as Hakuba's housekeeper gave all three of them a lift towards the Kudo manor, she had different things to think about. Shinichi stared out of the window, a little worried at the darkening sky. Not much longer until dusk and KID was awaiting him. Him, not Hakuba and not Haibara. Just him. Would KID forgive him this? But it wasn't his fault! Right?
As the door opened and Shinichi stepped out, he was shaking much more than usual but thankful none of the two addressed it. Shrinking further and further with all the attention lasting on him, he slowly walked up towards the house door and fumbled a little with his keys. Haibara watched him, pity in her expression. Shinichi was a wreck by now, so unlike the boy she met as Conan.
Once the door was open, Shinichi blocked the entrance at first with a stern face.
"I-I will go first and tell him you're here. He... he doesn't know you."
"But he does," Hakuba stated confused, Haibara shook her head and gripped Hakuba at his duffelcoat to prevent him from marching past Shinichi.
"He does not. He has amnesia. Worse, he is a victim of hypnotism."
Hakuba lost all colour inside his face within a few seconds. Unable to respond, he stared at Shinichi in attempt to discover any hint that this was a bluff, a joke. Nothing. Kudo and Haibara were dead serious.
Hakuba backed off with a look of utter defeat and nodded quietly, accepting the conditions. Shinichi exhaled relieved and disappeared into the depths of his house.

"KID?" he asked, entering his own room but finding it empty. Just where...?
"KID I'M BACK!" he yelled now, anxious feelings bubbling up inside his stomach. Silence was all the house answered him. Perhaps the room KID used to sleep in?
Shinichi knocked at the door, then opened it quietly to see wether he was sleeping. But the first thing he saw were the remains of bullets inside the wall above the bed. Eyes wide open, Shinichi stared at the obvious evidence without any idea what to do. KID was gone. Suddenly, Hakuba pushed past him into the room with Haibara trying to stop him but Shinichi couldn't bring himself to care.
"Kuroba?!"
Hakuba paused as he saw the empty bullets and whirled around to Shinichi.
"Where is he?!"
"He... h-he was supposed to be here... H-he said I should be back before dusk... so why... w-why isn't he here..."