Disclaimer: see "Prologue"

"What happens then is that I'll decide whether to help you or throw you in a cell."

(This was his most formidable opponent, Conan Edoga-WHAAAAAAAAT?!

Now...

Chapter 5

"..."

Kaito's gaping jaw only allowed one word to cross his lips.

"...What?"

The brat had the gall to smile.

"What do you mean 'what'? You can't honestly tell me you thought I wouldn't help if I believed there was danger to be eradicated?" the kid tilted his head to the side in a parody of innocence, but Kaito knew better.

But the thief had yet to close his mouth.

"... What?"

His Tantei-kun seemed tempted to take a step closer and check on him if how he was looking at him was any indication.

"Oi oi... That was enough to break the great Kaitou KID's mind?" he sweat-dropped instead of moving, and Kaito's mouth closed, the sound of his teeth hitting each other very loud on the empty rooftop.

"... Are you kidding me!" he was finally able to respond coherently, "You have absolutely nothing to do with this. Why on Earth would I get you involved in my personal mess!"

"Oh? I see you ignored the part where I said I could decide to simply put you in jail." his Tantei-kun immediately quipped with a devilish smirk. "And I don't see what has your cape in a twist; I have involved you in many cases before."

"You still owe me for that last one…" the magician agreed with a grumble, remembering very well the exploding train he had had to jump out of as a favor for the damn brat. "But this is different."

"How so?"

"Last time, you asked for my cooperation."

"I did. And this time you need mine."

"I most definitely do not."

The detective glowered at him. "Of course you do! You get shot at your own heists! If that's not an indication that you need my help, I don't know what is! What about your 'No one gets hurt' rule that you throw around like a goddamn slogan!"

"Don't. Even. Think. About. It." the kid opened his mouth, ready to protest more, but Kaito was faster, "Also, I'm a thief, there's no way you, a proper detective, would help me for that."

Kaito conveniently chose to ignore that he had done so in the past.

"I'll take that as a compliment, but are you trying to convince me to arrest you...?"

"As if you could."

At the full-blown KID smirk, his Tantei-kun raised an eyebrow. "Don't try to change the subject." he deadpanned.

"I'm not. Weren't you trying to get that jewe-"

"Also," the brat interrupted, "from what I gather, solving your case-"

"Since when is it a case?!-"

"-would be much easier if you were in jail, safe from any stray bullets, so don't tempt me. Whether you'll accept my help or not won't change anything."

The brunet thief scowled darkly and let the shadows of the night hide half his face. "This is not your case, Tantei-kun."

Said detective was standing at his full height – which was not very impressive, mind – and his posture demanded attention.

"Every mystery there is to discover in this world, is a potential case for me to solve."

Kaito gulped. In that instant, he could see how those piercing eyes, thirsty for truth and challenge, were enough to make the most cold-blooded murderer confess all their crimes to a little kid.

But he was no common criminal.

"So this is what it truly is about hm? A game for you to play? How very appropriate for a child such as yourself."

The shorter brunet didn't take the bait.

"Should you really be the one saying that, Kaitou KID-san?"

"I am but stating a fact, Tantei-kun. For all intent and purposes: you are a child. One that plays in a far bigger world than he is, and puts himself in situations far more dangerous than what he is able to handle with his smaller, slower, and weaker body." Kaito was relentless; he knew using his Tantei-kun's age as a deterrent was an unfair argument, but it was a fact.

The younger boy scoffed. "As if that has ever stopped me."

Kaito's eyes narrowed. Oooh, he was asking for it.

"But it has. And it is no wonder." the thief whipped his card-gun out of his pocket and pointed it to the detective who tensed marginally, "Conan Edogawa. You are an eight year-old child, and you have no more business here."

"... are you trying to kick me out of your heist?" said child pondered out-loud, a bit breathless.

"I am."

"You know you can't exactly do that."

"I can, and I did. Your rights to my heists are revoked."

Kaito had never seen such a mix of incredulous and deadpan on the brat before, and he expertly dodged the soccer ball that came just after.

"Why can't you just accept that I will work on this alongside you or not?" the shorter one demanded after straightening back up from his kicking position.

"Would you accept I help you with your own organization?"

"You never offered."

"I do so now."

"..."

"Exactly."

"Even so, I-"

"Listen brat, you're starting to seriously get on my nerves," Kaito suddenly snapped, a tick mark under his eye as he saw the kid ready to get into another argument, "I don't interfere with your business, you don't interfere with mine, capishe?"

"Wait a second there, I never said I was against you helping me with my... business, it's just that it's pretty dangerous, more than what you already-"

"Dangerous? Do you even know what 'dangerous' is at this point, you reckless brat?! You already got shot before, and kidnapped many times! I'll be damned to let you of all people lecture me on danger when all you do is attract it on a daily basis!"

To be continued...

A/N: Do you realise what you just said Kai-chan...?

To my utmost surprise, this keeps on getting reviews, so here's a new chapter *laughs in confusion*

Thanks to Guest, ColorlessRainbow42 and Guest (again)(is it the same person? will we ever know?!) for their kind reviews, you guys rock! :D

PS: Anyone even so much as willing to write a fic on Karakuri Circus will be a God to me forever (seriously, how messed up is the backstory?!)