Manipulation

by LostInTheMystery

Conan is taken and the dark man behind it has a few demands that push the bonds of friendship. Those close turn out to be enemies and enemies, friends. There are many shadows in the dark and they are out to win. -centers around the DC boys and Takagi. TBC in Deception

3. Loose Bonds

For this once, MysteryFan17 has taken the role of Takagi from the time Kaito enters to when Takagi pulls into the station.

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Chapter 3: Loose Bonds

Saguru's gaze scanned each person in the car, finally settling on Hattori-kun, sitting beside him with a look of disappointment and... contemplation? What would make him look like that? "Hattori-kun, perhaps you can enlighten me as to what is going on. I have yet to be told what it is I have supposedly done. And unlike the Koushien, I know something has happened but not what has singled me out?"

"Ah-" Takagi looked in the back seat. "I'm sorry... ah..." He'd already forgotten their suspect's name. He really had to get it together. "Hattori-kun, if you would, you can't really talk to him right now. In fact," Takagi laughed a little at how unorthodox it was already but Shiratori hadn't known they were bringing him. "You shouldn't even be in the car."

Heiji looked up, having been lost in his own little world since sitting beside Hakuba. He was about to respond when Sato-keiji took a sharp turn that threw him into the Brit, who, with the cuffs keeping his hands behind him, had no way to stop himself from hitting the door. "Oi, Hakuba, y'alright?" He reached over and helped him sit back up. As much as the blond teen annoyed 'im, he knew he wasn't connect ta Kudo's kidnapping. If anything, the other teen respected Kudo, or Conan-kun, more than him. Not that he didn't understand that, but he saw Kudo as the child he appeared... unless he'd figured it out too. He suddenly knew he had to watch them talk to him, even from observation, just in case Hakuba let on that Kudo was really... Kudo. Before Hakuba could answer him, Sato-keiji swung into a parking spot and turned the car off, climbing out without a word to anyone.

Shiratori parked next to Sato's car, getting out and opening the back seat where the blond kid was. The boy seemed honestly confused but so did a lot of good actors. He put a hand on the teen's shoulder to help him out, along with keeping him in check as they went in, his other hand falling into the chain of the cuffs. "Keep your head down and don't say anything. We don't need to be dealing with more right now."

Heiji followed as Shiratori-keiji- keibu, pushed Hakuba ahead of him and toward the interrogation room. Now that the initial humor had worn off he was getting angry again. They were focusing on Hakuba as the main suspect while whoever had really taken Kudo was free to do who-knows-what to 'im. If not for the risk that Hakuba might know Conan-kun was really Kudo he'd 'ave taken off on his own. Then again, he might be able to get them to allow Hakuba ta help... after he was proven innocent. When they reached an empty room, he was about to follow Hakuba and Shiratori-keibu in when Sato stopped him. "I'm watchin'. I know he's not the guy." Sato nodded and, after looking around opened the next door, the observation room, and motioned him in. With a nod, Heiji slipped in and watched.

Shiratori brought the boy into the interrogation room. Whoever had used it previous had left four chairs randomly scattered about and only one pushed up to the large table in the center. Really, the least they could do was keep the place tidy. What would the criminals think? He sat the boy in the one chair that was in place, debating whether or not to secure him further. He was a teen and Shiratori was sure he could stop him if he had to so he didn't. He went and retrieved one of the other chairs, pulling it up to the table. "So, Hakuba-kun, if things are as you say, you're familiar with what would happen now. Either you can answer my questions willingly or we can do this the hard way and I don't feel like waiting for you to find a lawyer. Your pick."

Saguru sighed and shifted a little. He'd never liked these chairs and sitting with his arms behind his back forced him forward... rather uncomfortably. "I told you before; my name is Hakuba Saguru, son of Assistant Hakuba of the Investigation Department. When I am in Japan, I am a student at Ekoda High and a high school detective attached to the Kaitou Kid Task Force, headed by Nakamori-keibu. Call either of them and it will confirm my story."

"I didn't ask for your life story." He did remember the names though. Takagi was close and he'd made it the man's job to check into all that information. "I asked you whether or not you would cooperate with the questioning."

"That is what I have been attempting to do. I have yet to be asked a straight question related to this detainment."

"You're refusing a lawyer to be present then. Fine. I need you to tell me what you did from this time yesterday up until now. Simple enough, right?" He watched the boy. He wasn't going to specify anything specific until he knew where he stood.

This man could not be serious. Well, he asked for it. "At this time yesterday I was at the Ekoda High School. To be specific, my classmate Kuroba Kaito had exploded confetti all about the classroom and somehow managed to get the ones that landed on me to stick. I spent 32 minutes, 51.5 seconds in the restroom removing every one. School let out for the day at exactly 3:00p and I went to the Ekoda Police Precinct, arriving at the conference room at 3:15:47 in the afternoon. Following the briefs and discussion of the newest heist note I returned home at 8:42:06 at night and did my homework. Baaya brought me a sandwich at 10:02:30 and I retired at 11:59:17. I awoke this morning at exactly 7:00 and you handcuffed me just after 8:47:32. Satisfied?"

Shiratori let out a laugh in a breath of air. There were several things he liked about that. This kid was cocky, that was for sure. It also sounded like he had real ties to another section which meant he'd be more than capable of pull off a successful kidnapping along with avoiding suspicion because of his contacts - which would make him all the more confident. Confident enough to have no alibi during the gap in time that Conan could have been kidnapped, even a false one. "Fair enough. Now, I noticed you and Hattori-kun bring him up. How do you feel about Conan-kun? I've heard he's one-upped you a few times now." A lie, as he didn't know this boy, but a believable one.

"As a matter of fact, the first time we met he saved my life, along with that of several detectives, including Mouri-san and his daughter. I believe he is a capable detective already and believe he will continue to improve, perhaps to surpass my current standing when he is my age... and already surpassing the hot-blooded tantei that he came with in a later case."

Hm. At least now the boy was trying to defend himself. He also gave away the fact that he knew Mouri and Ran. Shiratori hardly thought a stranger was responsible for this, and if they were, they'd gotten really lucky. Odds were it was someone close to Conan and the Mouri's. He didn't know how many other foreigners he knew. He'd have to call Mouri and see if they could get any more leads off of that. "And when was the last time you saw the boy?"

"When did I last see... You mean Conan-kun? It was at the Kid heist last month. Just after Kid... cuffed me and took off, Conan-kun ran after him on his own. By the time I managed to free myself, Kid had escaped and Conan-kun had already left with Ran-san." Saguru paused and looked Shiratori-keibu in the eye. "Where are these questions leading? I thought you were intending to question me on some crime you thought I committed, not about a fellow detective... unless you're an IA investigator?"

"That's not for you to know." They were the first words that came to them and they were true enough. If he'd seen the boy a month ago and his story checked out with the school, then he did live in the area as well and had every opportunity to plan something. He smiled to himself - And the boy admitted to being played again, not a bit ashamed of it either, and he wouldn't be if he'd already taken care of child. "You seem to think very highly of Conan-kun. He has, it seems, noticed all your mistakes. That's pretty remarkable and it takes a humble person to admit they've lost to a child. Is that how you think of yourself?"

That caught Saguru by surprise. He paused and wondered again what this was all about. Was he in trouble because of the Kid heist? Had they decided that he had let Conan-kun go after Kid by himself and that was why Kid had escaped? "If you are attempting to blame Kid's escape on me, the rest of the Task Force were either out cold or caught in one of Kid's traps. Do you have all of them here too? I highly doubt that even you would be better at tracking Kid and evading his tricks than myself or, yes, Conan-kun. How many times have I read about him besting not just the Task Force at coming close to catching Kid, but how many captured thieves and murderers does the boy have to his name? You would not be humble to admit Conan-kun is good, you would be arrogant to say he is not."

