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Chapter Text

Shinichi probably should have called his parents back. In his defense, the first message doesn't sound that urgent. How is the teen supposed to know that, “You're sixteen now, Shinichi, and there's something we should discuss,” is the honest truth instead of hyperbole?

His parents' monthly check-ins are usually little more than rambling lists of interesting facts and places that they've seen, with at least one side discussion on recent mysteries. So who could blame him for deciding to act his age and blowing off that conversation? Especially when Inspector Megure has just called about a body and Shinichi can't resist a murder scene.

The next time his parents call, Shinichi is in the library, reading A Study in Scarlet for the fifteenth time. The line between love and obsession is sometimes hard to determine, though Ran would say he crossed it long ago. Of course, the detective would argue that his best friend just doesn't understand the brilliance that is Sherlock Holmes and someday he'll find the perfect words to make her see.

Regardless, he can't be bothered to pick up the phone when it starts ringing, just keeps one ear out for the answering machine. When it clicks on, his mother's voice sounds much too calm and happy for an emergency so Shinichi goes back to reading. The teen intends to call his parents once his book is finished. Really. It just slips his mind afterwards.

The third call – the last one while Shinichi is Shinichi – comes in just as he's running out the door. He'll be late when meeting Ran if he doesn't leave this instant and the teen doesn't want to make her more annoyed. It's bad enough that he forgot about Tropical Land once already; Shinichi can't disappoint her now.

Maybe he should have answered the phone. Being late for that meeting might have stopped his life from changing irrevocably. But Shinichi doesn't know that and by the time he staggers home – suddenly a child, suddenly in danger – the former teen has forgotten about the call entirely.

A failed murder attempt by a nefarious organization would be distracting enough without the loss of his entire life and Conan Edogawa can hardly keep running home to check Shinichi's messages. So he can be forgiven for missing the fourth call and the fifth down through the twentieth as well.

If the boy had been at home, he might have wondered why his parents were calling him so often. But he isn't, so he doesn't. It remains a mystery.

When his parents finally return to Tokyo, they're too busy masquerading as members of the Black Organization to explain the reason for those phone calls. And Conan? Well, he's simply fearing for his life. His mother and father may be flighty people but they're also far too good at what they do.

Of course, pretending to be evil and threatening your child isn't the best way to start a rational conversation. Particularly not with someone as stubborn as Shinichi. By the time he's finished yelling at his parents for their deception and refusing to flee Japan at their request, none of them are in the mood to talk about other things.

His parents could have called again after leaving Conan with the Mouris more permanently. They certainly know the number of the cell phone that they bought him. However, the boy's revenge leaves his father much too busy writing for his publishers to think about that conversation and his mother is simply too amused.

Which is why the teen-turned-child walks back into the Mouri house a few weeks later in a state of blissful ignorance. That's not to say he's feeling peaceful. Shinichi is sick as a dog and already tired of pretending to be Conan, tired of living as a kid and making Ran cry regularly. But he has no reason to think the person shouting at Mr. Mouri has anything to do with him.

At least not until the stranger demands to know where Shinichi Kudo is. This guy is loud, brash and annoyingly clever. He's quick to realize that Shinichi must be close to Ran based on their phone conversations, though he seems strangely irritated by their relationship.

When the newcomer pulls off his cap to reveal dark skin, piercing green eyes and a confident smirk on a teen about his age, Conan's heart may flutter slightly. But that's probably just his illness making him flush hot.

“Sorry, I haven't introduced myself, have I?” the stranger says. “My name is Heiji Hattori. I'm a high school detective from Osaka an' Shinichi Kudo's fiance.”

There's a moment of absolute silence as Conan and the Mouris stare at him in shock. Then it's hard to say who's louder between Ran and Conan when both of them scream, “Shinichi's WHAT?!”

“Fiance,” Hattori repeats, sounding much too calm about the situation. “Our parents arranged da marriage a few years ago. Ain't sure why, ta be honest. It's outta character an' my old man wouldn't say. But dere's a contract an' everythin'. Dad sat me down an' told me when I turned sixteen.”

There is indeed a contract. The teen brought a photocopy that he shows them willingly. Conan is too short to see the details, but he can recognize his father's signature. Somehow this engagement is for real and the boy slumps down to the floor in abject shock.

