[directed at truly_kaitou]

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

With all the planning going on and people crowded into the ghost's study, no one was going to notice the discreet departure of one Conan -- particularly since the person most likely to notice him gone was fast asleep bordering on unconscious in the corner. Conan did feel guilty about leaving Ran, but she could take care of herself -- and sleep through anything -- and he was worried about his other best friend.

The room that he and Kuroba had used to compare notes upon their first arrival was empty and Conan was silent a few long moments, making a new plan of action. Finally, he took the stairs to the basement and the dressing rooms. It was a long shot, but as he approached to find doors akimbo something told him he was on the right track. "Kid?"

Comments

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

It's not that he doesn't want to be part of the ghost-hunting-ofuda-making-get-together, so much as he can't stand that many people, most of whom would be looking at him. And there would be actual ghosts there, with strong enough presences to put him on edge. Plus, he's been here for he doesn't know how long, and the kaitou side of his mind is restless and prodding at him to do something take something come on come on come on are you a thief or aren't you.

That impulse has gotten strong enough, been ignored enough that he's stopped being elegant about this, isn't bothering to be stealthy. He's just opening doors and drawers, turning out the contents and pocketing whatever catches his eye.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan pauses in the door of a dressing room, watching Kaito rifle through drawers. There's something urgent about his behaviour, and the lack of his usual elegance is worrying. "Busy?"

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

He starts, spins around, the drawer slamming closed. He isn't sure which Conan this is, but he does realize he's been caught riffling through drawers like a drug addict in search of a fix.

"Not particularly." Tone holding steady, Poker Face in place.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Poker face. Conan hesitates in the doorway. He's worried about Kuroba -- but he also knows that his friend is going to resent that worry. He's briefly homesick for Kuroba how he used to be, before the change happened that has wrought such difference in his friend. Oh, and being seven sucks too.

"Picked a good night for it," is all he says, approaching Kaito. "With everyone who is awake dealing with the ghost situation, you've got the place to yourself pretty much."

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

One gloved hand tightens on the handle of the drawer.

"Don't. Just... just don't."

He doesn't want this. He wants himself back, he wants to just be Kuroba Kaito again, to not flicker and hide and be this phantom any more. Kudo's own change hasn't helped at all. He wants his friend back.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Don't?" Conan pauses, holding his hands up. "I'm not going to say anything, or tell anyone. I wanted to see you."

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"Well, you found me."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"I did." Conan's no longer so sure that this is a good thing.

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

He stretches, lets out a shaky breath. Honestly, if Conan hadn't shown up, he wasn't sure if he would have been able to stop.

"Let's go somewhere else."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan seizes happily on the suggestion. "Outside? We should have it to ourselves."

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"That sounds like a good idea."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan remembered just in time that Kudou Shinichi was too proud to grab a friend's hand. "Let's go then." He put his hands in his pockets as he climbed the stairs, frowning as he worked out what he would say to Kuroba.

It didn't used to be this complicated.

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

He follows, fiddling with a (newly-claimed) deck of firing-cards in his pocket, feeling the metal cut through the leather of his gloves and into his hand. There's no pain.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

It's probably for the best that Conan misses that, leading the way at a rapid pace until they reach the door in the lobby where he has to pause -- the doorhandle isn't designed for short elementary school kids.

"Hey, Kuroba?"

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

He reaches over, opens the door without a word.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

It's not going to be the same, no matter how hard he pretends. Conan doesn't thank Kaito, letting his friend pick the direction they take as they walk outside, the cooler night air welcome after the crowded study.

"Would it bother you if I talked about the ghost?"

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"Which one?" He'd seen the warning, heard about a ghost-Shinichi as well.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"The one that's been causing all the trouble. You heard about it, right? The me that got hurt by it?"

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"I heard about it. I've been trying to stay as far away from potential haunting places as possible though."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"They wouldn't let me go anywhere near it. They want a Conan volunteer to distract him ..." Conan's silent, still brooding over that unfairness. "It's hard to believe that's a me behind it all."

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"It's hard to believe that there's a 'me' behind 1412."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Have you met him?" Conan looks up sharply. After all he's heard of him, 1412 has become vivid in his imagination.

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"Not to speak to, no." Stalked, a bit. Overheard others conversing about the assassin. Not met.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"That's just as well." Conan absently reaches for Kaito's hand, having forgotten that he is a big, brave, high-schooler.

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

Kid pulls away. Don't touch me.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

Conan blinks at that, but his unhappy protests is silenced by his own realisation that he doesn't want to admit to wanting his hand held. He scowls, running a couple of metres ahead before slowing to a walk and calling back over his shoulder. "The ghost is a me that got shrunk. They buried him under the wrong name and he went slowly mad. Now they're trying to seal him off with ofuda so he doesn't hurt anyone else."

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

Not his day. Not his week. Not his year even. First the raging kaitou instincts, and now a sulking... Conan.

"Too bad we can't go to his world. Change the name on the memorial and see what happens."

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"There's got to be a way to do that. If this place really is a nexus ..."

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"If there was, I think you'd have more than a few people taking advantage of it already."

Aoko, pale and thin and worn, and her Kaito, silent and wary.

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Maybe it's a good thing I haven't worked out how to do it yet," Conan agreed, pausing to jump over a crack in the path.

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"What would your mother say if I told her I'd misplaced her favorite son in an alternate dimension?"

[dynamic-brat.livejournal.com]

"Who cares what she thinks? She might prefer me in another dimension."

[truly-kaitou.livejournal.com]

"Well, I don't want to have to find out."