Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan/Case Closed.

Pairing: KaitoxShinichi

Rating: T [may go up]

Genre: Romance/Supernatural

Warning: None in this chapter

Summary: KID's latest heist has awakened an ancient power. Now he finds he's slowly turning into someone (or something) else. He needs to find a way to fix this before he does something he'll regret.

The Dragon's Curse

Chapter 1 - The Dragon's Heart

"And then we'll live happily ever after." Suzuki Sonoko sighed, temporarily lost in her romantic fantasies. Her trance lasted for about a minute before she suddenly rounded on the young man standing behind her. "Are you even listening to me?!"

Blue eyes blinked at her. "No."

The petit girl scowled and turned to the last member of their little group. "Ran! Do something about him!"

Mouri Ran laughed nervously, pushing her long, dark brown hair back over her shoulder. She cast an eye around the exhibition hall, hoping to see something with which to distract her irate friend. Honestly, she wished Makoto-san would get back from his trip abroad soon. Of course, he was participating in a series of competitions taking place all around the world, so it was unlikely that he was going to show up again any time soon. But Sonoko was getting more out of hand by the day with her boyfriend's long absence.

"Why don't we go get something to eat?" the brunette decided. "The food looks good today."

Sonoko considered this suggestion with a dissatisfied frown. Eventually, however, she nodded, but not before rounding on their last companion. "You better not forget. You're supposed to find KID-sama for me."

The blue-eyed young man made a noncommittal noise in his throat and lifted one shoulder in a half shrug.

"Come on Shinichi," Ran said, turning. "You haven't had dinner yet either, right?"

"I'm not hungry—" he started to say but stopped when he suddenly found himself on the receiving end of a ferocious glare. "I—I mean I'll go get something right after I take another look around."

"I'll hold you to that," she said crisply before steering Sonoko towards the banquet table set up on the far side of the exhibition hall.

Kudo Shinichi watched the girls go with a certain level of chagrin. It had been two years since he'd returned to being an adult, and Ran was still mothering him like he was still seven. But then again, it was better than having her mad at him.

A small smile tugged at his lips. He'd been terrified about what her reaction might be when he'd first told her the truth about that fateful night at Tropical Land and his following years as Edogawa Conan. But, though she hadn't been pleased, she hadn't punched his lights out either. And eventually they'd both come to grips with the truth.

The smile fell from his face.

A lot had changed in the past five years since that awful night when he'd first met Gin and Vodka. Some of those changes were good. He'd gotten to know the world better than he had before. He'd learned the hard way about his own limitations and naïveté. He'd learned about the things that really mattered, and he really believed that he'd become a better detective for it. He had also made friends—real friends that he knew he could rely on.

But all those valuable lessons had come at their own cost.

There was the acute paranoia he doubted he'd ever be able to lose. But it was more than that. He'd lost three years. And in that time his already tenuous ability to connect to others his own age had apparently withered away. He'd seen too much, he supposed. He couldn't go back to the blissful ignorance that was youth. Sometimes, like now, when he was standing in a crowd, he found himself wondering where it was he was headed.

Haibara sometimes accused him of being depressed. He was inclined to tell her that she was exaggerating. There were just times when he found himself feeling adrift. In those moments, he couldn't help but think of how vast the world was—vast and chaotic and distant, full of shadows that no amount of light could drive away.

Scowling, he gave himself a mental slap. What was he thinking? If he kept moping like that, Haibara would be right. It was the atmosphere of this place. That's what it was.

This party was being held to open an art exhibition themed around urban myths and supernatural beings. With that in mind, the proprietors had thought it would be a grand idea to have the event on Halloween night. In accordance to the theme, the entire exhibit was decked out like a haunted house, all dark and creepy and candlelit. Was it any wonder a person would find himself having weird thoughts?

Honestly, Shinichi didn't really want to be here. Or, well, part of him did, but most of him didn't. There were many reasons for this, not least of which was the fact that this was a costume party. Because of that, Ran and Sonoko had bullied him into a black kimono. He hadn't bothered to ask them what he was supposed to be, although he'd overheard Sonoko making snide jokes about shinigami. He might have been annoyed (he didn't particularly like being reminded of the fact that he tripped over dead people on a nearly daily basis, and didn't it cross their minds at all that such comments might be hurtful?), but he had long since mastered the art of Ignoring Sonoko. At least the costume wasn't embarrassing like the ones his mother liked to force on him. He shuddered at the memories and hurriedly shoved them to the back of his mind.

Of course, Sonoko herself was the other reason he hadn't wanted to come. There was, after all, supposed to be a KID heist here tonight. And nothing in the world was quite as unbearable as Suzuki Sonoko when she was in one of her "I must get KID-sama to notice me~!" moods.

