EDIT UPDATE: I have created a list of the drabbles I will be using to complete this series at the following link (add ". com" after tumblr and remove the spaces):

acierglace. tumblr post/ 98008424663 /the-kaishin-au-drabble-prompt-list

"I can't marry you!"

Despite the utter chaos of a typical KID heist, Ran's shout had shattered through the various pops, bangs, and whizzing sounds of the KID handicapping his pursuing officers. Shinichi had clapped hands over his ears as soon as he'd seen her draw breath and cautiously lowered his hands as she covered her mouth in horror. He brought himself back to his feet, not wanting to be kneeling within kicking range and turning down the gauge on his adult-sized power shoes.

The heist ground to a halt as the surrounding officers stopped chasing the thief to stare at Shinichi and Ran, even the KID pausing where he was balanced precariously on one of the museum's banners. Shinichi shivered as the temperature in the room plummeted, feeling sharp eyes boring into the back of his head.

"Ah-haha, that wasn't what I was trying-"

"It's just- I met someone else while you were gone and I was going to wait for you, but you didn't call for eight months! And when you did, you were so happy about finishing your case and you never even asked what I was doing for those eight months!" Ran lowered her hands and spread them out beseechingly. "And you were inviting me out for dinner and a date at the museum, but I deserve more than that. More than being at your beck and call when you decide we should be together."

"You're completely right," Shinichi agreed, fighting the urge to twitch and glare around the room. No one else had so much as breathed it seemed, waiting to see how the drama would play out. "And I didn't mean to ignore you for that long. I got busy and stupid, and you deserve more than that. I asked you out tonight to meet the person that I met during those eight months. Not to ask you to marry me."

"But Sonoko said-" Ran cut herself off and covered her face in horror. "Oh god, Sonoko told me she saw you at a jeweler's when she was shopping last week. And she followed you around and you'd made reservations at a romantic restaurant and cleared your schedule at the police department to have tonight free."

"Wait, Sonoko followed me around and told you I was planning to ask you to marry me?" Shinichi grabbed Ran's shoulders, face burning as the officers around the room started to whisper. There was only silence from the KID. Not. Good.

"You had a ring and reservations and you weren't on call. And I told her she was wrong, but then you'd asked me out for the same night as your reservations, so I started to think she was right." Ran dropped her hands and wrung them together, looking around the room and blushing hard at all the attention focused on them.

"I wanted to make up for ignoring you and meet up with the person I met on my case. I thought it was easier if I just did both tonight."

"At the KID heist? Is it a police officer?" Ran asked, taking in the room with a more interested expression.

Shinichi's hands tightened on her shoulders in panic as the chills racing up and down his spine suddenly strengthened. Someone was not happy.

"It's not a police officer," Shinichi said, but that was as far as he got before a blinding flash and deluge of smoke filled the museum. Shinichi kept his hold on Ran as they stumbled towards the exit, the police officers shouting and creating a cacophony of noise.

Shinichi pulled Ran into the adjacent room, both coughing to clear out the taste of the heavy smoke. Shinichi released Ran's shoulder, but flinched as hands caught his shoulders and pinned him to the closing door. Ran stumbled back in surprise, bracing herself as she prepared to meet their attacker.

Surprise brought her up short.

"KID?!"

"How could you, meitantei-kun? After everything we've been through, after all the promises, you bring the other woman to my heist and ask her to marry you? You're cruel!" The KID exclaimed, shaking Shinichi's shoulders. There was a smile on the KID's face, but it wasn't a happy smile.

"I didn't ask her to marry me!" Shinichi pushed the KID off.

"You were on one knee, in the middle of my heist, with a ring in your pocket!" The KID accused, shaking a finger in Shinichi's face, his other hand brought up on his hip.

Ran continued to gape at both of them, blinking rapidly.

"I didn't buy it for her!" Shinichi brought the ring out and brandished it between them. "It's a replica of your target tonight! I was going to swap them while you were playing games with your Task Force!"

"You bought a ring for me?" The KID asked, voice suddenly small and full of wonder. He dropped his hand to snag the ring box, popping it open with a bright laugh. "Oh, meitantei-kun, it's beautiful!"

The KID promptly took the ring out and slid it on his left hand, snugly fitting on his ring finger despite the silk gloves. He held his hand over head and admired the glitter of the star sapphire.