That self-righteous ramble the teen went on annoyed him more than it did anything else. It sounded as if the teen were accusing him being diluted. He had to keep his calm though. That was his job and he wasn't about to let some teenage kid get to him. All of that and the boy hadn't answered his question. Defensive. He was finally becoming defensive. "How right you are. Conan-kun is very good at what he does, whereas I haven't heard of you at all."

Saguru just shook his head. "Obviously, or you would not be questioning me, especially with no apparent direction or reason. I am primarily with Division Two as part of the Kid Task Force, as I have repeatedly told you. I also spend a good amount of time in England with my mother's side of the family. Do you have any questions that relate to the reason I am sitting here in cuffs or are you enjoying yourself too much?"

Even better - He's from out of the country. He could leave any time he wanted after the crime and not be suspected. Through the interview he had yet to see the teen do more than grow somewhat close to angry when he tried to belittle him. He had to wonder how the boy really felt about a child doing it. "Maybe I am." Shiratori put his hand on the table and smirked at the boy. "And maybe I'm getting just the information I need." One more question. He'd already found out the basic information he needed. Even with character references, the best of people could commit the worst of actions. He needed to push the boy, see how he reacted under pressure. "And what if I told you that not ten minutes from your school several witnesses saw someone who looks exactly like you walk past a book shop where the crime took place and are willing to testify in court that it was you. If you work with me now, I can help you." If he got Conan now there was no way in hell he was letting the boy off, but better to let him think that. There was a high chance someone had seen him and they probably just had ignored it like the shopkeeper had - but the criminal didn't need to know that.

Now Saguru was completely at a loss for words. That was why they wanted his schedule? But why from yesterday to now? Not only that... witnesses place him at a bookshop ten minutes from his school. Given a radius there were two that fit that by walking, five if driving. He also had yet to find out what the crime was and when it actually took place. "The only bookstore on the route I took from my school to the Precinct was seven and a half minutes away from the school gate, not 10. Also, that one was closed for renovations, so if the bookstore you are speaking of was robbed then it could not be the one I passed. Besides, most locals will take one look at my hair color and identify me with any other male that shares it, just as, to most foreigners, all Japanese people look similar to them. It is an all too common mistake."

"Not many know who you know." Shiratori wasn't going to get anything else useful out of him. Enough of this nonsense. He left the room, the boy still sitting in the chair. "Sato-san" he closed the door and looked at her. "I want him held as long as we can. If anyone asks..." he thought about it, about the gas, "say were holding him on suspicion of him being Kid's assistant." Maybe it was true too, but that wasn't the case he was working on right now. He looked over at Takagi after. "I'll check in with the police force, you check up on the school." He turned back to Sato before she could open the door. "Get the specifics of the woman he mentioned and look into her too." Nods all around. Good. Time to get to work.

Heiji had watched the entire exchange, even laughing a few times. He wondered if that was how he and Takagi had seemed earlier when he had thought they were looking for Kudo's killer instead of a kidnapper. Nothing was really said to clear this up. When Shiratori walked out of the room, Heiji walked out of observation, glancing one last time at Hakuba before shutting the door and listening to Shiratori-keibu give instructions. Good, Takagi-keiji was goin' to the school. He got in step behind him and followed him to the car.

"Ah, Hattori-kun, you're coming?" Takagi turned to the teen whose attitude had significantly lightened since he'd seen him this morning. Good. "I mean, it didn't look like you thought that..." Darn, he forgot the boy's name again. He wasn't usually bad with that. He blamed it on lack of sleep. "It didn't look like you thought he was guilty." He passed Chiba's desk, putting his hands up prayer style and asking for his keys. The cruisers were to be saved for emergencies and... he wasn't going to be talking to suspects bringing his own car anymore. The other man sighed but gave him a slight smile and handed over his keys. Takagi clenched them in his fist and continued walking. A part of him hated that it felt like he was doing the grunt work while Conan was missing, but everyone had to do it at some point. He turned back to Hattori, "I mean, I don't know how much we'll find when we get there."

Heiji nodded. "I know that Brit is a bit stuck-up but I also know that he's one'na those people that sees everythin' in black an; white, an' wouldn't risk himself gettin' a hint of grey on his pristine reputation... or his clothes for that matter." Heiji thought about when Kudo told him about the scattered paint cans and how they had splattered on Hakuba's shirt. "Besides, I figure the sooner we clear 'im, the sooner we get more help findin' Ku-onan-kun."

Takagi shrugged. They weren't the only people responsible for that. Every police officer out there knew and was looking for Conan, if not having it their first priority. He let Hattori follow him- it wasn't like he could stop the boy. He sighed. They went back upstairs where he met with Yumi while she printed out directions to the school for him. That done he went outside and found Chiba's slightly beat up jeep in the lot. If Shiratori was right and Hattori wasn't, he needed to get this information. He nodded to himself. Yes, he was doing his job, even if it wasn't as spectacular or... involved him going with Sato. He looked back at Hattori as he got in the passenger seat and sighed again.

Heiji buckled up and gave a quick prayer that Takagi-keiji was at least a bit... tamer... when behind the wheel. He began to speculate about what this Kuroba Kaito was like. But as they pulled away, his thoughts jumped once more to Kudo. He hoped they got to him soon. If only he'd flat out told him what he'd seen, or at the very least flew out here after school yesterday, but... Would that even have mattered? He ran though the earlier conversation and realized with a start that in all that had been said, he didn't know the details or the time of the kidnapping himself. "Oi, Takagi-keiji, when was Ku... When was Conan-kun kidnapped? I had talked ta him a few times yesterday and he was fine. If ya don' wanna tell Hakuba yet, fine, but I think I've the right ta know."

"He's a suspect," Takagi said with a start as the teen took his attention away from the road. "As long as you don't share the information..." He waited for the teen to nod before continuing. "Ran-san said she dropped him off around six-thirty and they came back around nine to get him. She'd left him at a bookstore over in the shopping district while she and Sonoko-san went shopping. The lady working there only remembered that someone had taken the boy; she couldn't say for sure a time. It was at least half an hour before Ran-san came to look for him, at least, that was her guess." Takagi shrugged. "Besides that we don't have anything else to go on you don't already know."

So... around 8:30... He woke up at 8:45... so that's why. Damn it. That meant he knew when it happened... if he accepted it... but as illogical as it seemed... He put a head to his head and stared at the dashboard muttering, "8:45... That no good lowlife took him at 8:45. I can't believe it... Kudo was kidnapped and I just went back ta sleep. How could I not 'ave... Damn... Kudo... I'm sorry..."

"Eh?" Takagi looked at the teen before quickly looking away. He laughed to hide the fact that he'd been able to hear him. Takagi wasn't even sure Hattori knew he was speaking aloud. He swallowed, shaking his head. Couldn't be. To throw the mood off even more, he gave Hattori a half smile and turn. "What was that about 8:45? I didn't hear you."

Heiji froze. His heart started pounding even louder, if that was possible, and his mouth went dry. Thinking fast, he searched his mind for a plausible reason for that time. "Uh-" Heiji stopped and swallowed before trying again. "I was just saying that... if- if he'd been taken before Neechan showed up and the clerk there remembered it, it was likely closer to 15 minutes earlier than 30... ya know... memory... recollection... especially 'bout a stranger. It was probably closer to 8:45 that the man took K-him."