The problem was that the KID heist was also responsible for the tiny part of Shinichi that wanted to be here. The magician thief hadn't changed much in the last few years—well, unless you counted the way he'd gotten even better at his work, if that was possible. The master thief was still driving the police up the walls with his antics and still insanely popular despite his crimes. He was still brilliant, still crazy, still arrogant as hell—and he still treated Shinichi like he was Conan. Like they were friendly rivals: sometimes enemies, sometimes allies, but always equals who shared an understanding about the darks and the lights of the world that most people never even saw.

Shinichi sighed. What was it coming to when a detective felt like the only person who could relate to him was a thief?

"What's wrong? You don't look like you're enjoying the party."

Shinichi jumped and whirled around. He hadn't sensed anyone approaching, but there was now a man dressed in a pirate costume complete with long coat, cutlass, plumed hat, and eye patch standing right beside him. The stranger was taller than he was, but, from what little he could make out of the man's face, he probably wasn't much older. That meant he was probably the son of one of the many wealthy families in attendance. This wasn't the kind of party your average college student could get into after all.

"I'm fine," Shinichi said politely. "I'm not here for the party."

"Oh?" The stranger studied him for a long moment before recognition dawned in his one green eye. "Oh, I knew I'd seen your face before. You're that detective, Kudo Shinichi. So that means you're here for the KID heist."

Shinichi nodded and turned back to the display in front of him. He thought the conversation was over, but apparently his new acquaintance had other ideas. He stepped closer, looking into the display case as well.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"I guess," Shinichi said without much enthusiasm. The piece inside the case was a necklace. It was a large, star ruby set in a gold pendant shaped like dragon claws. It was well made, certainly, but it struck Shinichi as a little, well, tasteless. Like something a cultist would wear.

"Have you heard the story?"

Shinichi shook his head.

"The story goes that, many, many years ago, a great warrior, hoping to be able to protect his beloved kingdom from their violent neighbors for as long as he could, slew a dragon and ate its heart. He found this jewel in its heart and had it made into this pendant in memory of the event. It was said that eating a dragon's heart would grant a person immortality. And indeed, he lived for quite a long time. However, year by year, he became more and more greedy, vicious and wrathful. The formerly dedicated warrior soon became an absolute tyrant. He killed his own king and claimed the throne. Then he set out to conquer the surrounding lands. All who came under his rule were forced to toil endlessly to increase his wealth. Those who knew him from before his change claimed that the dragon he killed had cursed him to punish him and all his people for daring to attack a dragon. In any case, his reign was long and terrible. In the end, the kingdom was reduced to ruins by his tyranny."

"That's not a very flattering story."

The pirate laughed. "No, I suppose it isn't. But an epic story does tend to add value to things."

"No accounting for taste," Shinichi muttered under his breath.

The stranger must have heard him though because he laughed. "Everyone likes something different. Have you seen the tapestries they have in the back? They have much less grizzly tales."

"I haven't seen them yet," Shinichi admitted.

"Come with me and I'll tell you all about them then."

The detective hesitated, but it seemed rude to refuse. That, and there was another hour and a half to wait before the heist. Might as well spend it learning the layout of the rest of the exhibition hall. And this person didn't seem intent on grilling him with questions about his three year absence, which was always a plus. He just had to make sure to snag a little something from the banquet table so Ran wouldn't get mad.

-0-

Kuroba Kaito watched out of his one uncovered eye as Kudo Shinichi gazed up at the massive tapestry before them, marveling at the intricacy of the image upon it of a lush forest through which multicolored fairies darted and danced. The tapestry was beautiful work, true, but to Kaito, it was nothing compared to the small but genuine smile lingering on Shinichi's lips. The detective had looked tense and tired when he had first walked into the party—which really wasn't how Kaito wanted his favorite detective to look when coming to his heist. It had bothered him, and, with time to spare before his show was to begin, he'd made a point of seeing if he could do something about cheering the other up. It looked like he could mark that mission accomplished.

He wondered how he could have come to care so much about Shinichi's wellbeing. Fate really was a strange thing. It had started out as a kind of wary respect for someone who he might actually acknowledge as an equal. With it had come curiosity, especially since he had thought at first that the boy was just a seven year old brat. No little pipsqueak of a grade school student should have been able to think like that.

Over the course of their association, curiosity had grown into fondness. And, as he gained a deeper understanding of who little Conan really was and the similarity between their situations, he'd found himself growing attached. He looked forward to when Shinichi would show up to his heists, and it always inspired a sense of triumph in him when he was able to wring a genuine look of surprise or amazement from him.

Kaito liked having secrets. He horded information like a dragon would gold. He had never felt that need to confide in anyone. But lately he'd found himself wondering… If he did ever decide to share his story, would Shinichi listen?

He thought that Shinichi would, but he supposed he was unlikely to find out anytime soon. The time wasn't right.