His mind whirls, trying and failing to process this revelation. However, he keeps part of his attention on Hattori as the dark-skinned teen continues rambling. Always observing, that's Shinichi's modus operandi, though he doesn't know his new fiance well enough to say whether his gregariousness is normal or just caused by nervousness.

In truth, it's a little bit of both. Heiji is a romantic at heart and worked himself into something of a tither on the train to Tokyo. The detective isn't usually one to share his personal business with total strangers or barge in uninvited quite so forcefully. Though who can blame him for staking a claim when his fiance's best friend and potential sweetheart clearly has no idea who he is?

“We kin refuse a' course. The old man made sure a' it,” Hattori says. However, Conan's relief at that statement is quickly snuffed out by the teen's next words. “Jest not without meetin' each other an' tryin' dis out first. We gotta make da final decision once we're both eighteen. So I figgered I'd come up dis winter for da introduction. Give Kudo a chance ta get used ta the idea, ya know?

“But I kept followin' him in the papers while I waited. Dey're always comparin' us as detectives anyway – Kudo in da east an' me in da west. Only recently, he stopped showin' up in da news at all. Some say he's gone MIA an' if anyone knows what went down, I figgered it'd be you. Dat guy's too smart ta be taken out easy an' if he's in trouble, I wanna help.”

That's actually kind of sweet. Wait... kept following? As Shinichi, he never paid much attention to the newspapers in other regions. While he'd enjoyed his fame, he hadn't been interested in potential rivals. Though maybe the eastern detective should've been if only to avoid being blindsided by Hattori now.

Rival or not, Conan keeps getting stuck on the part where his parents never told him. Sure he hadn't answered their phone calls for a while, but they'd seen him in person after he was shrunk. This seems like something you should mention to your son. Or something you should call off after he gets turned into a six-year-old.

What were my folks thinking? I guess he's cute enough and at least he's a detective, but we never even had a marriage meeting and I have Ran anyway. Why would my parents assume I'm interested? And they can't possibly expect me to introduce myself like this!

With those thoughts running through his mind, Conan is too distracted to protest when Hattori invites himself to stick around. He just accepts the drink his fiance hands him for his cold and largely ignores Mr. Mouri's next visitor. Of course, that doesn't stop Conan from being swept along on the detective's newest case. Hattori volunteers as well in the hopes of meeting Shinichi, which makes him wonder how the teen would react if he knew that his fiance is much closer than he thinks.

However, as soon as the diplomat's body hits the floor in front of them, Conan's mind snaps back into focus. His personal crisis can wait until he finds a murderer and he grabs onto that distraction more than willingly.

Yet Hattori can't just be ignored. The dark-skinned teen matches him step for step through the investigation, literally knocking heads together when Conan finds the murder weapon and declaring the death a poisoning before the boy can say the words. While the western detective is the son of a police chief – and isn't that an unexpected revelation – he clearly got his title through more than nepotism.

It's refreshing to meet someone else who shares Shinichi's train of thought so well. It's unusual for anyone to keep up with him. Honestly, it's just a shame that Conan is too sick to really enjoy the experience. Most people think it's bad form to smile at crime scenes. But he has a feeling that Hattori isn't one of them.

As it is, Conan's cold seems to be getting worse exponentially. He's head is stuffy, his eyes are blurry and he doesn't think he's ever been this hot before. But the eastern detective pushes through because he has to know the answer and experience has taught him that no one else will find the truth if he doesn't lead the way.

Hattori comes close. He really does. But when the last few pieces of evidence finally click together, Shinichi has two revelations. First, the name of the true murderer and second, that his fiance has fallen for their ruse.

The boy isn't disappointed, that's what he tells himself. He just needs to ensure that the police know what really happened. However, before Conan can say anything, his body finally gives out and he collapses where he stands. He feels like he's burning up, his heart pounding like it's trying to break out of his chest.

If he dies here, Ran will never know what happened and might wait for him forever. Hattori will never have the chance to meet his fiance and will probably just keep chasing Kudo endlessly. Shinichi can't do that to his best friend and while he only met the other detective today, he doesn't want that for him either. Not when Hattori seems so darn sincere.

However, there's nothing he can do to stop his body failing him. The pain swells and peaks into horrific agony and then suddenly he's growing, tearing out of his clothes before they can strangle him. Shinichi is Shinichi once again.