He looked forward again while Hattori was speaking. He nodded to the teen, though Kudo's name was still stuck in his head. He ignored it for now. There were other things to do and the school really wasn't that far from their own station. They'd be there in just a few minutes. After this... he was likely going to go back on the streets, looking. That was better than nothing but he did feel his hands slip every now and then on the wheel. He hadn't been able to get any sleep and he just hoped he didn't collapse before they found Conan.

Heiji breathed a sigh of relief. Takagi-keiji had bought it... hopefully. As soon as they pulled in, Heiji jumped out and headed into the school with Takagi catching up just as he reached the door. After asking a passing teacher for directions, they went to the office and requested that Kuroba Kaito be summoned to the office, but not to tell him who was asking. The request was granted when Takagi flipped open his badge and the two of them waited for the teen to arrive. Takagi sitting to at least get some rest while Heiji would sit for a few seconds, bouncing his leg before getting up to pace.

...

A woman knocked on the door, sliding it open and whispering something to their teacher. She nodded to the woman who left. "Now everyone, work on page one in your book," she told them, coming and walking over to him. Oh, that was never a good sign. She whispered to be loud enough for Aoko to hear that someone wanted him in the office. Kaito raised an eyebrow at that as she walked away, seeming unperturbed. Whatever it was, it didn't seem like anyone had died or anything, though he couldn't help his heart skip a beat when he thought something might be wrong with his mom. He'd never been called to the office before... except maybe after a substitute had gone there crying or something.

Aoko watched Kaito walk out. The teacher hadn't seemed sad, so it couldn't be anything with his mom... and after the disappearing act earlier his pranks had been normal... or at least, nothing that had warranted anything more than one quick swipe with a mop. No teacher or student had left in tears. She knew he'd tell her after school- they were gonna walk home and stop by a bookstore to pick up the latest Night Baron that had just come out.

Kaito moved his shoulders, getting rid of the tension of sitting behind a desk too long. He sighed, what did the school want with him now? He'd thought they'd given up on reining him in years ago after they realized he wouldn't grow out of his less reputable habits. He pushed the office door open, one hand in his pocket and eyes bored before he froze, hand staying on the door and looking at two people he'd really rather not see at school.. or anywhere. He swallowed and took his hand slowly off the door and put it in his pocket as well, not trusting himself to speak in front of either the officer or the detective.

Heiji looked over as the door opened to reveal... "KUDO!" Heiji rushed over to the teen, putting his hands on the other's shoulders and squeezing, reassuring himself through contact that he was seeing his friend. Sure the hair was more than a bit messy but after being kidnapped that was understandable. He squeezed the shoulders harder and after having scanned the body for any obvious injuries, went to look his friend in the eye...

Okay, he couldn't hide his reaction from that. Hattori ran up at him, grabbing onto him. The sane part of him told him not to move as his instincts screamed at him to do the opposite. Not even Hakuba had gotten this close to him. Part of him almost wanted to call Hattori off but Kaito had never met the Osakan as himself before. The only thing he thought he could safely do was exhale the breath he'd been holding since the other teen hand grabbed him, looking like he'd just stopped the world from ending.

"I can't believe it... How'd ya escape?" Heiji could help it... His eyes had started watering and the face blurred in front of him. The eye color looked a bit off but he blamed both on his own lack of sleep.

There weren't many things that put him at a loss for words, but Hattori managed it. It wasn't that he couldn't talk straight, he just didn't know what to say. "Escape?" Better get the basics down then. He'd seen the Osakan enough to realize what he was thinking. It was better to sound as unsure as he should have been then. "I- I don't know what you're talking about."

"Damn it, Kudo, don't lie ta me. I got here to find out ya'd been kidnapped from... " Heiji suddenly stopped, remembering too late that Takagi-keiji was still in the room.

"Kudo?" Kaito tipped his head to the side and narrowed his eyes, playing the innocent lamb. He followed Hattori's eyes to Takagi, internally far more worried then he appeared on the outside. What happened to Tantei-kun that pushed Tantei-han this far... He looked back at the other teen, putting his hand across his chest and on Hattori's hand, looking him in eye. "I don't know what you're talking about. That's not my name."

Takagi had at first been shocked when Kudo-kun had walked in, but smiled when Hattori-kun had rushed to him. True friends like that were hard to find. Then Hattori had asked Kudo how he'd escaped. 'Escaped? Had Kudo been in danger too? That would be a more reasonable explanation for Hattori-kun's muttering in the car.' Then, when Kudo-kun questioned him, Hattori-kun mentioned just learning of his kidnapping. 'That's not right... it was Conan-kun... ' Next thing the teen said was he wasn't Kudo-kun. That pulled his thoughts back to the car, to all of Hattori-kun's statements since he showed up that morning. 'It's not possible; it is not humanly possible "I'll tell you... in the next world."' As soon as they found Conan-kun, he was gonna get him and Hattori-kun talking- There were some things he needed answers to.

Heiji froze, releasing one hand to clear his vision he looked closer at the teen in front of him. The eyes were a different color from Kudo's... not by much, but it was there. He tightened the hand holding the fabric. "No... ya ain't... so who ar' ya?"

Kaito's first instinct was to not give his name away, especially not do the detective. It would tie them to each other. Hattori would know him and he didn't think that was a good thing. But there was an officer there... and they hadn't jumped on him to arrest him yet, so- why did they want him? He never got into anything bad enough as himself to get the police searching him out, if they were the ones who called him in. Considering there was no one else in the office it was a safe bet. Judging by Hattori's grip, it was something important and he wanted answers too. He crossed his arms in front of himself, grinning. For whatever reasons they found him, he never barked when the police told him to before, and he wasn't going to now. "That's not very polite. You should introduce yourself first."

Heiji was mad now. "YA'D BEST HAVE A BETTA REASON THEN THAT! CONSIDERIN' YA WALKED IN HERE, IF YA AIN' KUROBA KAITO THEN YA'D BE SMART TA WALK OUT AN' FERGET EVERYTHIN' YA HEARD!"

Takagi stepped forward and was about to place his hand on Hattori's shoulder when-

Kaito only smiled more. He was used to dealing with anger. And there was only one real way to do it, be it Aoko, her father or anyone else - you surprise them. Kaito took his left hand, fingers press together before snapping them in the Osakan's face. Several things happened then. Two of his faster doves that had followed him to school and were waiting outside were now in the room, fluttering in Hattori's face to make him back off. The second thing that happened was that something that couldn't have been Kaito's foot tripped him, making him fall on his butt as his birds flew off, leaving a good amount of glitter behind so the detective was all shiny and where he should be - in his place. Nobody threatens him - not ever - and gets away without payback.

Heiji was shocked for a moment. First he had feathers in his face now he was sitting... on the floor... after... actually what the hell happened? All the guy did was snap his fingers... Hakuba had said something about confetti sticking to him... That clinched it, the teen had to not only be Kuroba Kaito, he was a magician. "Ya know, when Hakuba said you stuck confetti to his clothes yesterday, I admired it and wanted ta meet ya... now I ain't so sure ya shouldn't be cuffed too."

Takagi had ducked and, while he had tried to keep his eyes on what happened... it was all too fast. One second two birds were between Hattori-kun and the other teen, suddenly... Hattori-kun's on the ground and the other teen was still standing there... grinning... not looking like he had moved at all. "What... what just happened?"

Kaito clicked his tongue three times as he waved his finger. "It's not fun to give the secrets away." He looked down at Hattori, liking this new view. "So, you said I should turn-tail and run if I wasn't Kuroba Kaito. What is it you wanted me to do if I was-" Kaito shook his head for a second, his brain examining the words Hattori had spoken more thoroughly and of its own accord. Several of them rang alarm bells in his head. "You and Hakuba-kun were talking about me?" Kaito lowered an eyebrow, not liking where this was going. Hakuba hadn't tried to hide what his suspicions were from the class, and he didn't know if he'd spread them around.

