Chapter Four: Attempted Mid-Air Rescue
Summary: Even though it was a trap, Kaito Kid saved the little detective anyway. And he would do it again whenever he had to.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I've been distracted with lots of things, and I needed to have them put away before I could concentrate on what I have abandoned but NOT forgotten. This is my thanks for your patience. It might be a little short *grimaces* but I hope I was able to capture the moment as well as I could. Those who had requested me to do a scene on Movie 8 – MnC21 and AngelicSnow - I hope you'll be happy with how it'll turn out.
This fic has not been beta-ed. All mistakes are mine, with deepest regrets.
Hope you'll enjoy the ride!
Magician of the Silver Sky
Movie 8
There were many reasons why he loved the night.
The darkness was one of them. He could use it as a cloak to conceal his presence from those who were fervently searching for him, or hunting him down. Or he could use it to enhance his presence as Kaito KID.
The moon was another. When full and proud, it stood radiant and undaunted in the velvet blanket of the night sky. It served as a beautiful spotlight for him when he stood radiant and undaunted in the face of a very large audience. He wasn't given the name Moonlight Magician for nothing.
Then there was the scenery. It was calmer and quieter at night than it was during the day, where the world seemed much too bright, harsh and unyielding. But in the cover of the night, everything seemed to gentle, illuminated only by soft electrical lights and it was simply breath-taking.
"Let's end this game here, Kaito KID," an all-too familiar, all-too confident voice broke his quiet contemplation.
And because the tranquility of the night was disturbed, KID couldn't help but feel a twinge of extreme annoyance.
Immediately plastering a pleasant smile to hide his irritation, KID turned around and faced the speaker. "We should. It's growing too dark to continue playing hide-and-seek with you." Under the detective's wary gaze, KID threw off the policeman disguise, revealing his true self as Kaito KID, the Phantom Thief. He smirked coolly. "Tantei-kun."
Edogawa Conan effortlessly matched the smirk with one of his own. And how the blue eyes narrowed with fierce anticipation. "Enough talk. Let's bring this to a kicking end."
To prove his point, the little critter knelt down to activate those accursed sneakers. It crackled menacingly to life in a flare of blinding light.
But KID had a few tricks of his own. Tipping down his hat slightly, KID hmph-ed. "Yeah. Afterall, your girl is waiting for you with your prepared supper."
Gliding the hand still gripping the brim of the hat to shield his face, KID activated his voice-changer device. "Conan-kun!"
As expected, Tantei-kun whipped his head around to stare at the somewhere far away, searching for the owner of the voice. Encouraged by his successful distraction, KID removed his favorite card gun from the lapels of his white uniform and gaily continued, "Supper's ready!"
Tantei-kun cursed indecently at the sudden realization as he turned to face KID, who had unerringly aimed the gun at him and still unashamedly talked in Ran's voice. "If you don't hurry, I'll finish them all."
Immediately after that, KID fired. Tantei-kun leaped into a duck and roll, nimbly avoiding the shot. Fast as lightning, he released a soccer ball from his belt. KID shifted his aim but had to jerk aside when the empowered ball rocketed past. Without missing a beat, he fired another round.
And hence, the dance under the moonlight had begun.
KID kept shooting, Tantei-kun kept dodging, but they were moving in the same direction. Until at last, Tantei-kun came to halt, but still KID kept up with his relentless attack, forcing the detective to back away. Caught in the euphoria of finally getting the upper-hand, KID even chuckled in delight.
When the backpack hit the railings, Tantei-kun gave a startled jerk and looked over his shoulder. KID ceased his fire and brought his gun back. "Well, it does seem like the end is near… Tantei-kun."
"Yeah," Tantei-kun acquiesced, but looking far from defeated. The smug grin didn't relent, the bold fearlessness didn't subside. "Seems that way."
For a full minute there was a stand-off between two fiercely indomitable wills. Neither was willing to surrender, to give in or give up. KID's cape billowed in the wind as the thief and detective stared each other down. Sweat beaded on one side of Tantei-kun's face, and he licked his lips slightly; a hint of pink tongue gliding over the bottom lip and was gone, all the while not breaking eye contact with KID, and how unnerving that was. When the boy snorted arrogantly as he tucked down his chin, KID decided that enough was enough.
KID fired.
