When Pandora bleeds... (Shinkai)

Why not stay a bit longer?

Kaito sighed to himself, inches before a curtain seperating him from an audience full of journalists. Kuroba Kaito was back inbetween the living... lately he did wonder if he was actually alive or undead.
The detective behind him acted like he was reading a book while sapphire eyes obviously drilled into his body, trying to analyze him. Kaito could almost imagine the questions running through his mind.

What is he feeling? Is he nervous? How is he handling the crowd?

A part of Shinichi hoped to recognize a faint slither of the former phantom inside his companion. Long gone was his concentration about the book he had been reading, Shinichi had been almost sure he couldn't even pin the main topic of his lecture down. His focus was the one and only Kuroba Kaito who had to appear in front of the media to announce that yes, he was fine, and yes, he would be picking up the tour again. Shinichi genuinely wondered how Kaito's pokerface was going to change accordingly to the one society wanted him to have. A soft and gentle smile? A frown? Narrowed eyebrows? Sheepish?
"Relax, detective," Kaito uttered quietly into his direction and Shinichi flinched in return, he didn't know he had been caught staring so fast.

Kaito took a deep breath, then stepped past the curtain and onto the stage, his infamous "Ladies and Gentlemen!" booming over the crowd. Shinichi listened in on the muffled voice behind the curtain, closing his eyes to concentrate a bit. Kuroba Kaito's tour had become an utter mess; events that had been sold to fans had had to be cancelled, shows had been taken off and all in all, the fanbase was not pleased.
Shinichi smiled as he heard Kuroba announcing that he was going to refund every single ticket he had been unable to perform for; it certainly was a loss of thousands including the venues and stadions he had booked to perform in, yet Shinichi knew his magician had racked up a whole lot of capital and could afford it. And after all, Shinichi had confidence Kaito would win the favor of his fans in no time again.

"-and due to personal and medical issues, I will need to cancel my tour and focus onto my own rehabilitation. But of course, this will not be the end of my shows, as I will return even greater than before."
Applause was audible and a few minutes later, Kaito slipped past the curtain into the backstage area, only to be greeted by Shinichi with raised eyebrows. Both stared awkwardly at each other for a moment before the sleuth broke the eye contact and cleared his throat.
"Well, that's that I suppose. What will you do now?"
Kaito paused for a second, hand gripping his own half of Pandora who was happily pulsing inside his pocket. It was only a question of time before Pandora was going to bleed again.
"I was planning on visiting an expert for caskets... and gather their opinion on a small and sealed pocket sized box to store Pandora in. Maybe I am even able to craft jewelry out of our halves... It would certainly make the entire process of passing security far easier for both of us."
Shinichi nodded, silent, a shiver of horror running down his back as he remembered the hollow and haunting dread that had crept into his soul the moment he had been forced to part from his gem.

"I'd say we go back to Haibara and call it a day."
Kaito nodded.
"...- and on the way you can tell me who this Akako-san is you know."
Stiffening, Kaito stared for a moment before a low chuckle passed his lips and he rolled his eyes, amused.
"You're a detective. Find out yourself."
Shinichi grumbled but shot an equal smirk back at him.
"I will."
His phone ringing snapped Shinichi out of the second staring contest within very few minutes; surprised he fumbled for his phone and picked up the call.
"Speak of the devil... Haibara?"

Shinichi frowned for a second, then sighed and nodded, "Fine I will," before hanging up, looking back at the curious magician who was awaiting explanations.
"Haibara asked us to pick up some things on our way back. Especially something to catch all the blood that's gonna come out of Pandora as soon as the bleeding increases again."
Humming in response, Kaito turned on his heel and marched through a side entrance out of the building and towards a rented cab, Shinichi following behind. He wasn't quite fond of being in public since people had been constantly coming up to him for autographs; Kaito knew himself he wasn't quite the social butterfly he used to be.
"Will you go in by yourself?"
"You're not going to join?"
A shake of his head was the answer and Shinichi couldn't say he was surprised. Kaito wanted a break from media and the troubles it brought with it, especially now that he was once again immortal and, due to being in possession of Pandora, likely to be discovered by an agent of the Black Organization.

At the nearest grocery store Shinichi stepped out of the car and flashed a last glance inside; his companion had been shuffling cards the past minutes to keep himself busy.
"It'll only take a few minutes, I'll hurry."
"Take your time, Meitantei."
And on towards the entrance he went. Shinichi hated shopping; it was an awful amount of people surrounding him, he could never decide which microwaved goods he wanted to buy and at the end he would just stand for hours inside the coffee aisle, pondering which of his favorite brands he was going to buy next.

A bit lost, Shinichi stared at the amount of different wipes he could find, too many variations and too less time to keep standing like an idiot in front of them. It felt like hours with customers passing by before Shinichi finally reached into a shelf, only to flinch as he heard something drop close by. He turned, only to see a woman his age with brown hair that reminded him of his bittersweet love to Ran, and eyes that were the same as hers, just more exhausted and worn. For a moment Shinichi's heart stood still as the two stared at each other; said woman had dropped a pack of toilet paper she was going to take.

This isn't Ran. This isn't Ran. She's the same and still so different. She isn't Ran. Everything is alright. Breathe, Shinichi.

His internal panic died down but it wasn't long until his analytical skills came to life. Wait... he had been shocked to see her, a woman so similar to his lost childhood love, so why was this woman staring at him like he had grown a second head, pale faced with horror creeping into her face?

"...K-Kaito...?" she whispered, quietly.