Heiji looked up, not liking the position he was now in. He rose to his feet, knowing now to watch for any slight of the hand the magician might try. "Yeah. We were, at the precinct. He was telling us what he was doin' from yesterday ta this morning when he was picked up. We came here ta see if ya'd corroborate his statement."

"Hattori-kun's right. We just need to ask you a few questions about him... Hakuba-kun." Good thing Hattori-kun and the other kid... Kuroba-kun, had said it so many times. Now he didn't look like an idiot.

Kaito looked between the two of them, apprehensive and not afraid to show it. What was it that Hakuba had told them that they needed to verify? And with him specifically? What did the officer mean by needed to ask him questions about Hakuba? He shook his head, unsure of which of the two in the room to focus his attention on. The officer was where it should have gone but Hattori was the one he wanted to watch out for. "Why do you need this information and why come to me?" What is your game was added the end of the sentence but he didn't say it out loud. One hand was still in his pocket. He could play if they wanted to.

Takagi tried to step around Hattori-kun, he was the officer her after all. "Kuroba-kun, Hakuba-kun has mentioned you in his statement and... well, we want to verify whether or not it's true. It won't take much time and if you cooperate I see why we would need to take you down to the station." There. That should put the other teen at ease and keep Hattori-kun from jumping in... at least for the time being. He could still feel the anger radiating from behind him.

An electric shock seemed to go through his body as the officer drew in closer. He couldn't get him to the police station even if he tried. Kaito was still more than a little confused at what Hakuba said to him that would warrant the officer questioning him and only one option kept coming to mind. He unconsciously took a step back, feeling too close with not enough space to run if he had to. He tried to force himself to smile now. If he ran, it would be a dead give-a-way that he was guilty. If he followed them, he'd be putting himself in their clutches and he wasn't going to have that. "Depends on what the questions are."

Heiji barked out a laugh. "He wants ta make sure that the Brit is really innocent o' the charges before tellin' him what he's bein' charged with."

Takagi looked over his shoulder and sighed. So much for him not jumping in.

Kaito coughed on a held breath and tried to look back at Hattori. "Charges?"

Takagi attempted to get the attention back on him. "Yes. He was picked up, allegedly while on his way to school, which he says is here, and is down at the precinct."

Heiji crossed his arms. This run around was the same thing that had made him believe Kudo was already dead and why Hakuba was wondering about a bookstore robbery. This was insane. He was mad, tired, worried... and sparkling! "THE BRIT'S HAIR GOT HIM LANDED AS THE PRIME SUSPECT IN KUDO'S KIDNAPPIN'!"

Kaito was taken aback, surprised not only that Hattori was the one who answered but at the volume he answered in. After his ears stopped ringing he didn't know whether to laugh or to worry. He worried for all of a second, worried because Tantei-kun wasn't one to get himself kidnapped, though he could see why he would, and worried that Hakuba was the prime suspect. Then the worry was gone and he found the wall adjacent to the office door and leaned against it while he laughed so hard he was sure the neighboring classes and then some could hear him.

Heiji was livid. The guy was laughing. And not just giggling or even a regular laugh... He was full-on, leaning against the wall, laughing his head off. "WHA' DA YA FIND AMUSING? YA CLASSMATE IS BEIN' CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPIN' MY FRIEND. I DON'T SEE ANYTHIN' FUNNY 'BOUT THAT!" Heiji reached forward, not sure what he intended to do, but just needing to stop this guy laughing at Kudo's predicament.

Takagi was dumfounded. The charge was for Conan-kun's kidnapping... That was it, he couldn't wait until later.

Hattori grabbed the front of his uniform, anger making his hand shake as the Osakan glared at him. Kaito calmed down as best he could, failing to drop the grin but hey, close enough. "Sorry," he apologized to Hattori. He really shouldn't have leaned against the wall. In the position he was in, he couldn't do much to escape unless he wanted to resort to something bigger than- than he would of as Kaito. "It's something I never thought would happen." And to hell if I'm ever going to let Hakuba live this down. "Kidnapping you say?" He could at least try to clue Hattori in without making himself obvious. "Who's Kudo?" And man would this sound more serious if he could have stopped smiling. It was so much easier to hold back fear than laughter.

Heiji stopped moving but didn't let go of the teen. He let out a shaky breath and ran through what he had been saying. It was clear he needed sleep... or at least a gag. If- when they find him, Kudo may just kill him. "I... I didn't say Kudo... I said... kiddo. It's one of the names I use for Conan-kun. Ha-Hakuba's bein' charged with kidnappin' a boy by the name of Edogawa Conan." He'd used the 'kiddo' before with Neechan; he could only hope it covered for both this teen and, more importantly, the officer whose gaze he could feel like a physical touch.

"I don't know how much help I can be, but sure," Kaito shrugged. If anything Hakuba would owe him one... or, technically he was the one who owed Hakuba at the moment. Time to fix that then. "On one condition." Kaito grinned more. "Tell me what happened. You've got me interested."

Takagi remained silent, folding his arms. He wanted to hear this too. Between the repeated 'Kudos' and Heiji's sudden silence after each... he wondered how much more he could gather if he let the Osakan answer the question.

Heiji spluttered. He turned toward Takagi-keiji only to see that he appeared to be waiting for him to talk. Turning back toward the teen he slowly released his hold but didn't back away. "Well, I was told not ta by him." A gesture and a glance only showed Takagi-keiji motion with his hand to go ahead. Heiji paled. 'Damn it.' "Well, ya see. Conan-kun was taken from a bookstore last night by a blond male. That's all we know. An inspector spotted Hakuba, I guess walking ta school, and stopped 'im. He's been pesterin' him with questions but refusing ta let Hakuba know what's happened. Personally, I kno' he didn' do it... but I do wanna find him before... " Heiji couldn't help the involuntary shiver as his eyes look through Kuroba and see Kudo... on the ground... like every other time. His fist tightened, as did his throat but he swallowed past that one and finished, "Before anything happens ta 'im."

Hm. A search for Tantei-kun. Sounds fun. No leads either or the police would hardly have taken Hakuba in. Must have done or said something suspicious then. Kaito had to stop by there, if only to give the detective a friendly greeting. And that would be how he repaid his favor. He'd help. He owned no favors to Tantei-kun so, once Hakuba was cleared, the rest of his job would be the little detective owning him one. That sounded even better. "I can't tell you anymore then what anyone else in class can. Hakuba-kun was here, he was as stuck up as usual, and I lightened the mood a little before class ended. That's where the story begins and ends. I didn't see him again after the bell rang."

"Unfortunately for him... all that confirms is that he is indeed a student here. Since the kidnapping took place around," Takagi shifted his gaze to Hattori-kun's back, "8:45 last night, you can't verify his whereabouts. With the handcuffs and sleeping gas on him at the time of his detainment, plus the possible motive of jealousy from being shown up at the Kid heist... That's means, motive and opportunity." Takagi hadn't missed the shiver and sudden tensing of Hattori-kun's muscles to the modified time of the kidnapping.

When Heiji heard '8:45' he couldn't stop the reaction. His body tensed and shivers raced though him. His stomach was turning and the room began to tip to the side. 'I'd seen it happen for awhile an' I didn' warn him... I knew when it did... and I just ignored it... I still see it and if that happens... '

Kaito watched them both with a sideways look. He didn't really get what inside conversation they were having with one another. He smiled at Hattori, thinking more on the police officer's words but knowing he'd have a better chance of making them count if he spoke to the Osakan. "And you know, as you said, Hakuba-kun's my friend and I didn't really do anything to clear him up. Seeing as I'm' already out of class and I missed my first few lessons... " Kaito grinned. "I'm gonna come with you. Another pair of eyes can't hurt."

