Work Text:
*1*
Once upon a time –
“I thought you said this was serious?” Yukiko had to resist the need to hug her pouty little Shin-chan.
“It is serious.” She said, more calm and collected than Shinichi had ever seen her.
Shinichi looked at his mother with skepticism. “Fine.”
“Many years ago…”
In a time when people still whispered about creatures of the forest and those that disguised themselves as human in more populated areas; a time of Yokai and Nekomata, Kappa and Kitsune as well as so many others; humanity sought immortality and pleaded with the gods for an answer to their fears of death.
The gods answered their fears in many ways. You’ve heard tales of eating the flesh of ningyo or drinking the wakamizu by now. One other solution was a gem.
Not just any gem but a gem within a gem, also called a doublet. The Greeks called the gem Pandora after the first human woman who was also both a gift and a curse to mankind. Although there have been many other names used in many other cultures around the world, Pandora is the name we still use. The true gem is said to be a bright red jewel encased by another of varying descriptions. It is unclear whether the outer gem changed with time or if there were mistakes in the stories themselves, but one thing is known for sure; the inner stone will glow red in the moonlight and bleed tears of life everlasting. If someone should drink the tears, their life will be extended through to immortality. Of course, the curse of the gift is both the immortality itself and how it is to be achieved.
At the time of its creation, creatures specifically known as modern day vampires did not exist in Japan. These were creatures of the eastern european cultures. However, for the sake of this story and ease of terminology, we will use the term vampire. Just like the myths, vampires live off the blood of the living, drinking the life of others to prolong their own. When a human drinks the tears of Pandora, they become, essentially, a vampire. That person, no longer strictly human, must then drink the blood of the living until the last drop. It is a mad and terrible existence resulting in loneliness to the point of insanity. Yet, there is hope.
When they created the gem, the gods also gifted a line of humans with the role of guardian of the jewel. That line is said to be not only immune to the gifts of Pandora but the blood lust of the drinker of the tears. In addition, should the gift/curse of Pandora be activated, the last adult in the line of guardians will also be given the gift of immortality, if they allow the vampire to drink their blood. By doing this, the gods gifted the vampire with another soul to bear the weight of immortality and to help stave off the madness it would otherwise bring. The guardian and the vampire are meant to be a complimenting pair. In a way they are soulmates.
There is no cure for the tears of Pandora. If the vampire does not drink, they will descend into madness. If they drink from any other than the guardian, they will descend into madness. But, with the guardian, their partner, their soulmate, Pandora is the gift humanity asked for.
Regrettably, the gem was separated from the guardians at some point in time and all that is left is a myth until the time when the jewel comes to light.
“Our family is that line of guardians.” Yukiko finished her story.
Shinichi sat back and frowned in thought for a moment. “That sounds like a fairy tale.” He looked to his mother in disbelief.
“Well, in a way it is; it was a story passed down to me from my mother, from her mother, from her mother’s mother, and so on.”
Shinichi sat in his mother’s lap and thought about it. He was still skeptical about the story, a magic gem couldn’t be real, but his mother seemed so serious about it. He mumbled to himself, “Magic can’t be real.”
“Maybe not, but maybe yes; the universe is infinite and things thought to be magic once upon a time have scientific explanations. When my mother told me the story I wasn’t sure about it either but my mother told me, ‘nothing may come of this in your lifetime or even your child’s lifetime but it is important that the story be carried through the generations because, what if it is true? There’s so much we don’t know about in the world.’ On the off chance that it happens, I'd rather you be prepared and know the story and your place in it if it does.”
Shinichi thought about his mother’s words and some of the things he’d learned before such as about how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Holmes contributed to modern day science. He still didn’t believe in magic but science was something he could trust. “I guess.”
“But remember Shinichi, this is a secret between you and me and, when the time comes, your children. Not even your father knows. Okay?”
“Okay.” Shinichi shrugged.
“Promise me Shinichi.”
Yukiko looked so serious, Shinichi had no choice but to nod and say, “I promise.”
*2*
KID’s modus operandi had changed and Shinichi didn’t like it. Criminals don’t change how they do things unless something big happens and while KID was barely a criminal, the fact was the same. Something happened. And Shinichi. Didn’t. Like it.