The change seems like a miracle, but the teen doesn't stop to question it. Not when a single driving thought is running through his mind. I have to stop Hattori from making a mistake.

So Shinichi borrows a suit from the closet and does a quick sweep around the house to confirm his theory. He arrives at the diplomat's study just in time to catch the end of the other teen's denouement and his deduction does sound plausible, particularly when the diplomat's father confesses afterwards. But Shinichi knows it isn't true.

“That's a lie!” he announces from the doorway. The eastern detective couldn't have hoped for a more dramatic entrance as everyone in the room turns to stare at him.

“Who is that?”

“Kudo?”

“What are ya talkin' about?” Hattori growls, more focused on the challenge to his theory than the sudden appearance of his wayward fiance.

“Shinichi! Where have you been? I was worried,” Ran cries and the teen hates to see that there are tears in her eyes.

Shinichi needs to talk to her. He wants to reassure Ran not to worry and tell her that everything will be all right. However, that will have to wait until he solves this murder. The detective can't let a false confession stand.

“I'll be done soon,” Shinichi promises before turning to his scowling fiance. “Your theory is impossible.”

Adrenaline burns through him, dulling the ache still running through his body as he explains why Hattori's theory would never actually work. The dark-skinned teen doesn't take that statement lying down, but his challenge only pushes Shinichi to greater heights. He counters every objection, proves his statements with hard facts, and he can see the moment when the truth clicks together in Hattori's mind.

However, the thrill of the case can only keep Shinichi going for so long. After the diplomat's wife confesses and is taken into custody, the teen suddenly remembers that he feels like death incarnate. He slumps against the bookshelf and coughs painfully.

“Are you okay?” Ran asks. She and Hattori are the only people left in the study and both of them seem worried by his state. If he's being honest, Shinichi is a little worried too.

“I'm fine. It's just a cold,” he tells Ran, hoping that's the truth.

“Then why did you disappear?” she demands, her patience running out. “This guy says you've been nearby the whole time and if that's true, why won't you just come home? Have you just been watching me and laughing when I worry? Why would you...?”

“No!” Shinichi says with an edge of panic. He's never been able to deal with her crying because of him. “Give me a bit more credit, will you? I'm a detective. I can tell how you are just from hearing your voice, so there's no reason for me to ask about that when I call. I've been working on a case this whole time.”

The detective still hates lying to Ran but that's better than putting her in danger or letting her think that he's been laughing at her tears. Now that he's back to his old body, hopefully Shinichi won't need to lie to her anymore.

“Then how did ya know so much about dis murder?” Hattori asks suspiciously, unwilling to accept that explanation at face value. “Ya musta been watching us ta know dat I got da answer wrong.”

In any other circumstances, Shinichi would find the western detective's skepticism admirable. But at the moment, he just wants to sigh. Why does this jerk have to call me out right now? However, Ran is still listening so Shinichi forces his fuzzy thoughts in order and grasps for an excuse that Hattori might believe.

“Conan told me about you,” the teen claims. “He gave me all the details over the phone and I caught the first train once I realized what the murderer had done.”

“Dat kid talked about me an' the case was still da only reason ya rushed over here?” Hattori narrows his eyes and Shinichi winces at the teen's expression. He somehow managed to forget about the elephant in the room while he was focused on the murder, the one that starts with F and ends with -iance.

“I'll leave you two to talk,” Ran mutters into the awkward silence before fleeing from the room.

Shinichi wants to call her back if only to avoid this conversation. However, it's too late for that. So he looks at Hattori – his fiance – who came all the way to Tokyo just because he was worried and decides he owes the other teen at least part of the truth.

“I didn't know about you.”

“What?”

“My parents never told me. They're overseas right now and as much as I love them, they're not always very reliable,” Shinichi says. Honestly, marrying me off on a whim might be too in character. Though I suppose this explains why they've never been too enthusiastic about Ran. “I only found out that we're engaged when Conan called me and while it seems like this is real–”

“I wouldn't lie about that!”

“–I was focused on the case. I couldn't let you get it wrong.”

Hattori is less offended by that statement than Shinichi would have expected. Instead, the western detective seems almost relieved by the explanation, his frown disappearing beneath another blinding grin.