Heiji wasn't hearing anything. His eyes glazed and the entire dream was running from the beginning... Kudo being knocked out... he had to stop this... the guy standing over him... he couldn't let it happen... pointing his gun... NOT AGAIN!

Kaito could see the look in the other teen's eyes and it worried him on a level that not many things could reach, something he hadn't liked to touch on himself - for fear of what he might find. He had to do something and he had to do it now, break the spell that those eyes were drawing him into as well. He didn't bother snapping his fingers this time, instead going for immediate fright and emitting a noise that neither around him would have believed he made. It was close to the caw of a parrot, very loud, and very distracting. Next - a flash of light. Now to just... and Kaito stood in front of Hattori, seeing the spectacular lime green his clothes were along with the touch of a cantaloupe orange that he'd added to his hair in streaks. "Hey, I said I was coming." He didn't really want any confirmation on this, he just wanted Hattori to start being the detective he knew him as, the one he was seconds ago. The fact of Tantei-kun missing now brought with it the newer realization of just how serious this was.

Heiji blinked and whispered, "Kudo," before he realized it was Kuroba in front of him. "What the... ?" Heiji backpedaled to give himself some room. "Wha' was that for?"

Takagi watched closely as Heiji went into almost a trace... not reacting to the other teen at all... then the sound that seemed to come from everywhere, but nowhere. He winced and went to block his ears when a bright light flashed. By the time he blinked the spots away, Hattori had backed up a few steps, seeming to be aware of his surroundings... but with a VERY different wardrobe... and streaks in his hair? When had that happened? "Um, I suppose, if you can clear it with your teachers... as a... character... witness." 'He is a character... green and orange?'

Kaito admired his work and the reaction from at least one of his witnesses. Yeah, that was better. Had to give Hattori bright colors to go with his dark skin. He laughed a little at the result. Well, it was flashy and that's what he'd been going for. He was going to ask what Conan looked like but the name alone was enough to make Hattori go all zombie, so he just kept quiet. If he needed some excuse for it in the future, he was a Kid fan; he'd say he saw Tantei-kun in the paper or something. He already knew what he looked like. He also had as good a description of the culprit as they had. Now he'd just follow them, help if he could, while he thought of a better way to go about this. "Well, let's get going."

Takagi tried to stop the teen as he walked out the door. "O-oi, hold on. We need to get you... signed out or... something like that... right? Ku-Kuroba-kun, wait up. You can't seriously just walk out of school... " 'Why is it that every kid I meet, teenage or elementary not only believe they can do just about anything... they actually do?' After a quick apology to the secretary, who waved him off at the name 'Kuroba Kaito', Takagi hurried out the door only to wonder how it was that the boy knew what car to wait beside.

Heiji hurried out after Takagi-keiji and wondered why he was getting such strange looks from the people he passed. He picked up the word 'Kaito-kun' and the others seemed to nod knowingly. He sighed and pushed his way out the door only to find that the other teen had already seated himself in the front. Just great... oh well. After he climbed in the back, Takagi took off for the precinct.

Hattori didn't try and wrestle back the front seat, good. He smiled as the Osakan got in the back and the officer in the front. "Wait." He put a hand on the policeman's before he could start the jeep. The way it was designed made it so easy to modify in a hurry. All he really needed was a few pins and a sheet. Kaito snapped his fingers, watching the wide-eyes from Takagi as a noise startled him from behind- that was the sheet rising to separate the back from the front. Another snap of his fingers and the small pellet of knock-out gas he'd thrown in the back seat exploded silently and invisibly. Hattori, for all of the two times he'd seen him, looked terrible and the gas would put him to sleep, if not keep him asleep . It was short acting. That... and he didn't really like the detective behind him where couldn't watch him. Another snap and the sheet was down, Hattori having fallen over and sleeping comfortably in the back seat. He gave the officer a wink and a smile. "Tricks of the trade."

Takagi glanced at the sleeping teen in the backseat and back at the one beside him. "How... is he... What did you do to him?"

"A magician never reveals his secrets." Kaito smiled but internally he was thinking. Simple magic like this was fine but he had to be careful with anything more complicated. A small part of him cringed at the thought of going to a police station he wasn't familiar with but... seeing Hakuba there made the enjoyment of it too good to pass up.

"But... he's OK... right?" Takagi looked behind him again, wishing these crazy things would stop happening. From elementary school kids catching criminals to teens changing other people's clothes and hair without appearing to touch them. He suddenly wondered if he should be glad that Hattori-kun was getting some of the rest that he obviously needed or worried that he was alone with a teen that could pull of something like that with just a snap... or two... of his fingers.

"Of course he's okay!" Kaito didn't mean to put the bite in his words that he did but somebody even thinking he would purposely hurt someone was... it go him angry. He turned away before the officer could stare at him. He was gonna pay for that too. If he didn't let Hattori get away with threatening him, he wouldn't let the officer get away with worse. He just had to wait until they got out of the car...

Takagi breathed a small sigh of relief and headed to the precinct. He was trained to deal with criminals... not detective and magicians that weren't even out of school yet. He pulled the jeep into the same spot and climbed out before looking in the backseat. He scratched the back of his neck and looked at the teen that was actually awake. "Ano... what do we do with him," he gave a nod at Hattori-kun, "This isn't my car."

"Let his sleep." Kaito close his door quietly, grin hidden safely on the other side - along with something else. This wasn't something he was going to live down easily - or the officer. "Tell whoever owns the car to just wake him up and tell him where we are if he needs to take it." Meeting the man on the other side of the jeep and making sure to keep at least an arm's length away in case he needed the time, he tried hard not to look at his work. The policeman was now sporting his boxers on the wrong side of his pants.

Takagi looked back at the car toward the sleeping teen. Granted, it was a police parking area... he'd be fine... suddenly Takagi caught his reflection... or the lower half of him... in the door. He hadn't felt a thing... it was a trick on the paneling... it had to be. With a gulp he glanced down and saw that it was real. "Wha... what... how... "

"Ah, Takagi-kun, your back... and you brought Kudo-kun, good thinking." Sato hurried past the next two cars and stopped, staring at the view in front of her. She wasn't quite sure what to make of it. She knew Takagi-kun was as tired as she herself should be but the rest of his clothes were the same so he hadn't just gone home and changed. "Takagi-kun... what?

"Sa-Sato-san?" Takagi did what any other male in the situation would do - he blushed and hid on the other side of the jeep. He lowered her head so she wouldn't even see his hair. Sh-she could have just- He blushed furiously, reaching for the passenger side door as he crawled along the side. "Cho-chotto matte."

Sato ducked her head as well, trying to hide the smile at the boxers... especially from Kudo-kun. "Ah, Kudo-kun. I assume you convinced Takagi-kun to come help find Conan-kun. Where did Hattori-kun go? I was sure he left with Ta... Takagi-kun." She glanced over toward where her partner was, hearing his feet shuffling but nothing more. She had to focus on Kudo-kun or else... "Please, accept our promise that we will find Conan-kun and punish the one responsible."

Kaito had a few options now. He highly doubted that just a friend would be let into see Hakuba, especially because he was a friend. Kudo, though, had free access. "It's fine, Sato-keiji." He smiled more gently to her in understanding. "Your... Takagi-keiji seems to need some time and Hattori-kun is asleep right now. He needed it. Can you take me to see the suspect?"

