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Chapter Seven

After a hot breakfast of oatmeal with strawberries and cream Yukiko claimed she was going to take a nap to get rid of the headache she had. Shinichi felt a twinge of guilt and nodded at her when she headed back up stairs. He cleaned the table, the dishes, and began a methodical process of cleaning the kitchen. Half way through in wiping down the fridge he wondered what he was doing. His mother said he was working through the stages of depression. Rocking back on his heels he stared at his spotless kitchen. Working through depression, huh? He felt stupid. He just cleaned a kitchen that didn't need to be cleaned. Standing he closed the door slightly harder than necessary and tossed the cleaning wipe.

Shinichi decide that he needed to get out. He made his way into the bathroom, showered, finally shaved the beard and got dressed in a pair of light wash jeans, white fitted V-necked tee, and a forest green zip-up hoodie. He wrote a quick note to his mother saying he was out and had his cell on him if she needed anything. He grabbed a brown leather jacket from the side closet and slipped on a pair of high top black converse. Casting a brief look towards the dining room he knew where he wanted to go.

It was cold and windy and made Shinichi scrunch his nose. Hands stuffed into his jacket he tried not to break into a full run towards the park. The only problem he had was he couldn't remember which park it was to save his life. He knew there were four parks in between his house and the police station. Two were in a good walking distance the others would have him pass the Mouri's and he honestly didn't know how he felt about being that close and risk seeing Ran again in case she was there. Jogging to the first he paused to peeking in. There was a small children's playground near the middle and another entrance on the opposite side but no fountain or benches or warm smiles. Shinichi hunkered down and began walking again to the next one. The second wasn't as empty as the first and was actually a dog park with some fairly large dogs and equal cold owners. He shifted, turned up the collar to his jacket, and headed to the next one. Poirot's came in to view and Shinichi nearly whimpered for coffee and warmth. The bell above the door rang and Azuza blinked in shock at him.

"Kudo-san?!"

Shinichi shook the cold off him and smiled. "Hi, Azuza-san. Could I get a hot black coffee?"

"Of course, sit anywhere you'd like." She said quickly and rushed behind the counter.

Shinichi took a booth in front of the window and waited. Poirot had a few customers scattered throughout. A couple of them were regulars, some were students, and a few were just like Shinichi in wanting a few moments out of the cold and with a hot cup of their choice. A small group of students were huddle over text books and whispered about finals and rumors in a booth behind him. Shinichi watched them discreetly and practiced a questionable tool of the trade: eavesdropping.

"Okay now that we have that settled, Nakamouri are you going to tell us what is going on with you and that friend of yours?"

"Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' us! Come one tell us."

"You guys aren't exactly being specific in who you're talking about. I have a ton of friends. So who?" Nakamouri said calmly and sipped her tea.

"Come on, he's tall, has those gorgeous blue, kind-of violet eyes and cute butt."

Shinichi blinked and tried not to laugh as Nakamouri spewed her tea. "You mean Kaito!?"

"So that's his name. He does look like a phantom." One of the girls swooned. "Does he go to our school? What's his given name?"

Nakamouri waved her hands and huffed. "No he doesn't go to our school. He's goes to an engineering school here in Beika and Kaito is his given name."

"Hmmmm, well what's his full name then?"

"Kuroba Kaito and who cares about him. He's just some silly magician who doesn't even remember to call." Nakamouri seethed and shoved her books away.

Her friends watched their friend in shock and Shinichi jumped when Azuza called out to him. "Kudo-san, here's your coffee."

He smiled charmingly up at her. "Thanks, Azuza-san."

Her blush and sudden stutter went unnoticed as the detective focused on the girls behind him. They had gone quiet before one of them called to Azuza. Shifting to the side he pretended to stare out the window and glanced at them. The one called Nakamouri had to be the one glaring at her tea. She looked a lot like Ran to the point where he had to suppress a shudder.

"Why don't you call him?" A short haired blonde asked.

"Because I'm always the one to call. I'm always the one who goes to see him. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of waiting for him to notice I'm in love with him." Nakamouri sighed and fought against the tears.