“Well then, it's a good thing ya were here,” the other teen says. “Sounds like my theory was wrong from da get go. So ya totally had me beat dis time around.”

“Idiot!” Shinichi snaps back. “It's not about winning or losing. In every case, one truth prevails.”

The detective means the words but he also regrets them as soon as they leave his mouth. This is a great first meeting. Prove him wrong, admit that I had no idea he existed and then call him an idiot. He won't want anything to do with me after this.

Shinichi tells himself that's for the best. He's too young to be engaged and he doesn't need a fiance. The teen always thought that he and Ran would get together in the future, that seemed where things were heading and this guy has no business crashing into his life. But somehow Hattori has already gotten under his skin a little. Shinichi thinks the western detective could be a friend even though that's kind of crazy and he waits with as much dread as anticipation for his fiance to walk away.

Hattori doesn't do that. Instead, the dark-skinned teen stares at Shinichi for one long moment and then murmurs, “That was hot.”

“Huh?” The eastern detective must have heard him wrong. But Hattori's gaze is steady, dark green eyes barely blinking as he walks closer slowly, and Shinichi flushes helplessly.

“Yer right. I got so caught in impressin' ya that I lost my focus,” his fiance says, backing him against the wall. “Next time I'll do better. Cuz I've decided. Ya may not have known about our engagement until now, but I still want ya. So I'm gonna make ya fall fer me.”

With that, Hattori leans in and kisses Shinichi on the mouth. One firm press against his lips, hot and soft and unexpected, before he pulls back with a smirk. “What do ya say, Kudo? Wanna get hitched?”

Shinichi is speechless, completely and utterly speechless, his mind gone blank for once in his life. Until a sudden throb within his chest tells the teen his time is running out. He's burning up again – probably turning back to Conan – and for a moment, it's tempting to let Hattori see.

At least then the other teen would understand why they definitely can't be together and this strange engagement should be called off immediately. Shinichi can hardly get married as a six-year-old and it wouldn't be fair to make Hattori wait until he's cured again. But that would be too dangerous. The detective can't tell his fiance the truth for the same reason that he can't tell Ran. He won't put them at risk from the syndicate.

“I have to go,” Shinichi says, pushing the dark-skinned teen away and staggering toward the door. He's halfway there when some instinct makes him look back and his heart lurches at the expression on Hattori's face. He must have taken the words as a rejection. They were a rejection and yet...

“You can write to me, okay?”

The words slip out before he can stop them and Shinichi can't quite bring himself to take them back. Not when the confused noise his fiance makes is adorable and he sees a hint of hope replace the sorrow in those eyes. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound.

“I really do need to go, but you can write me from Osaka,” Shinichi elaborates. “Send the letters to my neighbor Agasa and I'll collect them when I can.”

It's foolish. This whole idea is foolish. But he can't regret the impulse when a beaming smile spreads across Hattori's face.

“I will!” the western detective promises. “Thank you!”

“I'm not saying that I'll marry you,” Shinichi warns him, not wanting the other teen to set his sights too high. “But maybe we can be friends at least.”

With that, he turns and continues toward the door, the pounding of his heart giving each step more urgency. Just as the detective slips into the hallway, Hattori calls after him. “I'll change yer mind, Kudo! Jest wait an' see!”

The sheer unbridled optimism makes Shinichi smile, that warm feeling sticking with him even as he shrinks back into Conan once again. This engagement with Hattori is a complication that he really doesn't need. And yet, if nothing else, his new fiance seems bound to make life more interesting. Indeed, for the first time since being turned into a child, the eastern detective finds himself looking forward to something other than regaining his old self again.

Chapter Text

Heiji isn't expecting a fiance for his sixteenth birthday. He's expecting a small party with his parents and Kazuha, maybe a new bokken or some Ellery Queen novels, and to be fair, he does get that.

However, once the celebration finishes, Heiji's father sits him down in his study and says, “Son, there is something you should know.”

“Is everythin' okay?” the detective asks, sitting up a little straighter. Heizo Hattori is always a serious man, the type who frowns more than he smiles. But he doesn't usually speak to his son this formally. “What's goin' on?”

“You're engaged to be married,” is the answer. “I arranged it with his parents several years ago.”

“What? Why?” For once Heiji is completely baffled. The teen hasn't thought about marriage before now. Truthfully, he's barely thought about girls or guys at all, even though his classmates have started to pair off.

