Black Phantom

Chapter 2:

The brunette noticed Kazuya's surprised expression and laughed nervously.

"I suppose it was a ridiculous suggestion. It's all Bou-san's fault- he is always going on about Oliver Davis' PK. PK stands for Psychokinesis."

"I know what PK means," Kazuya said with a tight jaw.

Lin stepped in before anything else could go pear shaped. "Officer Taniyama, please refrain from making statements like that when you write reports. Forensics should be finished in the next room."

He led Mai out of the room, leaving Kazuya in a daze. He would not leave those two together again, it was too dangerous. Despite her carefree attitude Taniyama was sharp and Noll, despite his calm exterior, did let some of his emotions show which could lead to their undoing.

The room he led her into was the study which was unrecognisable as papers were strewn everywhere, books were littering the floor and all the drawers of the desk had been pulled out and were upturned. It was clear that Kuro Kaitou had made a frantic, but thorough search.

"Did he really only have three minutes before officers caught up with him?" Mai asked disbelieving, gazing at the mess.

"Yes. Unfortunately the camera in this room had also been disabled," Lin answered as he flipped through a list of forensic evidence that a scene of crime officer had just handed him which was minimal. He allowed himself a ghost of a smile. Noll really could get a job done when he put the effort in and had motivation. "Forensics don't seem to have anything conclusive as usual. No hairs or fingerprints. Just fibres from his gloves which is not very helpful."

"Why do the Police go to all this trouble for a thief who hasn't yet stolen?" Mai enquired as she glanced at the books strewn over the floor and recognised one of them as being one about exorcisms that Bou-san had.

"I take it that you looked up all of his past heists when you found that you had been assigned to the task force," the beanpole began.

She nodded. "Of course."

"You may have noticed that all of the targets are houses owned by moderately well off people which puts pressure on the Police along with the fact that he keeps making a fool out of us and we still have not yet worked out how he gains entry. It is important for the Police to arrest him before we lose the trust of the public."

"I understand. Has there been any actual progress?"

Lin shook his head with a blank expression on his face.

"Do you want him to be caught?"

As fast as his reactions were, her sharp eyes caught the flicker of fear in his eyes and his indrawn breath.

"It would help my career and lower my blood pressure if he was caught," he said evenly, having recovered from the shock of the question. If Mai Taniyama continued on like this, making statements that came to close to the truth and asking hard hitting questions like that, he would have to take steps against her.

"Lin."

He turned to see his charge standing behind him, glancing at the mess in the study with an amused eye, as if it was funny to see his handiwork done under the cover of darkness being subject to a forensic examination in bright light.

"Are we leaving?"

Kazuya nodded. "Forensics will send us a report tomorrow, but minus technical babble there is nothing of use."

On her way out Mai tripped up on the threshold of one of the doorways and fell into Lin, knocking Lin into a bookshelf which fortunately did not fall over and crush his leg. A couple of books fell out and after apologising profusely Mai bent down and picked them up. Both were familiar books as she had seen them in her unofficial aunt's apartment. The owner of the house was obviously a fan of the supernatural, she decided.

"Hurry up, Officer Taniyama," her superior officer called out, unimpressed with her antics.

She slotted the books back into place and ran after him before he could drive away without her.


Silence reigned in the office of the Kuro Kaitou task force. Mai glanced around her disbelievingly. The Chinese beanpole was typing on his laptop at an impressive speed and had headphones on. Kazuya Shibuya was sitting at his desk frowning over something.

The brunette glanced over witness statements from the heist the night before. The officers' description of finding Inspector Shibuya hogtied in a closet was the most amusing thing she had read in a while. Apparently before the heist had started the erstwhile Inspector had suggested that if any officers went missing to check in all the closets in the house, but it had taken an hour for anyone to find him.

The feeling that she was being glared at pervaded her senses and she glanced up to see her superior officer glaring at her.

"Make me some tea," he ordered before looking down again.

"Won't canned coffee suffice, Shibuya-sama?"