"It wasn't for you!" Shinichi protested, making a grab for the KID's hand and chasing after him as the KID danced back out of reach. "Give it back! That's for someone else!"

"I accept this token of your love!" The KID leaned forward, locking his hands around Shinichi's wrists and capturing his mouth. Shinichi gave out a protest, but it was smothered under the KID's insistent kiss. When the KID drew away, Shinichi stumbled back, a hand coming up to cover his mouth in shock. "Well, I'm glad everything's cleared up, Meitantei-kun. Have a good evening, Mouri-hime."

And the KID vanished in a plume of colorful smoke, just as the Task Force started pounding on the door behind them. Ran shook herself out of her shock and approached Shinichi.

"Shinichi? Are you alright?"

Shinichi nodded slowly, lowering his hand and staring at the sapphire ring on his own left hand.

"Well, at least he gave it back," She ventured, touching his elbow timidly. "Although that kiss-"

"Never happened. We never speak of that ever," Shinichi said, voice grave. He held her gaze steadily, flat blue eyes as somber as his tone. "It never happened."

"Right. And you never asked me to marry you," Ran agreed, shoulders slumping in relief. They opened the door to let the Task Force in, bravely dealing with the pinch checks and then being sent on their way. A few officers laughed quietly at Shinichi's red face, but broke off guiltily when he glared at them.

"The person I wanted you to meet should still be outside." Shinichi took her hand and led her out of the museum, past the police cordon and into the crowd of KID fans clustered around the barricade.

"Maybe tomorrow you can meet my person," Ran suggested, squeezing his hand meaningfully. Shinichi grinned at her over his shoulder.

"That sounds great, Ran."

"Shinichi! You two-timer! You're cheating on me with a pretty girl already?" A male voice called out, drawing Ran's eye. A boy their age was scowling at Shinichi, even as the girl at his side with her anti-KID signs turned to berate him.

The smile fell off Shinichi's face.

"Don't be an idiot!" He stubbornly held Ran's hand until they were in front of the boy and his friend, close enough that Ran could see the amusement in his eyes that belied his hurt words. "This is Mouri Ran, my best friend. Ran, this is Kuroba Kaito, my- person," he finished lamely.

"Boyfriend, Shinichi. That's the word you're looking for," Kaito said, a large grin overtaking his face as Shinichi sputtered in denial. "It's nice to meet you, Ran-chan. I've heard a lot about you."

"Dont' be rude, Kaito!" The girl at his side elbowed him hard in the side, sending the boy to the ground in pain. She stepped forward and bowed politely. "I'm Nakamori Aoko. It's nice to meet you, Mouri-san."

"Nice to meet you too." Ran bowed back, sneaking a glance as Shinichi helped Kaito back to his feet, fingers tangling together once Kaito was upright. "But just call me Ran."

"You can call me Aoko." Aoko turned to look at Shinichi and Kaito, heads bent together and whispering. She leaned into Ran's space. "It's also really good to meet Kaito's boyfriend. For a while, I thought he was imaginary."

"Are you ready to go?" Shinichi asked, fingers still tangled with Kaito's. He was looking at her, maybe a little nervously.

She nodded.

"How about you go ahead and I'll have you meet me and my boyfriend tomorrow?" She leaned forward to give him a hug, turning her head to whisper in his ear. "Good luck tonight, Shinichi."

"I'm not asking him to marry me. It's just a promise." Shinichi whispered back.

Ran pulled away and looked over at Kaito. The smile was still on his face, but there was an edge to it, something unhappy and anxious.

"I'm really happy I met you, Kaito-kun. Have a good night," she said, watching his face crumple in confusion before Shinichi was pulling his away from the crowd. Ran turned to Aoko. "Would you like to get some coffee tomorrow morning? And tell me more about Kaito-kun?"

"I'd love to." Aoko pulled out her cell phone and they exchanged numbers. She put her phone away and paused before leaving, hefting her anti-KID sign higher on her shoulder. "You know, I thought Kaito was going to get hurt when he started dating Shinichi. Mostly because he always talked about you. I think he's jealous of how close you two are."

"If he should be jealous of anyone," Ran said, grinning to herself as she remembered the look of horror on Shinichi's face. "He should be jealous of Kaitou KID."