Sato nodded and began walking. Turning her head, she called over her shoulder. "Takagi-kun, I'm gonna debrief him on the newest stuff, you can catch up when you've... when you can." She picked up her pace and began to talk to Kudo-kun. "I guess by your appearance that you've been worried. I'm not sure how much you know or what Takagi-kun told you so I'll give you the full rundown. We know Conan-kun was taken from a bookshop around 8:30pm last night. The book Ran-san had just bought and given him to read there while she and her friend were shopping was left at the scene. The clerk identified the person that walked out carrying the 'sleeping' child as a blond male. What we just learned was that a drop of moisture on the fabric of the back of the chair that we tested for DNA wasn't sweat. It was ketomine. It tells us that, not only was this most likely premeditated, the man had no qualms about drugging him. The person we currently have, a Hakuba Saguru, was carrying cuffs and sleeping gas, but that doesn't mean much... the gas could have been for if he was stopped."

"Were there any fingerprints that you could life off the chair? I'd say the door handle might have some but-" Kaito shook his head, he wasn't good at this. Besides, a lot of people go into bookstores. He was no stranger to them either. "And sorry about that," Kaito halfheartedly tried to flatten his hair. Without gel it was impossible but he looked closer to Kudo than if he'd left it alone. "I take it you're looking into anyone that might have some connection to him as well. That alone is a lot of people though." Tantei-kun had to stop falling into so many cases. Half the population was probably involved with him at some time. Kaito sighed. Maybe Hakuba would have some ideas. "Thank you for giving me the information."

"No... no fingerprints anywhere. We believe he must have either worn gloves or, since that might have been suspicious... he only touched Conan-kun himself. It's hard to believe... with all the times he's been kidnapped, this one just seems... different. And Hattori-kun has been acting strange... like he made it his personal mission to find him. Even pulled out that wooden sword of his and almost attacked the suspect before he recognized him."

And damn if that almost made him laugh. Kaito only nodded, thinking more on the serious aspects of their conversation. "He's not the only one who's taking this personally." He, himself, was getting close to ignoring favors and making this his own mission. All those around him were acting strange - it wasn't just Hattori. There was the same tension and fatigue hanging around Hattori that was hanging around Sato, though she hid it much better. "I'll see if I can't do anything to help." And he meant it. Him, helping the police, go figure.

Sato nodded in relief. Under normal circumstances, the police would discourage a family member being involved but if they wanted the best chance of succeeding then she was fine with pulling out all the stops... and she was sure that Megure-keibu would agree. "Anything you can get out of our suspect would be great. I went by the address he gave already but there wasn't anyone there. Until I get Takagi-kun's report on him being a student at the school from the classmate he named... and something about confetti... we need as much information as we can get. Do you think you can remain calm enough to get some straight answers out of him- without revealing that Conan-kun has been kidnapped? We don't want him to be able to change his story."

She was totally going make him blow his cover. Kaito couldn't believe that Hakuba had told them about the confetti. So he added some sticky glue to a few dozen of the pieces, he didn't think it was worthy of informing the police. That stuff about not telling Hakuba- that he was going have to lie about after he made sure himself that Hakuba was telling the truth. He knew the guy well enough in and outside of class, but... a few recent run-ins told him even those high officials in the force could lie - steal - kill. He shook his head to rid himself of the thought that he wasn't expressing on his face. He nodded, calm. "I understand the situation. If I can, do you think I could speak to him in a private room? He may have some hesitation about saying anything in front of the police. I'm not sure what information I could get, but it's worth a shot."

Sato contemplated the request before nodding. "I don't believe anyone would have a problem with that. But... have you ever met him before? Both Hattori-kun and the suspect have confirmed that they know each other."

"I don't get around here much anymore." And it was the truth. So far he'd be able to deny everything that he'd told her - because it had either been the truth or her own assumption. "And I'm not one to take sides just because I know someone. Some of my closest friends can call themselves my worst enemies if they do something I do not like." He kept the smirk off his face but allowed himself to feel the giddiness. "Even if I did know him, it wouldn't sway me one way or the other." And here he took something that, while technically Tantei-kun's, was true enough, though he edited it a bit to match closer to something he felt comfortable saying. "You can't change the truth just because you don't like who's involved.

Sato smiled. "Well said, Kudo-kun. Can you wait here a moment? I'll have the suspect moved to the private room we use for the lawyer/client discussions. You can assure him that there is no chance of anyone listening in. If he is a teen detective like he claims, you may be the best one to get him to talk." Sato walked away, leaving Kudo-kun beside her desk to carry out the room change.

Kaito was starting to feel his nerves get to him, and not only because of where he was, but because of the lies he was creating as himself instead of Kid. He was leaving himself so vulnerable to their suspicions if he slipped in the slightest - and all for two stupid detectives that only wanted to arrest him. He laughed guiltily to himself as Sato walked off. Right, Tantei-kun was missing and he was worried about himself. At least he could run.

Sato opened the door and went over to the suspect. "OK, boy, you're coming with me to a private room. We have someone new to talk to you and try to sort this out." She grabbed him by the arm to get him to follow her.

Saguru stood, wondering who it was that the police intended to have question him. As he was led to the new room, the officer that had arrested him, Shiratori-keibu, came up to them and muttered something to Sato-keiji. After a quick back and forth, Sato-keiji sighed and nodded. When they got to the room, Saguru took a seat only for Sato to pull out her cuffs and, taking the chain of the ones still around his wrists, she attached them to the back of the chair and, with a shrug, walked out.

Sato left the room, wondering at Shiratori's order to attach him to the chair. Most likely he was concerned since the room had no cameras. Reaching her desk she motioned to Kudo-kun. "It's all set. The suspect is restrained so you don't have to worry. Please, follow me."

Kaito nodded in all seriousness, that laugh still in the back of his throat. He followed her to a door that she nodded to, putting his hand on the handle and watching her until Sato shrugged and walked away. Kaito turned it, putting a finger up to his mouth in a shushing gesture as he walked in. The room may have been private, but it wasn't soundproof, and he didn't know how Hakuba was going to react to him. They may have thought he looked like Kudo, but Hakuba had never mentioned it.

Saguru was looking down at a spot on the table, turning over everything he had gathered from the so called interview. No, interrogation. He had yet to be told what it was, but somehow he was sure that Conan-kun was involved. The boys name had come up multiple times and the presence of the Osakan detective further supported that theory. He heaved a sigh as he continued his attempt at solving the mystery of his 'detainment'.

Hakuba didn't even look up at him. Well, good. Kaito had an idea then. Before the blond could take notice of him, he made it to the other side of the room and behind him, putting a hand over the detective's mouth to ensure that he didn't say anything.

When a hand closed over him mouth from behind, Saguru's heart lept. Without the mirror across from him like the previous room he had no idea who was behind him. He went to pull away only for the cuffs to arrest his movement, biting into his wrists and reversing his momentum to force him back into the seat. 'What do they think I did that would warrant these tactics? This cannot be just about a robbery... '

"Hakuba-kun, calm down. It's me." Kaito whispered in his classmate's ear. This was one sight he was never going to forget.

Saguru didn't know if he should be relieved for even more nervous when he heard Kuroba-kun's voice. He tried to turn his head and see who was behind him, ignoring the cuffs that were now doing a real number on his wrists.

"I need to as a favor; I'll return it ten-fold. The people here seem to think I'm Kudo-kun and I don't see why I should make them doubt that. If you would then, I think it would be best for all involved." He let Hakuba go, trusting him not to do anything stupid. "Now." Kaito walked around the table and sat down. "Hold on a second. I've been wanting to do this for a while now." He stifled them so that no one outside could hear him and he laughed.

