justonetruth | (no subject)

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[Toichi was not one to often seem like he was taken off guard. Even when he was, it was amazing how he kept most people from realizing it. This situation he's found himself in, however?

Well, even the great Kuroba Toichi has to have a bit of a 'bwuh' look at finding himself suddenly in a dining hall when he had been just walking into the kitchen. And quite the expansive dining hall at that with all the food prepared.

Sure, he could pull off a disappearing act, but he usually knew where he was going to end up.]

How...strange.

[Oh, and something to note? This Toichi looks...older then some people might know him as. At least eight years older than most Kaito's would remember him, in fact.]

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I'd hate to shatter an innocent world view. It'd be disgraceful as someone who puts miracles into people's hearts.

Hm, has he tried the book jacket trick? Put a simpler book's jacket cover over the book he really wants to read?

I wouldn't ever dream of it...

[That unintentionally reminds him of the night he died. Despite the fact that sometimes it was actually fun to be around the blond now, and that Aoko was fine and probably would have gone a similar way if he'd been alive, he still felt like he was shattering them a little more each day. And, unintentionally, a flicker of it shows through on his face. He recovers quickly, though - or seems to.]

We've tried it. It only works for real if it's a book I'd been carrying with me, though - anything we got from there would have to go back onto the shelves, and that'd give the game away. Either that, or the chibi brings it in his schoolbag, and we hope no one searches him and looks in the book before he gets the chance to read it.

[Notices it and smiles gently.] If there was something they were upset with, Kaito, I'm sure they'd prefer it to the alternative.

Hm, it seems his ability to sneak has gone down since elementary.

[Smiles back, kicking his feet somewhat under the chair.] They do. Watson's even starting to trust me, y'know? And while Kudo's still mad at me, he'd probably go 'round the twist if... and Aoko'd probably be dating that jerk Fukuno by now... [last one grumbled, and trailed off with a bit of a clenched fist.]

Not exactly. But he has got nosier friends and teachers.

Still jealous when Aoko pays attention to another boy?

Hmm, that can do quite a bit. The boy usually staved off most other children. The 'shonen tantei' are a lot more determined.

[adflavsdf-!] Not jealousy. I'm looking out for her.

[Sooo not true. And you can hear the denial, too. But unlike most Kaitos, it's not exactly because he doesn't want to admit to liking her, but because at the moment, he wants her to have something better than a dead guy. It's... not exactly working.]

That they are~ I think he needed them, if you ask me.

[Chuckles.] Oh, is that what they're calling it these days?

It's probably good for him. He wasn't too detached as a child. And being a kid does seem to be doing wonders for his ego.

Hmph. [pouuty faace~] 'M serious. Number of times... she's a nice girl. A really nice girl. And none of that lot've been able to see me yet, so they all think she goes out on her own.

Hm, really? I'm left wondering what made him change, then. [a pause, a smile.] It is. And so am I. One of the few upsides to school - I get to ream him out for how much of his brain he's let go to mush.

She's an independent girl. Nothing wrong with her going out on her own.

How he became a child? I have been wondering that. As for attitude, it is a dramatic change.

Maybe you should give him mental puzzles if you're so worried. [Looks amused.]

Never said there was. And she does. But not when she goes out just to meet boys I don't know, she doesn't.

I... think it had something to do with a mistake in investigations. But that wasn't what I meant. D'you know anything that could've made him go from a kiddy version of now to a stuck up prat? [The tone is half pouting, half serious. Kaito's big brother instincts are acting up.]

I do. And so does Hakubaka~

She doesn't what?

[Raises an eyebrow at that.] Is there a Conan who has become a stuck up prat?

[Chuckles.] I see you had a similar relationship to Hakuba-kun as Kaito did in the beginning.

Doesn't go on her own. She knows I'm there, though.

Nope. Not become, I bet. Or else I've not been doing my job right. I've heard he was more than a bit of one before I met him, though.

He was my detective! [Said rather cheerful, chipper and rather 'of course, duh' tone of voice.] Does he heckle your Kaito just as much, then?

Oh. Follow her when she goes to meet boys? And you're not jealous?

Ah. I don't know what made him a child, but there are certainly a few theories I could throw out.

[Chuckles.] It's rare we do not hear a rant about him when he's in the country. Especially when I'm one of the more likely 'candidates' to be Kid. He tries to get you to give something away.

... [And that was his grumpy 'you've got it but I'm not admitting it' face.]

Oooh, tell me. Go on, throw 'em at me! [He knows. Not everything, but he knows. But he also wants to hear the theories first. He is going to explain at some point, though.]

[Fond laughter~] Aw, that sounds like him all right. Kid fanboy in every world.

[Chuckles. He knows that face.]

Well, there is a possibility of magic. In which case he would be incredibly frustrated as he refuses to admit such things. Or perhaps an odd serum or medication he was exposed too? His neighbor is an inventor, so it wouldn't be impossible he somehow got close to a person who was trying to achieve that affect, but that does have the problem of why he's hiding. So perhaps someone gave it to him thinking it was one thing when it wasn't?

He does know more than most of my fans. It's almost creepy.

[Moar grumble face. Seriously, a whole load of grumble.]

[He shook his head at the first, and started to smile widely at the rest.] If it was magic, then Koizumi in my world would've told us she could reverse it or something by now. And as for the rest, two outa three ain't bad.

'Course he does. He's a good detective. When it comes to Kid. Just imagine him as a cat, and you're a string ball... dangle string in front of cat, and watch him go! Cat never gets string, though. But cat can get tied up.

[Chuckles more~]

Oh? So you know the full situation then?

[Laughs.] Ah, it is an apt description. Though it seems he gives you just as much attention as he does Kid.

[*insert impersonation of Mutley here*]

Maybe~!

I'm good at apt descriptions. Let me guess; the stalking me as much as Kid has something to do with hoping I'd actually give something away? [said dryly. As if any version of himself would respond kindly to someone wanting to know stuff about his dad.]

You said I have two out of three. Or two out of three were valid? It certainly seems like you know more than I do.

That or he has a crush on you. We're not sure which it is. [Okay, that was just him teasing.]

That's what comes of being one of the few people Tantei-kun knows won't rat him out to just anyone. Hm... number two and the last one. But not exactly.

I'd really like to NOT have the image in my head that there's a world out there somewhere where Hakuba actually has a crush on me, oyaji. It's just... plain... wrong. Uck.

I suppose you have a point there. Then can I ask if that odd little girl is involved? She came quite out of nowhere too.

[Chuckles.] You never know in a place of unlimited possibilities.

You can. And if you're talking about the same one, then maybe. Warn you, though - she's paranoid.

...Now you're just out to mentally scar me.

Precisely why I thought she was involved. Most children aren't so paranoid.

But it's so easy to do. [Teasing, really.]

-except Tantei-kun and the little ojou-sama, that is. Oh, and that little entourage of theirs is going the same way. But mostly around crime scenes.

...Aoko and Koizumi do that enough back home, in their own special ways. [His tone says exactly what he thinks of that, too.] I don't need it from you too. Please?

There is a difference between paranoia and caution. The other three are learning caution, but Edogawa-kun and Haibara-chan are definitely bridging on paranoid.

[Chuckles.] Fine, fine. I'll lay off. So you've met Koizumi-chan then? An interesting young lady.