Shinichi turned back to watch the steam rise from his coffee. What she had said struck him squarely in the heart. Sipping the scalding liquid he thought back to a moment when he was as Conan and Ran shouted the same thing to Suzuki. He had called Ran a few days after that and told her that he loved her. Shinichi shook his head. He had gone through some pretty embarrassing times after that. She had wanted him to say it after every phone call and he did just to see her the next day soft with love.

"I don't mean to kick the hornet's nest but in the moments I've met him he doesn't strike me as the type who be ignorant to a woman's feelings."

Shinichi nearly turned his head when the new voice spoke calmly.

"What are you saying, Dijoma?"

"I'm saying he's probably knows how you feel and doesn't know how to approach it." At Nakamouri's tears Dijoma continued. "You've been childhood friends right?"

"Yes."

"Sometimes it hard for people to transition from that mostly because they are scared they'll lose the other completely." Shinichi looked over at the woman sitting directly behind him. "You may have to take the next step and confess or you can give up on your love for him."

"Dijoma, that was harsh." The girl sitting next to her said.

Dijoma shrugged a narrow shoulder and glanced briefly at her with brown eyes. "But it was the truth."

Shinichi jumped when those calm eyes looked at him. Blinking at her he watched her shift to look at him fully in the face.

"Speak of the devil." She said and glared.

"Huh?"

Nakamouri's head snapped up, looked at him in shock then stood suddenly glaring. "Kaito!" Before Shinichi could speak he watched her exit the booth and launched herself at him. "You jerk where in the hell have you been!? Why haven't you answered your cell and what in the hell are you doing listening in on our conversation!?"

Shinichi clenched his teeth to keep them from clacking together painfully. Azuza had rushed to their side and struggled to be heard over Nakamouri's shouting. He felt the shoving and pulling stop and looked down at the girl in his lap. Her shoulders were shaking and tears were falling off her cheek.

"I've been in love with you jerk."

"Aoko? What are you doing?"

Shinichi swung his head over to the entry way and stared up at the familiar park magician, Kuroba Kaito.

Shinichi took another long swallow of coffee as Nakamouri Aoko sat next to her childhood friend beyond embarrassed. As she explained Kaito began to shake then lay his head on the table. Concerned Shinichi nearly reached out till he heard the man laugh. As the magician raised his head the laughter rang around them.

"It's not funny Kaito!" Nakamouri shouted and swung her redden face to face him.

Kaito just laughed harder and slapped the table. "I'm sorry! I thought you were going to kill him! You were shaking him so bad I thought he did something to you! Jeez I nearly came in here to kill him."

Nakamouri blinked at his statement and fidgeted. "You were?"

"Aoho, you're my best friend. I'm not going to let some creep do something to you and let him get away with it." Kaito explained then looked at Shinichi. "No offense."

"None taken." Shinichi said stiffly.

"Did you hear what I said?" Nakamouri said softly.

Kaito glanced at her and fell quiet. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She went redder and nodded. Kaito shifted out of the booth and waited for Nakamouri to follow. Shinichi watched her hesitate then climb slowly out of the booth. They walked out of the café and the detective and Nakamouri's friend watched them stand just outside the glass. The conversation started and Shinichi went back to his coffee. If things went well Nakamouri will confess and they'd go through the awkward stages of an initial relationship. They'd hold hands first then try to get over the butterflies when they kissed for the first time. Both would be too nervous to make the first move and

Shinichi found his thoughts halt at the echoing sound of a slap. He looked out the window and watched Nakamouri glare up at Kuroba before running off in the opposite direction. Her friends behind him scrambled and he stood quickly.

"Don't worry about the check I've got it. Just go help your friend." He said swiftly and helped them out.

He was confusedly thanked and forgotten as they ran off. Kuroba stood on the sidewalk with a stinging cheek and bruised heart. Sighing Shinichi scratched the back of his head and walked to the magician.

"You look different."

"Huh?" Shinichi replied and looked at Kuroba.

He was smiling softly at him and had his twitching hands in his jean pockets. "You've shaved since we've last met."

Shinichi refrained from rubbing his smooth face. "Yeah, uh are you okay?"

Kuroba blinked at him in shock then waved his hands franticly. "Oh! Yeah, it was just a slap. I've felt worse. AH! In high school she used to chase me around with a mop."