Heiji's focus is on kendo and being a detective, sharpening his skills instead of dating casually. If anything, the cases that he's worked have been enough to make him wary about relationships; the teen has seen too many ways that passion can go wrong.

Thinking about it now, Heiji would want someone loyal and intelligent, someone he could trust completely and who would trust him in return. Everything else seems less important, particularly when arrogance and beauty so often go hand in hand. But what are da odds my old man actually picked someone like dat? He's never even asked about my preferences.

“Were ya drunk?” That's the only explanation coming to Heiji's mind right now.

“No!” Heizo snaps before sighing heavily. “Let's just say it made sense at the time.”

The police chief is not actually sure how he went from bragging about his son before a willing audience to agreeing to an engagement. While he wasn't drunk, he wasn't not drunk either and the entire night feels hazy now, like some fever dream. However, he's not going to admit that part to Heiji. It's far too embarrassing.

“You have the right to call it off; I put that in the contract,” Heizo says instead. “You'll need to meet your fiance and stay engaged until eighteen, but you aren't required to get married. Unless you both decide you want to after all.”

That's a relief to hear and much more in keeping with his father's character. He's traditional enough to arrange a marriage meeting. It's just strange that he skipped straight to an engagement without doing that part first.

“Well, who is it then? Can I see da contract?”

Heizo pulls the document from his desk and the key points are just as his old man described. However, when Heiji skims through the details, his eyes get stuck on his fiance's name. Because that says Shinichi Kudo. Shinichi Kudo! And a quick glance at the signatures confirms his parents' names as well.

The dark-skinned teen may not have thought much about dating or romance before now, but he's thought about Shinichi Kudo. The other detective appeared on the scene almost a year ago and quickly made a name for himself in Tokyo. According to the papers, he's never failed to solve a case and Heiji has been wanting to meet him from the start.

Heiji wouldn't call it a crush exactly, but he thinks the two of them would have a lot to talk about. High school detectives aren't all that common and there are some things Kazuha just doesn't understand. So he's imagined solving cases, sharing ideas and deductions, and even showing Kudo around Osaka's sights. However, those fantasies feel different for a fiance than a friend. Heiji isn't sure how to reconcile them with his new reality. The teen just knows that he wants Kudo to like him in the end.

So he asks Kazuha for advice as soon as possible, dumps the entire situation on her in one long unbroken breath.

“My old man signed me up ta get hitched. Which is super weird. I'm still not sure what he was thinkin' or why ma went along with it. But my fiance is Shinichi Kudo, ya know, the other high school detective? I've been wantin' to meet 'im fer ages ta talk shop an' everythin', but I feel like dis is gonna make da whole thing weird. What if he hates me? Or thinks dat I ain't good enough?”

His friend blinks at him, taking a second to parse that explanation.

“Yer engaged ta be married?” she asks eventually. “Ta someone named Shinichi Kudo?”

“Kazuha!” Heiji huffs. “I've told ya about 'im.”

The other teen just waves him off and continues her line of questioning, “An' ya want this guy ta like ya?”

“Exactly. What do I do? I've never dated anyone.”

Kazuha closes her eyes and breathes in deeply, steeling herself for this conversation. Heiji is too earnest to be angry with him, not when she can't say he's ever led her on. Part of her just hoped that when the dark-skinned teen finally noticed someone romantically, it would be her instead. But Kazuha can't compete with a fiance – not if Heiji is already this invested – so she tries to put those thoughts aside. She'll be the best damn friend ever now and then go mourn her lost chances privately.

“Okay, first a' all, if this Kudo guy tries ta say dat he's too good fer ya, I'll kick his ass. I've been yer friend too long ta let dat stand.”

Her voice is fierce and Heiji has to grin at that picture, even though he's just as capable of beating someone up. The detective is just glad to know that Kazuha is still in his corner despite this sudden swerve.

“Otherwise, I ain't exactly an expert. But I'd guess he's as surprised as ya are about dis whole engagement,” she continues. “Why dontcha give 'im some time ta process an' then go meet 'im in person? Ya gotta make a proper first impression after all.”

“I can do that. Thanks, Kazuha.” Heiji hugs her tightly before running off to plan. His mother would never let him visit Tokyo while he still has exams but winter break isn't that far away. If he can't meet Kudo earlier, he can go then for sure.