Speaking of time, it was almost time for his heist to begin.

He placed a hand on Shinichi's shoulder. The detective looked up at him, apparently startled from wherever his thoughts had wandered. Grinning, Kaito leaned in close to the shorter boy's face.

"Well, Tantei-kun, it's been fun. But it looks like it's time for us both to get to work. Oh, and by the way, you look very pretty in that kimono. I like it."

He watched as blue eyes widened, and was that a blush? How cute. He could see Shinichi's lips parting to form the word "KID", but every light in the building went out before the word could be uttered.

-0-

Shinichi took a deep breath before pushing open the door to the roof. He had, he must admit, not been particularly up to speed during the heist. He blamed it on KID's words and actions just before the blackout. Shinichi could still acutely remember the way his heart and skipped a beat then started beating a mile a minute. Honestly, what had the stupid thief been thinking?

Shinichi shook himself. It was KID. The thief had always been crazy, and he'd always had a penchant for messing with people. His actions didn't mean anything.

Shinichi did his best to ignore the hint of melancholy that crept into his thoughts when he reminded himself of that. Why should it bother him? It wasn't like he had feelings for the thief or anything… Right? Right.

He opened the door and stepped outside.

He heard the heavy flapping of KID's white cape in the wind before he saw the thief standing some distance away.

"I was expecting you sooner," KID said mildly, that familiar smirk of his dancing about his lips. "Was it the outfit slowing you down or something else?"

Shinichi scowled to hide his embarrassment, silently cursing his tendency to blush. "Just hurry up and give the jewel back."

"Task, task, patience is a virtue, my dear detective." Turning casually, the thief held up his hand. The ruby pendant spun sparkling in the air. "What do you think? Should I—"

Shinichi frowned when the thief stopped talking abruptly. "KID?"

No reaction.

What was going on?

The pendant hit the roof with a tinkle as the thief doubled over.

"KID!" Shinichi exclaimed, alarmed. He ran towards the thief, eyes searching the surrounding rooftops for any signs of danger. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he focused back on the thief. KID was clutching at his chest like he was in pain, but he wasn't making a sound. Nor was there any blood anywhere.

"KID? Are you injured?" Shinichi asked, kneeling beside the thief and reaching hesitantly for the gloved hand scrunched up in the thief's suit jacket. "Let me see. I might be able to help."

Before he could move, however, KID's free hand shot out and grabbed Shinichi's wrist in an iron grip. The detective flinched at the strength of that grip. He was probably going to have bruises tomorrow, but, at the moment, he couldn't care less about that. He was far too worried about the thief's strange behavior.

"KID," he started again only to freeze as now, finally, the magician turned to look at him.

His eyes, the eyes that Shinichi knew had been indigo, were now a vivid, fiery orange in color. And were they glowing?

Shinichi swallowed, throat suddenly dry. The world around him seemed to fade. He could hear an odd rushing sound in his ears and feel his own heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't look away.

Those eyes were looking at him from KID's face, but they were not KID's eyes. And the thief's face… His cocky smirk was back, and there was no longer any signs of pain. But though the expression was KID's through and through, something just felt wrong.

Maybe this was a prank? A Halloween joke?

"Well," the thief murmured before Shinichi could speak. Using his hold on Shinichi's wrist, he pulled the detective closer as he leaned in. Shinichi's racing heart nearly stopped as Kaitou KID closed what little distance there was left between them—and kissed him.

It was a chaste kiss, but it sent fire dancing down both their veins regardless. Shinichi was left frozen, half in shock and half in horror and a tiny bit giddy in a way he wished he didn't understand.

"Such lovely eyes. You will do very nicely." KID straightened up and smoothed out his clothes, leaving a confused and speechless Shinichi still kneeling on the ground. The thief glanced up at the moon, an expression on his face like he was listening to something. Then he picked up the pendant he'd dropped earlier. Crouching before Shinichi, he picked up one of the detective's hands and pressed the pendant into it.

"I don't need this anymore. Now, I should be taking my leave." He leaned forward to murmur into Shinichi's ear. "I'll be back for you soon."

Then he was gone.

It was several minutes before Shinichi got shakily to his feet. He still couldn't quite wrap his mind around what had just happened. Those orange eyes… Had that been a trick? They had looked so real. And when KID had handed him the pendant… For an instant when the thief had drawn away, Shinichi could have sworn he saw the same pendant still in the thief's hands, only that version had been faintly transparent like the ghost of the pendant.

And of course there was the kiss.

Shinichi blushed furiously, recalling the feeling of the thief's lips on his own. His heart rate quickened just thinking about it.

Hurriedly shoving the embarrassing thoughts of how nice it had felt out of his head, he headed back inside the building. Better check up on the police and get the jewel back to its owner. The other mysteries could wait until he could clear his head.

-To Be Continued-