Saguru couldn't have acted against his classmates wishes if he wanted too. They thought Kuroba-kun... Kuroba-kun... was Kudo-kun... as in Kudo Shinichi? And he expected him to play along? Saguru just stared, dumbfounded, as Kuroba-kun walked around the table, sat down... and started laughing. Granted, the last part wasn't all that surprising, but... did Kudo-kun look that much like Kuroba-kun that all he had to do was actually make an attempt at brushing his hair to pass himself off as the famous detective? He shook his head, the adrenaline from a moment ago wearing off... and bringing with it the pain in his wrists. He grimaced and tried to adjust himself to lessen the potential for further pain

Kaito stopped, a few giggles still trying to escape. Man was he nervous. He noticed Hakuba's discomfort and sighed. "Sorry, Hakuba-kun. I could help you with that but I don't want either of us to be caught if someone walks in here and sees you." He thought about it a second before getting back up and spending a few seconds unlatching both sets of cuffs. Did they think Hakuba was that dangerous? "I can give you a minute or two though. I don't think that can hurt. I'll have to put them back on though."

Saguru was a little shocked but relieved to have the cuffs off. He brought his hands in front of him to attempt to recover the feeling and blood flow. His wrists were raw as well, as he expected. "I thank you very much, Kuroba-kun. Perhaps you can inform me as to what is going on?"

Kaito sighed. "You have no idea how much they don't want me too. And... " He let his sentence run off into silence. "Here." Kaito dug in his pocket, finding the cream. He threw it to Hakuba to avoid this conversation a little long. He was essentially doubting someone who was in much better standing than he. And you know what? He didn't care what they thought. "It's aloe and it'll help. Now that I know what's going on, yes, I'm going to tell you, but you can't let them know I did." Kaito walked next to Hakuba so he could show him just how serious he was. "I'll be in enough trouble as it is and I am not going to be arrested on suspicion of accessory. Got it?"

Saguru was starting to think it was all a dream... and one that didn't involve him catching Kid would be a first. He tried to twist it but found he still didn't have much control of his fingers yet. He nodded, pretending to read the label while he tried again. He was not going to appear any weaker to his classmate. It was bad enough he'd seen him in handcuffs but to not have the dexterity to open the top of the aloe was beyond humiliating.

Kaito watched Hakuba. That was... new. He'd never seen the detective-... Kaito took the tube back and opened it, handing it to Hakuba without a word, turning slightly away to pretend nothing happened. "I still need your word on that. If I get arrested too, I mean, I won't really care because you'll get off... I think. A charge of hampering an investigation will definitely stick with me, whether you're proven innocent or not."

Saguru appreciated Kuroba-kun pretending to ignore his difficulty. "Innocent of what? Just a straight answer for once... please?"

Damn it. Didn't the detective realize how much he was leaving himself open? All he wanted was his stupid word that he wouldn't let the other officers know that he was aware of the case. Was that really too much to ask? "You give me one and I'll do the same."

"Very well, Kur- Kudo-kun. I appreciate what you are doing and will use utmost discretion in answering any further questions that the other officers present to me."

Kaito sighed, looking down and playing with the cuffs in his hand. "Yeah well, that boy in the papers, the one who's always after Kid? Someone kidnapped him last night." Then Kaito went on to give an exact repeat of what Sato had told him to the detective, not a word out of place. She'd had more information than he'd been given early and Sato had a good way of stating it clearly. "Anyway. Seems you're their only suspect. I-" Kaito shrugged. "I guess I could help. It would be boring in class if you didn't come back."

Saguru was shocked. Conan-kun... kidnapped... and he was being blamed. No wonder they had grilled him on where he had been yesterday and what his relationship with the boy had been. It all fell into place, including why Hattori-kun had been so vicious. He wasn't being hot-blooded... or perhaps he was. The two had seemed pretty close at the Koushien. "What do you think you can do that we can't?"

"Honestly, I don't know." Kaito looked down at Hakuba. "I was hoping you could help on that front. You're the detective - detect."

Saguru shook his head. "That drug that was used is extremely effective. Conan-kun would have been unconscious fairly quickly. If there has been no ransom called in then it is fair to conclude that it was not for money... it is personal. That alone brings a rather... undesirable alternative to the possible outcomes in this matter. If this happened last night... it may be... "

"It was at night though, right? And it's really not all that late right now. There's still time... " Kaito turned to Hakuba, wanting to know this answer more that the others, "Isn't there?"

"The common guideline for a kidnapping is... if no ransom is demanded... 24 hours. After that... the possibility of rescue drops drastically... to more a matter of... recovery... and even less of a chance of arrest without... a repeat offense... or a large amount of luck." Saguru said the last line with a shake of his head.

Just the word recovery made Kaito bare his teeth in anger. People weren't supposed to die. Men weren't supposed to go around kidnapping children, revenge or not. It was wrong. It was wrong and infuriating because it was someone that he knew, someone who made that amount of enemies for the same reason that he did- because by stopping the bad guys, you got them mad. Mad enough, in both their cases, to want them-. Kaito was knocked out of his inner rambling by the sound of the handcuffs hitting the floor. He looked at them, realizing he must have dropped them. He dropped something... unintentionally.

Saguru was startled by the sound and looked up at Kuroba-kun, and then followed his gaze to the floor. The cuffs that had been on Saguru's wrists were at Kuroba-kun's feet... but Kuroba-kun had been fiddling with them the whole... time... Saguru looked back up at the teen. He understood that most civilians would not like the statistics he just gave but he had done so, not just because of their deal but because, posing as a detective, he needed to know it. He hadn't thought that it would make him, Kuroba Kaito, class magician and show off and, he still believed, Kaitou Ki... that was it. Kid! He remembered hearing that Kid had jumped out of an airship after the boy had been tossed out. He'd dismissed it as a rumor but... Kid was credited with a motto of 'Nobody Gets Hurt.' "Kid!"

Kaito jumped, not only at the name but the volume. "You idiot!" He whispered fiercely at Hakuba. "If I don't want you calling me by my own name, why would you think I'd want you calling me that? Bad enough you do it in class," Kaito snarled involuntarily, the anger still there before he had a chance to control it. "I do NOT need you doing it here." He sighed, picking up the cuffs. "Sorry, Hakubaka, but I have to put these back on."

Saguru raised his hands. "What made you think I was addressing you? It merely occurred to me that, since you proclaim yourself to be Kid's biggest fan, you could figure out a... magician's way... of contacting him. I have reason to believe he may be willing to help. Also, if he does, and I am not sitting here, I will make no move to capture him or ascertain his identity. Can you, as a magician, pass on that he has my word on that?" Saguru looked up from where he was seated at Kuroba-kun, hoping that he would meet his eye.

"Why in the world would I have a hotline to Kid? And of course I thought you were talking to me. You call me Kid practically three times a week... ." Kaito frowned, looking at Hakuba now instead of the table. "You want me to tell him what?"

"That, should I be cleared and Conan-kun rescued, any contact we have shall not result in my attempt to capture him or unmask him." Saguru took a deep breath. Right or wrong about Kuroba-kun being Kid, he was hopeful that his promise would not be passed on to the police. After all, police made deals with criminals to catch those that were much worse... this was no different. Saguru repeated those words, hoping to convince himself that this deal was no different than the ones the police have done in the past.