For years as Conan their game of cat and mouse was a constant in his life; KID stole and Conan chased him until, often enough, they met on the rooftop of whatever museum or hotel showcased the gem. Once there KID would look at the gem in the moonlight and, not finding whatever he was looking for, he would toss the gem to Conan to return. Once Shinichi got his body back, he was pleased to find the game remained more or less the same. Once again, KID stole whatever gem he wanted, and this time, Shinichi chased him. Shinichi hadn’t actually tried catching KID since that first year when he was freshly Conan and KID just irked him the wrong way after ‘stealing’ Ran’s clothes during the black star heist. Of course, that was besides the point, the point was the chase . There was nothing more exhilarating than keeping up with KID as task force members and other detectives fell into traps leaving only Shinichi on the rooftop alone with KID.
When Shinichi was still Conan, they would sit and talk sometimes, banter back and forth, or tell stories that alluded to their real lives. Then, when Shinichi returned, their talks and banter turned more flirtatious than Shinchi would like to admit… on both sides. He would never admit it aloud but, Shinchi saved every rose given to him by KID since that first heist back.
But things changed; KID was avoiding the police, the fans, and Shinichi . KID was jumpy in a way that implied paranoia not tricks. Banter was nonexistent; no snide remarks were traded nor was there any flirtatious innuendo (not that Shinichi wanted it). KID didn’t check the jewel in the moonlight. And… he didn’t wait for Shinichi on the rooftop anymore. By the time Shinichi made it up there he was long gone with only the gem sitting on the roof in his place. He had no idea what happened during the heist he missed and the KID task force had no answers.
Even more annoying, it was clear the traps KID set were not just aimed at the police but at him as well. They were stickier, slicker, harder to avoid overall. Shinichi actually got caught up in a trap during the first heist when things changed. It had been five heists since things changed; two heists that Shinichi tried to ignore the change, and three since he started trying to catch KID just so he could find out what was wrong. One of the times their eyes locked and Shinichi got the sense that KID was terrified of something. He had to catch the thief but how?
***
The damsel in distress act always works .
Shinichi had to rethink his plans… or at least the part where he calls himself the damsel in distress. It may be a fact that he was in distress, snipers will do that to a person, but he was in no way a damsel . Ugh . (Even if the voice of Sonoko in his head said otherwise). So what if he’s been tossed out windows, off skyscrapers, nearly exploded, shot, and carried in a bridal hold on the rare occasion. Not. A. Damsel.
Present situation included.
He knew there were snipers, an unusually large amount even, but that only encouraged him to use the situation to his benefit. If he was in danger at a heist, KID would be there. So, he walked out on the rooftop of the current heist location full well knowing the danger he was walking into. Hiding behind an A/C unit was not the ideal situation but, KID would show, he had to.
And he did .
Little by little Shinichi noticed the shooting coming from fewer directions. Someone was dealing with the snipers one by one. Waiting until no more shots were fired, Shinichi then chanced a look around his shelter and found…KID. KID, covered in blood and standing at the edge of the roof.
“KID!” Instantly Shinichi went running to him, terrified that he might have just gotten KID killed. “KID!!!” The thief was deathly still for a moment before he stepped forward and, for the first time in too long, met Shinichi. “Oh no where are you hurt?! KID! Say something please!”
KID raised his hands to look at them and responded, “...It… it's not my blood.”
Shinichi sighed in relief, “Good.” and followed up with a deep breath. “But wait–” the detective hesitated. That left more questions . “Where, I mean who did it come from?” KID looked like he was in shock, his breathing was steady but too controlled, all his focus still on his hands. His blood covered hands. “KID, where did it come from? What happened?”
Rather than answer the questions KID said, “I should– I should leave.” And started to turn away.
“Wait!” Shinichi grabbed the thief’s sleeve before he could fully turn.
“I didn’t know what… Shinichi… I’m sorry.” KID was still looking at his hands and not paying any attention to their surroundings.
“Wait, KID, don’t go, what happened?” It didn’t seem like a good idea to stay out in the open but it felt like an even worse idea to just let KID fly off the way he was.
“I… had to stop them and I couldn’t let you get hurt and– I just needed it so much.”