Until then, the dark-skinned teen will have to content himself with reading about his fiance in the news instead. The papers in Osaka like to report on Kudo's victories, calling him the savior of the Tokyo police. It makes his father huff but Heiji is only more impressed by everything he sees. So he starts training even harder at both kendo and investigating, determined to hold his own against his fiance.

The newspapers already compare the two detectives regularly and if Kudo is reading about Heiji the same way, he doesn't want to other teen to be disappointed. Sure Kazuha said she'd beat him up if necessary, but he'd prefer his fiance to be proud of him instead. He wants to feel like he deserves to stand at Kudo's side.

However, a few months later, the stories simply stop. Shinichi Kudo stops appearing in the papers, stops helping the police, and no one seems to know what's going on.

The silence soon has Heiji worried half to death about his fiance. It's all too easy to imagine Kudo getting hurt or even killed in a murder case gone wrong. The western detective can always reach out to his dad if he's ever on the trail of a truly dangerous criminal and his kendo skills can beat most things except a gun. But as far as he knows, Kudo doesn't have that kind of support network and when the newspapers finally declare the eastern detective MIA, Heiji can't take it anymore.

He doesn't have a lot to go on. However, around the time the other teen disappeared off the face of the earth, Kogoro Mouri started making a name for himself in Tokyo. A bit of digging reveals that the man's daughter is Kudo's childhood friend – thick as thieves apparently – so that seems like a good place to start.

Someone has to be feeding information to Mr. Mouri. No one's record goes from middling to sensational overnight without some kind of help. Even if that person isn't actually Kudo, Ran Mouri is still the most likely to know where his fiance is. Mouri's friend Sonoko Suzuki even claims the girl is hiding him when Heiji calls pretending to be a journalist.

So the western detective makes some preparations and then tells his parents that he's going to Tokyo. Heiji doesn't ask permission and they don't try to stop him; his parents recognize the stubborn expression on his face. Indeed, Heizo Hattori simply sighs and wonders again why he thought it was a good idea to let Yusaku Kudo talk him into this.

In contrast, Shizuka Hattori finds the situation quite romantic; she's never seen her son this concerned about another person, not even his best friend. If she's already planning a test to ensure that Kudo can take care of Heiji, no one needs to know that now. Shizuka can hardly challenge his dedication before the two boys meet. So she simply gives her son a bottle of liquor as a gift for the Mouris and tells him to be back for his exams no matter what. Engagement or not, Shizuka won't have Heiji dropping out of school for anyone.

With his mother's gift in hand, the dark-skinned teen takes the first train to Tokyo and proceeds to spend the journey fretting about his fiance. Only a really serious case coulda made Kudo go inta hiding. Otherwise, he woulda solved it before now. What if he's already dead or I never find 'im? What if I do but he won't let me help? This isn't how Heiji pictured meeting Kudo for the first time.

When the train finally arrives, the western detective has worked himself into a nervous frenzy that carries him all the way to Mouri's office. Heiji barges in without even knocking and demands to know where Kudo is. His mother would scold him for his manners if she saw this, but he's too worked up to care.

“Ya better not be lyin',” the teen threatens when Ran Mouri denies all knowledge of Kudo's whereabouts. Though if he'd been thinking clearly, he would have expected that reaction. No one trusted with that kind of secret would spill their guts to the first stranger who shows up and yells at them. If Ran does know where Kudo went, she shouldn't crack that easily.

However, when some kid shows up with a cold, Ran mentions that Kudo's sick without any hesitation. That's not the reaction of someone worried about spilling secrets. Which means her previous denial may have been caused by ignorance instead of loyalty. Though the gal may still have some useful information nonetheless.

“Kudo is sick? Thought ya didn't know his location. How d'ya know dat?”

“Sometimes he calls to check on me and he sounded congested on the phone earlier. You got a problem with that?” Ran snaps back. She may not be great at keeping secrets but she's fiery and Heiji would probably like her under other circumstances. Right now, he's more concerned with grilling Ran for information and relieved to know that Kudo is alive.

Based on what she tells him, the other teen must be keeping a close eye on her. If Kudo cares enough about his friend to call her regularly, he'd want to know how she's doing. Since the eastern detective hasn't been asking, he must already know. Which means he's only calling so Ran doesn't worry too much about him while he's gone. Kudo just couldn't spare that same consideration for his actual fiance.