As expected, Tantei-kun leaped aside, and the card thudded harmlessly into the place where the boy's head once was, but what WASN'T expected was that the detective stumbled and tripped. KID's eyes went wide with shock, and even before the boy dropped off the edge of the roof, KID had already activated his hang-glider. He was already running when Tantei-kun disappeared from sight, and leaped off into the sky half-way through. Shifting his gaze, he saw the detective plummeting with fearsome speed, so he swerved slightly and went nosedive in the kid's direction.
Shit, shit, shit… this wasn't supposed to happen!
With a burst of speed, KID closed in on Tantei-kun, and he was baffled to see the lack of fear on Tantei-kun's face. He was even more baffled to see the grim smugness as the detective activated his stun-gun wristwatch, took aim and fired.
What the…!
Too shocked to school his own expression, KID hastily jerked aside to avoid the tranquilizer needle. But still, he kept an eye on Tantei-kun, and received another shock of his life when the faux child righted himself, extending his arms and legs as though he was going to…
A yellow parachute exploded from the backpack Tantei-kun was wearing, and the boy's direct descent towards gravity bounced into an abrupt halt.
"I see," KID remarked, glancing at the detective behind him in amazement. "A paraglider for a hang-glider, huh?"
He had expected no less from Mister Great Detective, who never ceased to surprise him.
-Later, in the plane's cockpit after averting the crisis and after Conan said 'Of course, after this giant metal bird has been returned to its nest'-
KID ruffled Tantei-kun's head ruthlessly, ignoring yelps of indignation until he was satisfied and he let the boy go.
Glaring heatedly at the unruffled teen thief while trying to smooth his now-messy hair, Conan barked, "Hey! What the hell was that for?"
"That," KID drawled out the word, watching the detective's expression triumphantly, "was for the stunt you pulled earlier!"
Tantei-kun blinked, his rage temporarily forgotten. "What stunt?"
"The 'save-me-KID-I'm-falling' stunt," KID answered brightly, before frowning severely at the detective. "That was pretty neat, I must admit. Get me close enough so you can use that nasty wristwatch of yours on me. How cunning. You knew that I would save your hide so you used that against me. You are such a manipulative brat!"
"Says the one who always so conveniently plays tricks on others!" Tantei-kun shot back, undeterred.
"That's not the point!" KID argued. "We were in mid-air. You tried to put me to sleep in mid-air!"
A hint of an amused smirk crept into the Tantei-kun's features. "You ought to feel privileged. That's a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience. Not everyone has that pleasure."
"You little…" KID seethed. He was NOT going to fall into the brat's trap again. "What I am going to say is…"
"I know what you are going to say, KID," Tantei-kun interrupted, his voice suddenly serious. "Don't worry. I am not suicidal, and I have no intention to have you killed in my attempts to catch you. I had it all planned to make sure we landed safely, even with you in comatose condition."
KID arched a skeptical eyebrow. "And how are you planning to do that? I am no lightweight!"
Tantei-kun winked slyly at him and put a finger to his lips. "Hi-mit-su."
KID tch-ed and looked away, quietly fuming to himself.
"You know," Tantei-kun said softly, gently pulling KID away from his internal rants, "You don't have to save me every single time I'm in trouble."
KID shot him a dark glare. "Barou! As if I could stand aside and watch you die."
"You could," Tantei-kun stated.
"Yeah," KID agreed, "I could, but I won't. I will save you, if you need it."
"Even if it's a trap?" Tantei-kun asked humorously.
But there was no humor in KID's voice when he replied. "Even if it's a trap."
It was very faint, but KID heard it nonetheless, "Thank you."
KID blinked, glancing at the detective, but the boy had looked away. A warm smile tugged at the corner of KID's lips.
"Sky-J Flight 865," the plane's radio crackled into existence. "Hakodate Tower will now take over. Please change the radio frequency to 118.35."
"118.35, roger that," KID said into the earpiece, and adjusted the radio frequency accordingly.
From the corner of his eye, KID could see Tantei-kun was on high alert again, ready to render assistance when necessary. KID couldn't help a soft smile. Earlier, they were on opposite sides, challenging each other. Now they were on the same side, working together. And KID had to admit that he preferred it a lot more when they were in the same team.
Even though it's a trap, I will still save Tantei-kun. And I will do it again whenever I have to.
- End of Chapter Four -
There! I had a lot of fun doing this – and within a day, too! – and I hope you'd enjoyed reading it as well!
Movie 8 is an AWESOME movie! And the ending is HILARIOUS! Poor, clueless Ran! *laughs*
Thank you so much for reading! ^^