Shinchi couldn’t make out the emotion in his voice. Nothing was making sense to Shinichi but pushing would get him nowhere. He was going to have to get them off the roof and somewhere secluded soon. “KID I’m going to need you to follow me, we’ll find somewhere to hide and wait everything out just, follow me.”
However, the second Shinichi turned to the roof entrance KID started panicking and trying to pull out of his grip. “No! No, I can’t–I can’t be near you–I can’t go down there where there’s people!!!”
“KID! Please, wait, calm down, I’m not trying to turn you in, we just need to find somewhere not out in the open.” He grabbed for the thief's hand and held on as tightly as he dared but it didn’t seem to matter; though KID was struggling he didn’t seem to actively be trying to get away either. It was like he just didn’t have the energy for it.
“No!! I– you don’t understand! I can’t, I can’t be near you!!” The thief took a step back. “I did that, I–I hurt, no I killed them! Oh god Shinichi, I killed them!! Shinichi, Shinichi don’t– get away!!”
Things were going from bad to worse and Shinichi didn’t know what to do anymore. Was this his fault? “KID, it's going to be okay.”
At that point KID’s panic peaked and his eyes widened just enough that the monocle fell to the ground. “It's not okay! It's not!! I could kill you too Shinichi! I don’t want to but I might! I will!!!” It didn’t even seem as though the thief noticed his fallen monocle; he continued struggling backwards, violet eyes wide.
“No, KID, I trust you, you wouldn’t hurt me. I trust you. It's going to be okay.” KID was getting closer to the edge and Shinichi was beginning to get nervous about what might happen if he reached it.
“You shouldn’t.” With that KID tipped back over the edge.
Shinichi followed after him.
*3*
KID doesn’t remember much after he fell, just vague impressions like grabbing Shinichi around the waist as the wind blew past, opening his glider, landing in a roll… somewhere. Holding Shinichi’s hand. Somehow they made it to the Kudo home without trouble following but whether they walked, ran, or called a taxi KID had no idea. He just felt so tired. Tired of running, tired of trying to avoid his favorite detective who of course would want to help him. Tired. Tired of trying not to kill .
When Shinchi pulled KID through the front door with him, he didn’t have the energy to fight it anymore. When Shinichi sat him down on the plush couch in the library he went willingly. When Shinichi asked for an explanation, he told him.
“I suppose you know I’ve been looking for a specific gem… well I found it.”
***
Kaito KID was planning a heist like any of his other heists without detectives. It was to be a slow night with only Inspector Nakamori and his task force present but the show would go on. According to his doves, Shinichi was still busy catching up on classwork after his last big case took him out of classes for a week, Hakuba was still in Europe, and that was pretty much it. No other detective regularly showed up to his heists and none of them ever showed without either Shinichi or Hakuba present.
The heist would be a piece of cake, his only threat was if Snake showed up but he wasn’t too worried; the man was a slippery killer however, he was still something KID was always prepared for. He didn’t even really have high hopes for the gem to be ‘the one’ because… well because it never was.
Until this time.
KID was not prepared for the bright red glow of the gem in his hand, nor was he prepared for the bullet that lodged in his arm just as the tear fell.
Snake’s snipers were out in full and ready to kill for the gem they had been searching for; if it wasn’t for the stray tear KID swallowed, he’d be dead before he could think to exit the roof. But, because he did swallow the tear when that first shot hit him, his wound healed . KID was shot three more times before finding cover. It didn’t slow him down in the least. While taking shelter behind the roof exit, he watched as his injuries disappeared. He didn’t know how much could heal before it was too much but, he did know one thing… he was thirsty.
It was a craving unlike any other he’d felt before. Little by little he became aware of a pounding in his head, the beating of a drum… no, the beating of a heart… many hearts. He could hear Snake and his goons circling closer, getting ready to strike. And all he wanted was a drink.
At the time he didn’t realize it but it must have been because of the gunshot wounds. He lost control so fast, as soon as the men were within reach he was drinking their blood without a care in the world. He knew nothing but the savory taste of blood for what felt like an eternity, until he turned and saw the bodies. Dead. All of them. KID ran.
*
“I’ve been running since, hoping to find a jewel that will fix this, hoping to get answers from the snipers but… I’m afraid to go near them… I killed again tonight.” KID sat still, staring at his hands in his lap. Although they were clean he still felt the warm blood leaking through his fingers.
