Time is Running (Kaishin)

A hotel...?

Kuroba was a little surprised. That old man did spend some money on Aoko. Wearing a hemd to cover up his timer with long sleeves, Kaito had tried to look at least the part of a more formal venue- but he hadn't awaited a hotel nonetheless.

"How do you feel, Kuroba?"
Kaito glanced to the side, catching Shinichi's worried smile. Ah.
"I've... got mixed feelings about this."
"How much longer?"
Kaito rolled up his sleeve a little.
"Only a few hours left..."
Both fell silent for a few seconds, before Shinichi broke into a chuckle and gave Kaito's shoulder a small pat.
"I believe we should enjoy ourselves then for the time being. And introduce me to your friend, will you?"
Kuroba rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress that smile. In fact, he couldn't have wished for a better moment to spend his evening. Especially with Shinichi accompanying him- this time on his own without a heist notice prompting him to.

With the two of them entering the hotel, the way to the small venue room was quickly found and with that, Kaito and Shinichi found themselves in midst of a small party. Music was playing, more or less the entire highschool class of Kaito's was presented together with their own friends, and everybody seemed to have a good time.
"Kaito!! You came!!"
A girl flew into Kaito's arms, and the latter laughed, catching her and twirling her around in his arms.
"Ahouko, of course I wouldn't miss your birthday!! Ah, this is my plus one, Kudo Shinichi."
Shinichi smiled at her and bowed, to which she respectfully bowed back. It was eery how similar she looked to Ran.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise!! I'm Nakamori Aoko."

Shinichi almost laughed. It was so Kaito to just worm his way into his enemies lives, and befriending the daughter of Nakamori-keibu was almost laughably so Kuroba Kaito.
"Please enjoy yourselves!!"
With that, she skipped off, and Kaito pushed his hands into his pockets to keep himself from nervously fiddling around with them.
"So that's your friend hm?"
"Best friend, if I'm being honest... We grew up together."
"Grew up?"
Now that was a little surprising to the sleuth.
"Yeah. We're neighbors, actually."
"Neighbors..."

To Shinichi, this was all too hilarious. Who could have known that Kaitou KID would live right next door to Nakamori-keibu and the poor old man never even knew?
"I'm honestly glad you're taking a break today. Your obsession was getting out of hand, and was unhealthy to the boot."
"That's high coming from you coffee addict. At least I was exercising."
"You could put it that way, true."
Both men stared each other for a second before starting to chuckle. Shinichi couldn't deny that he was growing quite fond of this idiot.

It felt weird, trying to have a good time with the knowledge on his mind that anything could happen today. It was even weirder when Kaito suddenly up and vanished.
Shinichi moved through the party guests, trying to look for his friend but found himself lacking any answer. Where on earth did that good for nothing thief run off too? Especially when he was explicitly told by him to keep an eye on him once the time ran out.
A glance at his watch.
Close to midnight.

It wasn't long anymore until Kaito's timer was supposed to run around... if Shinichi counted right, it was mere minutes.
"Goddamnit..."
He headed out of the venue into the hallway, looking left and right. Where was he? Shinichi stopped a member of staff.
"Have you seen a young man, brown hair, japanese, indigo eyes? He's wearing a blue hemd and black pants."
"My apologies, I haven't. I'll keep an eye out."
Not good enough. Shinichi wandered off- for sure Kaito wasn't going to be on the upper levels where the guests would sleep. Was he in one of the bathroom stalls?

Shinichi checked each and every one of them. Nobody there.
With a glance left and right, he returned back to the venue. Maybe he had returned to the guests by now? Once again, still no sign of his friend. Shinichi was starting to become worried by now- gosh how he wished he had asked Kuroba for his phone number in advance.

A few minutes later, and Shinichi found Kaito staring at a painting just a few hallways down. Breathing a sigh of relief, Shinichi smacked Kaito on the back of his head, earning a yelp.
"Ouch!!"
"That's what you get, wandering off! I was worried sick you idiot! You don't have much time anymore, you know?!"
Kaito froze up. Ah. Right.
"I was just... this painting, it looks off. Like... there is something which isn't supposed to be there, but I can't pinpoint it."
Shinichi raised an eyebrow and turned to stand next to his friend, eying the painting. Truth to be told, Kaito was right.

Something was off about this.

"Can we take a look later on...? I'd rather have you somewhere more secluded when the timer runs out, who knows what's going to happen."
Kaito hesitated, then finally breathed out a sigh. Shinichi was right. He turned to follow the sleuth, yet frowned. Wait a second...

Shinichi turned back as he realized Kaito wasn't following him, only to see the thief ripping a piece of the frame off of the painting- He gasped, hurrying back.
"Kuroba what the fuck are you doing...?!"
"Shinichi, I- I-I'm sorry, I..."
Kaito stared down at the wooden piece inside his hands that he had removed. It almost looked... intentional. It was meant to be removed. A secret compartment.

Both boys looked up again at the painting, only to see a flamboyant sapphire sparkling back at them. Without a second thought, Kaito reached out, pulling the sapphire out of its hidden chamber before replacing the wooden tile once again.
"What on earth...?!"

And only a second later, Kaito tensed, rolling up his sleeve with the sapphire still in hand. Shinichi and him both stared down onto his arm, wide eyed, unable to speak.

0 days 0 hours 0 minutes

Kuroba turned around and took off as if stung by a wasp, sprinting to the nearest window. Within the gentle rays of moonlight pooling through the glass, Kaito could see it clear as day.

A red sparkle, a jewel within a jewel.
"Kaito...?"
Shinichi had followed him, worried eyes scanning him from head to toe.
"Kaito are you alright?"
Kaito couldn't speak. He hastily pocketed the sapphire, trembling.

"What are you- mmpf-!"
Kaito spun around, grabbed Shinichi at his shoulders and pulled him into a kiss.