Kaito may have let more show on his face then he would have liked, but he was surprised. Then he became guarded. Hakuba was no liar and he knew him to keep his word, once he had it, but you just can't forget information like that. The detective seemed to have so much faith in him... that was surprising in and of itself- and made him ashamed that he couldn't live up to it. Kid had contacts, sure. He had magic and power, also true. He could not make facts appear where there were none or follow trails that were invisible. He'd- he'd had to watch someone die practically right in front of him because he did not have the power to find these criminals. He didn't have the means for it, though he could stop them once they were rooted out. Best to stick close to Hattori then. It was his best shot. "I'm sure Kid would miss messing with you as much as I would." Kaito held out his hand, looking at it and waiting for the detective to give him his wrist. "So I don't think I need to pass on any message, even if I could, which I can't, so I wouldn't worry about it."

Saguru shook his head. "I had to hope... I doubt Hattori-kun will be in any shape to search. He tried to hide it, but he was dead on his feet. The irony is, with myself, and no doubt Hattori-kun, out of commission... and Conan-kun obviously out of the question... I think Conan-kun best hope was that thief." 'That feels so low, but if I can't get out... maybe I am dreaming... or just going crazy.' Saguru reached forward and took the extended hand. "Arigatou... to both Kudo-kun and Kuroba-kun."

Kaito felt something he never thought he would. He regretted having to handcuff Hakuba. This wasn't the first time he'd done it, or even the second, but it meant so much more now. He felt like he was denying Tantei-kun a chance of getting out of this because, like it or not, Hakuba was right. "Hey." Kaito cleared his throat for a minute to see if this would fly. "I've lied to the cops already. Odds are one of them's going to rat me out." He looked Hakuba in the eye, having put one handcuff on and he'd have to get behind him to put the other and right now, he needed eye contact. "Don't think they'll care that I lied to them when they find Conan-kun... And I don't think they'd care if someone innocent of the crime left a little earlier than they should."

Saguru was confused. "Yes, but it is not as if they will be able to figure it out before you leave anyway... not that I believe anyone but Aoko-kun could actually stop you in the event that they have." Saguru began to turn in his seat to allow Kuroba-kun to connect his hands behind his back. "Rest assured, they shall not learn about it from me."

"You idiot." Kaito put his hand on the detective's shoulder instead of cuffing him. "I'm asking if you want to come with me. Do I have to spell it out for you?" Kaito sighed. He wasn't going to let Tantei-kun be one of those recovered if he could help it and breaking a few little laws meant nothing compared to a life. "They'll know it was me though. We'll... we'll have to lie low for a while, do things where they can't see and you can investigate where they haven't been. If you don't want to, pretend this conversation never happened." Kaito didn't mind doing things this way, even if he was breaking the law as himself. He'd, quite honestly, already done that. It was Hakuba that had to make the decision.

Saguru froze... for once torn between obeying the law and doing something that, deep down, he wanted to do. A line from the American Declaration of Independence came to his mind. "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." He knew what the Law said about it, but in the long run, Conan-kun's safety is the main goal... regardless of how it came about.

Kaito... hadn't been sure what he'd expected Hakuba to say but it certainly wasn't whatever it was that the guy ended up saying, in English. He'd caught a few the words but was more confused than not to really pay attention to the rest. "Hakuba-kun?"

"What?" Saguru looked back up at Kuroba, confused.

"I was looking for more of a yes or a no, not whatever that was." Kaito smiled.

Saguru realized he'd spoken out loud... and in English. If Kuroba-kun hadn't understood- "It's a quote from the American Declaration of Independence. To sum it up, it means that, if a law is endangering the citizens under it, those that see that and have the ability to change it have the obligation to do so."

"You want us to change the law?" Kaito shook his head. "Enough. We're running out of time. It's been at least fifteen minutes, and that's being generous. I was expecting a half an hour before someone came to check up on us and that windows is closing." Kaito narrowed his eyes, already getting out a pin for the cuff he'd secured. "Are you in or not?"

"Yes... but might I suggest something else?"

"What do you mean?"

"What sort of disguise can you throw together... I've seen you do it in class, so don't deny you can, even now."

"I wouldn't. Every great magician knows how to disguise themselves and all the guys around here are in suits and most of them look exactly alike, short cropped black hair and all. I can throw that one together easy, for both of us. You worry about your end of things and I'll worry about mine." Kaito took the cuff off. If anything, he was prepared, and he'd been waiting to pull something on Hakuba in class, so the hair was easy. The outfits were too, considering the minute he ran into Takagi and Hattori he'd planned disguises for himself along those lines. When he was done, no one would be able to recognize either of them.

Saguru had to fight his instincts to flinch as Kaito grinned at him. He'd consented and would follow through... that did not mean he had to like it. "Just make sure this stuff comes off easily... That dye in class last month took a full week to finally wash out."

"Don't feel so bad. That's how long it was supposed to last. Hattori-kun's is in there all month." Kaito couldn't help grinning. This was his ballpark now. Hakuba needed a cap over his hair to hide the length, a wig on top of that. He just put dye in his own that worked a lot like gel as he pushed it sideways. He put some paper in his shoes and, with a snap of his fingers, both of them were in in new outfits, dull colors to make them look uninteresting. "Hakuba-kun, this." Kaito held up a small bottle of berry juice. "Will darken your skin. You're too pale. Only problem is it lasts about as long as that hair dye."

"Not like I have a choice... Do it."

Kaito took a sponge and spread the oil around evenly to make the skin tone look natural. Then he ran into a problem. "Ah, Hakuba-kun. I need to put this on your hands too... it might... hurt."

Saguru looked down at his wrists... the marks from the cuffs were still there. He swallowed... even with the aloe they were a long way from being healed. "I can take it... " 'I have to.'

The sponge was soft but, unless Kaito globbed on the liquid- which would make the detective's skin way too dark- it was the as if he were running a dry sponge over his skin. Normally that wouldn't hurt at all but... He was as gentle as he could be. He didn't like causing pain- at all, be it a friend or a foe. When it was necessary, he could do it, and this was necessary.

Saguru winced and pulled away at the first contact. "My apologizes... continue." Saguru took a deep breath, held his arms in front of him and waited.

Kaito sighed. He couldn't do it. He straightened up and put the liquid away. "This will make us look more suspicious then we have to be, but I don't see any other way." He took out a pair of gloves from inside his coat. It wasn't as if the traffic division didn't wear them. "Here, put these on."

Saguru took the gloves with a sigh. "Kuroba-kun... I." No words fit... none. He just tried his best to convey with his eyes as he started to pull the left one on naturally... not thinking to watch his progress.

"Idiot." Kaito grabbed the fingers of the glove before Hakuba could put it on. "At least do it slowly. I don't want the whole place to know what we're doing when you accidently hurt yourself." Kaito let go of the glove, looking up at Hakuba and confused at what he saw in the detective's eyes. "Anyway, you'd better not talk when we get out - if anyone speaks to you. Let me handle it or all that make up is a waste when they notice you have an accent."

Saguru nodded and eased the gloves on, making sure they covered his hands and pulling down his sleeves to overlap them... just in case. "If I remember correctly, you are posing as Takagi-keiji... is that correct? How can you be certain we won't run into either him or Hattori-kun?"

"Hattori-kun is sleeping. He was exhausted, as you said, and with a little help from yours truly, he seems to be getting that rest. If we run into Takagi-keiji-" Kaito just let himself grin. "You let me take care of that then.

Saguru raised his eyebrow at that. "What exactly... you know... never mind... I don't want to know. Let's just get out of here."

Kaito laughed, going towards the door and checking to make sure no one was there. And really, no one was. People had more important things to do besides stay outside closed doors. He held it open for Hakuba and started out of the police station. The strangest thing was he was more comfortable in a disguise, leaving as a criminal, than he had been coming in as himself.