Shinichi was having a hard time getting his head wrapped around the story; it couldn’t be real and yet… there was something in him that told him it was. A promise he made to his mother as a child.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this but, I believe you.” Shinichi remembered the story of the gem. The story about becoming a vampire. The story about soulmates.
“No offense but, why do you believe me?”
“Because, my mother once told me a similar story.” It was Shinichi’s turn to share his secret. A secret no one else knew. “When I was a little boy my mother told me a story about a gem and a line of guardians who were meant to protect that gem…”
***
By the end of the story KID was the one surprised.
*4*
When Shinichi told Kaito the story his mother told him as a child he couldn't believe it... yet he did. It all made sense. Kaito was looking for the same gem but he only had half the story. He doubted Snake and his people even had the whole story otherwise, they'd be looking for Shinichi too. It was luck that he found Shinchi (or that Shinichi found him) at all.
But could he really do it; could he risk drinking Shinichi's blood? What if Shinichi was wrong and it killed him? What if it was all just wishful thinking and Kaito would just go on killing blindly? He couldn't risk Shinchi.
"I can't do this Shinichi. I can't risk drinking your blood and not stopping–I can't kill you too."
"Believe in me, you do this and it will all be okay." Shinchi looked so sincere and like he had absolute faith in Kaito.
"I won't-- I can't-- what if it's not okay Shinchi, what if I kill you, who will stop me?" Kaito was so afraid of what he was capable of, twice now he'd lost his mind and killed. It didn't matter that the men he killed were killers themselves, what if next time they weren’t? What if next time it was someone innocent?
"Trust me. Trust me, that trusts you."
How could Shinchi be so calm about it? "But... what if I-- I can't, Shinichi. I can't hurt you."
"You won't, I know you won't." Shinichi took a deep breath. "Just like I believed you, please believe me."
"That's not fair Shinichi... I could hurt you." Kaito's walls were being torn down by the honest support in Shinichi's eyes.
"And I could hurt you, but that won't be the case." As if he ever would.
For a moment, violet eyes locked with sapphire ones. Okay.
"If we're doing this, then I'm doing this right." With that and a cloud of smoke KID was gone and in his place was Kuroba Kaito. "If I'm going to be drinking your blood,i then it's only fair you know my name. Kuroba Kaito."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kuroba Kaito." Shinichi reached out a hand.
"The pleasure is all mine, Kudo Shinichi." Kaito grasped Shinichi's hand and pulled it to his lips for a kiss. Shinichi blushed.
Kaito was giving in, it was a risk but he couldn't keep going as he had; according to Shinichi that would be hopeless anyway, there was no cure. His only choice was to drink from Shinchi.
"Now, how do we do this? Do I just... I mean, I don't want to hurt you any more than I have to."
Shinchi bit his lip. "I guess just do what comes naturally? I didn't really think this was real until today so I don't know?"
"Shinchi. What comes naturally ends with death. I would think that 'what comes naturally' is the last thing we should do." Kaito deadpanned.
Kaito wasn't sure how to approach Shinichi with the intention of taking blood. Everyone before had been killed in a haze. He wanted to stay far away from Shinichi but he'd agreed so now he had to follow through. At the same time, it felt really awkward; too much like a first kiss. Which it kind of was.
"So should I–ahem, where should I bite you?"
The detective seemed to think about it a bit before responding with, "We can try with my arm?"
"Okay." Kaito took Shinichi's hand, much like earlier when he introduced himself, and let his instincts guide him. I can feel his blood pulsing. His sight was tinged with red at just the thought of fresh blood, he felt so weak to his instincts. I can smell it now . Kaito turned Shinchi’s hand, palm up and leaned in to bite his wrist just above the pulse point. I can taste it . The flavor was savory and rich, metallic but sweet... oh so sweet. Kaito wanted to drink it forever. He wanted to drown in it, let it consume him as he consumed it. But no. He couldn't let his instincts take over, Kaito had to stay conscious of what he was doing. To that point, he had to keep an eye on Shinichi and how he was doing.