"No. Fresh tea helps my good looks flourish. Canned coffee would be detrimental to my appearance. Go search for a kettle," he demanded and glared at her until she unwillingly left the office, slamming the door behind her.

Lin stood up and walked over to the Inspector's desk. Noll's request for tea had been a rather obvious attempt to remove the third party who was not privy to the secret.

"Have you picked the next target?" he asked simply, recognising the list of names that Noll had out on his desk.

"Yes. The heist will be next week, I cannot have too many sleepless nights. The next location will be promising considering the size, it might even be the one that we have been looking for," Kazuya mused thoughtfully.

That was wonderful news for Lin considering the past 12 fruitless heists, but he had some concerns.

"We will have to watch out for Taniyama, she is surprisingly sharp and may be our undoing. She hit on the truth today although she does not know it."

Naru tapped his chin. "I acknowledge that she may be a liability, but she still has to follow orders from me, her superior officer. In any case, I can just knock her out. I must remember to carry a tranquilliser."

"We will see..."

Ten minutes later the discussed officer bounded into the office triumphantly holding a steaming teacup which she handed to the Inspector who unconsciously relaxed as he inhaled the tantalising fumes of Darjeeling. A cautious sip revealed that it tasted as good as it smelled which was unusual for red tea made by a Japanese person.

"I hope you are happy. I went to the kitchenette used by the secretaries of all the Chief Inspectors and the Superintendant who weren't too pleased with me. Once I mentioned it was for Kazuya Shibuya they were very forthcoming and waxed lyrical about your good looks," Mai griped.

Kazuya raised an eyebrow delicately. "Oh, do you think I'm handsome?"

Maybe dazzling Taniyama with his good looks would help put her off the scent. Much to his disappointment she didn't even blink or blush, instead she simply narrowed her eyes.

"Well, aren't you? All the females in the building talk about you."

The Inspector took a sip of tea before replying. "They have good taste."

This elicited a reaction from Mai who have him a funny look.

"Yes?"

"You're such a narcissist, Narucisstic Naru-chan!" she pointed at him dramatically not expecting him to flinch like he did.

"Did you just call me without honorifics?"

Mai withdrew her pointed finger and frowned puzzledly. "No. Do other people call you that too?"

The newly christened Naru glanced over at Lin who was glaring ferociously at him for making another slip.

"It does not matter. Are there any questions that you have regarding working with Lin and myself?" he asked to redirect the conversation and appease Lin.

"...How many times a day are you going to want tea?"

"Four at a minimum."

"So I am going to have to hear about how handsome you are four times a day at minimum" Mai swooned theatrically into her chair.

Naru smirked. "Welcome to the Kuro Kaitou task force, Mai."


One week later:

He raised his hand, covered by the blanket of darkness, ready for action. The crimes that he committed, if taking nothing could be considered a crime, were never for himself. They were for the person that he was always thinking of, until a week ago when someone else came on the scene.

His sharp ears picked up the sounds of running footsteps which sounded too light and dainty to be one of those bumbling male Police officers. Nevertheless they were approaching fast. All the officers were at the other side of the mansion on a different floor, misled by his partner in crime and an illusion that he had created so he could guess who was coming.

Only one person would ignore all the signs and use animal instincts to find him.

The door burst open and he was dazzled temporarily by a bright beam of light. He placed one hand over his eyes and waited for her to approach.

The sound of her light footsteps walking towards him and the metallic clink of handcuffs made him drop his arm and flash her a saccharine smile. He was confident that she would not recognise him as the room was dark and his face was shadowed by his hat and mask.

"Good evening, Officer Taniyama is it not?"

"Stop with the games, I'm here to arrest you," was her quick reply.

"You have no grounds to arrest me, I have never stolen a thing."

Much to his disappointment she didn't even blink.

"If you are going to get technical, I'm going to hold you down and call for back up. Then we will see what to do with you."

Before his brain had even processed what she had said, his body was already moving. He stepped forward and reached out to grab her chin.

"You can't scream for help when your mouth is covered," he murmured and proceeded to kiss her.


Thank you to everyone who liked the first chapter. I wasn't sure if the idea would work. :D