A mop? Shinichi thought and watched Kuroba. He was a bundle of nerves and highly embarrassed. "Why don't you come back inside?"

The magician jumped slightly and looked at the café's door. "Ah …"

"You're hurting." Shinichi stated simply.

Kuroba stared at him before hanging his shoulders and walking back into Poirot. Shinichi followed and they took a seat at table in the back. Azuza came by with a fresh cup of coffee for Shinichi and asked Kuroba what he wanted. The man caught Shinichi off guard when he asked for a hot chocolate.

"I've got a sweet tooth." Kaito explained when he caught Shinichi's curious stare.

"Are you okay?"

Kaito blinked at the sudden question. "You don't beat around the bush, do you?"

Shinichi took a sip of coffee and felt his ears burn. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Kaito chirped and laced his hands on to the table. "To answer your question, yes? No. I really don't know. I've known Aoko, ah, that girl"

"Nakamouri Aoko." Shinichi said softly.

Kaito blinked then narrowed his eyes. "How did you know?"

"I'm a detective." Shinichi laughed lightly. Kuroba's sudden disregard for his own pain to protect his friend was endearing. Kaito made a twisted face and leaned back in his chair. "What's the matter? Do you have a problem with private detectives?" Shinichi asked unoffended. He knew there were a lot of people who had a distain for private investigators.

Kaito shook his head. "Just one because he's an insufferable know-it-all and a pompous Brit."

Shinichi found himself laughing slightly harder than necessary at Kaito's comment. "Sounds tiring."

"You have no idea." Kaito sighed then grinned when Azuza place the hot chocolate down and watched her blush when he presented her with a pale peach rose. "Thank you, miss."

Shinichi arched a brow and was impressed at the smoothness of his act. When Azuza left them the detective turned back to the magician. Kaito was blowing softly at the drink with both of his hands wrapped around the cup. As he went to take a sip he hissed back. Shinichi laughed and handed him a napkin to mop the slightly spilt chocolate.

"Cat's tongue?" Shinichi grinned and took a sip of his own drink.

Kaito stuck out his burnt tongue and huffed. "I can't help it."

Relaxed Shinichi watched Kaito try again and fail. "Kuroba-san?"

"Hm?"

"Did you really not like Nakamouri-san?"

Kaito looked up at the detective in shock and struggled to replace his poker face. "Ah …"

"You don't have to tell me … It's none of my business. Sorry." Shinichi scrambled.

Kaito smiled and shook his head. "It's alright. I like her just not in the way she was hoping. That hurts to know I've hurt her with something I've been unable to produce."

"Unable to produce?"

Kaito looked up at him bitter sweetly. "Love. I can't fall in love no matter how hard I try or want to."

Shinichi paused with the cup half way to his lips and felt … disappointed? Sympathetic? Continuing with his sip he looked down at the table to Kaito's hands. They held slight tremors and bore tons of small thin white line scars and some that came from burns. What would someone have to go through to say they couldn't fall in love? Or did they go through anything? Shinichi looked back up to Kaito's face. The bitter sweet smile was still there. He had high cheek bones, a strong jaw, and soft eyes. There was a faint scar underneath the right eye. Despite his hair looking like an untamable mess his brows were groomed and kept. All in all he had a striking, highly remember-able face.

Clearing his throat Kaito squirmed underneath Shinichi's exam. "Ah … I just remember I don't know your name."

"It's Kudo Shinichi." Shinichi said slightly embarrassed. "Sorry I didn't tell you last time we met."

"To be honest I didn't think we'd ever meet up again and this soon, so I wouldn't worry about it." Kaito laughed then laced his fingers to place his chin on them. "Kudo Shinichi."

The way Kaito rolled his name cause heat to flare into Shinichi face and stare at him. As Kaito tested his name twice he squirmed in his seat slightly uncomfortable. "Kuroba-san?"

"You have a nice name. It flows together perfectly." Kaito said oblivious of Shinichi's discomfort. "I've already introduced myself but just to be polite. I'm Kuroba Kaito, magician extraordinaire." For the second time in Shinichi's existence he found a yellow rose place just under his nose. Laughing he accepted it and laid it next to his empty cup.

To be honest I'm very unsure about this chapter. Please review.