Kaito looked up from the warm arm to Shinichi's face. Shinichi's eyes were closed but it didn't look to be from pain or fatigue. The detective had his mouth partially open and Kaito could feel his pulse picking up speed. That was pleasure his detective was feeling . If it wasn't for his own gratification, Kaito might be inclined to point out his detective's apparent kink. His mind was starting to feel foggy with endorphins; it was time to release Shinichi’s arm.
Slowly pulling away, Kaito licked the last drops of blood before they spilled. He waited with baited breath for Shinichi to open his eyes.
"..." Shinichi was breathing heavily, his face and neck were flushed, but nothing appeared to be wrong.
Kaito couldn't wait anymore. "Shinichi?"
Slowly his Shinichi's eyes fluttered open. At first they were glazed but soon his eyes cleared like twin pools of crystal clear ocean water. "..." Shinichi's mouth opened and closed a few times but no words came out.
"... Shinichi? Are you okay?"
Once again Shinichi's mouth opened but no sound. Kaito was getting worried.
After a few more aborted attempts, Shinchi finally found his words. "I'm okay,it was just... intense. I didn't expect that."
Kaito couldn't resist anymore. "My dear detective, it seems we've found your kink."
With that Shinichi's face went flaming red. "KAITO! If I had my ball belt--!"
Kaito covered his detective's mouth with his hand. "Not so violent, soulmate ." If looks could kill, Kaito wouldn't have to worry about immortality.
*5*
Over the next few months, Kaito and Shinichi worked together to learn more about their newfound immortality and what came with it. Kaito learned he was stronger and faster. That first drink of Shinichi's blood gave him a mental clarity he was unaware he'd lost. The constant thirst was gone. The skills he had already honed as a magician were magnified.
Shinichi's changes were a little more subtle; he ran warmer than he used to, he was less likely to suffer from fatigue, and he needed less sleep which was lucky since drugs and chemicals seemed to have less of an effect on him (this included caffeine). All of it was likely due to an increased blood production. At least, that was what Haibara said.
Telling her about the gem and KID and then explaining his own family story, something he had never told anyone before Kaito, was not as terrible as he thought it would be but then again, she's threatened him with a gun on more than one occasion and that was when he could die from it. He expected much worse than multiple blood draws and various tests. Kaito was lucky, all he suffered was a glare and a lecture on caring for his new pet detective. It was at that point that Shinichi left for coffee, unwilling to listen to them talk about him as if he wasn't there anyway.
*
"Now that Kudo is out of my lab, what is it you want to talk about, Kuroba?"
Kaito had no idea how to explain what he needed to know. It was something that had only come up recently with the detective but he had yet to share, unsure of how the detective would react. "The word soulmates may have been used once or twice in all of this... how much... no-- do i have any control over my own feelings in this?"
Haibara seemed to think about it before finally answering. "I really can't say, I've never even considered soulmates to be a real thing before now. What I can say is, even before all of this happened, you cared for Kudo. It is possible you should take into account your feelings from before and consider it just a magnification of those feelings."
Kaito thought it over. "I guess I'll just have to see where it goes." He turned toward the door, intending to seek out his wayward detective, but hesitated. "Thank you." Kaito left without another word.
*
Out of the blue Kaito asked Shinichi out on a date.
Maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise; Shinichi knew they were circling around something but he avoided it all the same. So when Kaito asked him out to dinner and made it very clear it was in fact a date, Shinichi floundered but said yes.
The date was both what Shinichi expected and not at all what he expected; yes there were roses but instead of a restaurant, they had a rooftop picnic on the clock tower that they first ‘met’ at. While it was true that they didn’t actually meet face to face, it was the first time Kaito KID fought against Kudo Shinichi so it counts in Kaito’s book.
Under the moonlight, they sat side by side, knees just touching and fingers occasionally grazing each other. Eventually, when all the food was gone and the air was getting chilly, they leaned into each other while looking over the city they loved. One day they would have to leave, else someone would discover they weren’t aging but that was for another time. Shinchi leaned into Kaito for warmth and Kaito in turn wrapped his arm around Shinchi. After some time, they pulled themselves away from the view of the city only to look into each other’s eyes and in that moment, Kaito found what he was looking for, what he may have always been looking for.
“I’m glad it was you, Shinchi.”
“I’m glad it was you too, Kaito.”