Doesn't mean they're dating, Heiji tells himself. Rumors are just rumors without concrete proof.

So the dark-skinned teen decides that now is a good time to make proper introductions, the decision not motivated by jealousy at all. However, whatever satisfaction he gets from saying that he's Kudo's fiance is wiped out by the shock on Mouri's face.

Ran obviously had no idea that Heiji existed. Kudo never even told his best friend about their engagement and it hurts to think that he's so easily dismissed. Maybe the two of them really are together and the other teen planned to dump him as soon as possible.

However, good detectives don't jump to conclusions. There could be another reason for his fiance's secrecy. So Heiji tries to stay optimistic as he explains the situation, showing them his copy of the contract to prove he's serious. Maybe the western detective tilts a little too far into manic rambling but that's better than losing it in front of his potential rival, her father and a kid. If Kudo really is watching, Heiji also doesn't want to cry in front of him.

After talking to Mr. Mouri, the dark-skinned teen is even more convinced that his fiance must be helping the detective. This man is nowhere near clever enough to solve the different murders that Heiji has read about. So he invites himself along when they're interrupted by a client with a case for Mr. Mouri. This could be the perfect way to lure Kudo out.

Indeed, when the diplomat's body falls to the floor in front of him, Heiji feels for his widow but he also can't help thinking that this is his chance. If the teen can just impress Kudo with his deductions, the eastern detective is bound to talk to him. He's not going back to Osaka without meeting his fiance face to face.

So the dark-skinned teen throws himself into the investigation with extra fervor, quickly finding proof that the diplomat was murdered. It's a little weird that Heiji keeps bumping into this Conan kid while searching for evidence, but he's too focused on the mystery to pay him too much mind.

Eventually, the detective is sure he's found all the puzzle pieces, so he calls the police into the diplomat's study to lay his theory out. Heiji shows them how the killere could have created this locked room murder and when the diplomat's father confesses, he's certain that he's right. Why would the man admit to the crime otherwise?

The only disappointment is that Heiji solved the case without Kudo appearing. Maybe he should have waited for the other teen to contact Mouri before giving his deduction, but surely this will be enough to prove his skill? Surely Kudo will reach out to him soon?

“That's a lie!” someone shouts and Heiji spins around to see Shinichi Kudo standing in the doorway. Even if the inspector hadn't called out the other teen's name, he would have recognized his fiance anyway. Kudo looks exactly like he did in all the papers: tousled black hair, pale skin and sharp blue eyes that gleam with confidence. Though this time he's wearing a rumpled suit instead of his school uniform.

Honestly, it's a good look – all long lines and contrast colors – and the western detective is struck a little speechless by the sight. At least until he remembers Kudo said that he was wrong. But challenging the statement only makes his fiance start dismantling his theory piece by piece. The other teen is relentless, refuting every objection Heiji offers until he's proven that the diplomat's wife killed her husband before their very eyes. Kudo even knows why she did it, deciphering her motive from nothing more than a photo that he's barely glanced at once. It's both incredibly impressive and leaves Heiji feeling gutted at how badly he screwed up.

So after the police take the true murderer into custody and everyone clears out, the dark-skinned teen hangs back from approaching Kudo. He's struck by a sudden shyness, the knowledge that them meeting will finally make this real and that he probably hasn't made a great first impression.

Instead, Heiji lets Ran talk to Kudo first, though her obvious distress only makes him feel worse. These two really do care about each other and maybe he should just bow out now. He and Kudo have technically fulfilled the requirement of meeting in their contract. They could break up in a few years without meeting again.

However, before the western detective can leave without saying anything, Kudo claims that he hasn't been tracking the Mouris since his disappearance and Heiji can't let that statement stand. He may have been wrong about the culprit in this case, but he knows he wasn't wrong about that too. No matter how good a game his fiance tries to talk.

“Then how did ya know so much about dis murder?” Heiji asks. “Ya musta been watching us ta know dat I got da answer wrong.”

His frown only grows when the eastern detective says that Conan passed the details on. Sure the kid was running around collecting clues, but the statement still rings false. How could Kudo have gotten the evidence he needed and arrived so quickly if he hadn't been nearby? Not ta mention...

“Dat kid talked about me an' the case was still da only reason ya rushed over here?” Heiji narrows his eyes, wondering how his fiance expects him to buy that. He barely notices Ran making her excuses and fleeing the suddenly tense atmosphere. Because Kudo winced at his question and the dark-skinned teen needs to know what that means for his own peace of mind. Was dat guilt or somethin' else?

“I didn't know about you,” his fiance tells him. Which is a reply to Heiji's question that he did not expect at all.

“What?” How can dat be possible? The other detective doesn't seem angry, even though he probably should be. At least Heiji's father had explained the options that he had.

“My parents never told me. They're overseas right now and as much as I love them, they're not always very reliable. I only found out that we're engaged when Conan called me and while it seems like this is real–”

“I wouldn't lie about that!” Heiji interrupts indignantly. Though he'd have been suspicious too so maybe he shouldn't be that mad.

“–I was focused on the case. I couldn't let you get it wrong,” Kudo finishes. The dark-skinned teen should probably be offended by that statement. However, he's too relieved by the realization that his fiance wasn't hiding him. Kudo didn't tell his best friend about their engagement because he couldn't, not because he was ashamed. And if the other teen is dating Ran, at least he didn't know that Heiji had a prior claim.

“Well then, it's a good thing ya were here,” he says with a wide smile. I'm so glad ta finally meet ya. “Sounds like my theory was wrong from da get go. So ya totally had me beat dis time around.”

“Idiot! It's not about winning or losing,” Kudo tells him sharply. “In every case, one truth prevails.”

The words cut straight through Heiji's heart and he almost staggers from the force of his epiphany. While the teen has admired his fiance from the start, wanted his attention and his friendship, that's not the same as getting married. One of the reasons that he's been so nervous about this meeting is the fear that they wouldn't actually be compatible. Maybe Heiji wouldn't find Kudo attractive or the other detective wouldn't live up to the hype.

But looking at his fiance now, he knows he wants forever. This is the guy Heiji wants to have and to hold and to spend the rest of his life solving murders with, even if he's always chasing after him. This is the guy that Heiji desperately wants to kiss right now.

“That was hot,” he murmurs before he can stop himself and Kudo's face turns crimson at the words. Which gives the dark-skinned teen the courage to walk forward, trapping his fiance there against the wall.

“Yer right. I got so caught in impressin' ya that I lost my focus. Next time I'll do better,” the western detective promises. “Cuz I've decided. Ya may not have known about our engagement until now, but I still want ya. So I'm gonna make ya fall fer me.”

Heiji leans in and kisses Kudo before he can second-guess it, that same wild courage carrying him along. The other teen's lips are slack with surprise but also warm and soft and everything he didn't know he wanted until now. “What do ya say, Kudo? Wanna get hitched?”

But his fiance doesn't answer. He just keeps on staring and the doubts start pouring in. When Kudo finally pushes him away with a muttered, “I have to go,” Heiji swears he feels his heart break then and there.

Stupid. A' course he refused ya. We jest met today an' all he's seen ya do is fail ta catch a murderer. Why did ya hafta push dat hard? The teen doesn't try to stop Kudo as he walks away. Heiji can take no for an answer and it doesn't feel like he has the right to ask him why. But then the other detective suddenly stops short anyway.

“You can write to me, okay?”

Huh? There's no way he heard that right. He shouldn't get his hopes up. But then Kudo speaks again.

“I really do need to go, but you can write me from Osaka,” his fiance says. “Send the letters to my neighbor Agasa and I'll collect them when I can.”

Heiji doesn't know what changed his mind. In truth, he doesn't care. He's not going to waste this opportunity.

“I will! Thank you!” the detective swears, beaming at Kudo with everything he has. The sting of that first rejection has been swept away by hope for the future and even his fiance's warning that they still might not get married can't bring Heiji down.

“I'll change yer mind, Kudo! Jest wait an' see!” he calls after the other teen before slumping against the wall with a dreamy sigh. That certainly wasn't the way Heiji had planned their introduction, but somehow it still feels perfect anyway. Because he has a chance to win his fiance over, to become an even better detective and show Kudo just how good they could be together.

Heiji knows exactly what he wants now and he's already planning the first letter that he'll send when he gets home.

End