This is the end of Part 1. Part 2 will begin in the next chapter, and not as a new story. Just a friendly FYI for you all. Have fun reading, and Happy Holidays!

Disclaimer: See previous chapter.

Chapter 10

A flying soccer ball and several pink smoke bombs later…

Shiratori glanced at his watch and then at the bed next to him. It was two in the morning and Takagi still hadn't stirred an inch. He had only been on watch for the past four hours, but it seemed like it should be well into morning. He sighed, at the same time there was a sharp rap on the door. Quickly glancing at his old rival, he quietly stepped out of the room. "Nakamori-keibu?"

"Thought you ought to know," Nakamori said, "We apprehended Toshiro about an hour ago in an almost shootout-turned-Kid-heist. Don't ask me how it all happened; the kid who follows Mouri-san around explained the riddle to us on the ride back to the Detective Agency. I'll give you the short version: Satou believed you were with her the entire day – Kid being you the entire time – and took it upon her to investigate the evidence left on Takagi. After chasing his main cronies clear across the city, she finds not them, but Toshiro himself at the pier. He proceeds to use her for target practice before the Taskforce shows up. Kid makes an appearance, all hell breaks loose, and Toshiro gets arrested. The end."

Shiratori blinked, trying to realize how ridiculous yet real the recap sounded, "Is Satou-san alright?"

"I spoke to the doctor before. No one can identify the officer that brought her here, but he had something pink stained on his clothes, according to the hospital staff. My guess is it was Kid, who once again, got away. She's still unconscious, but her injuries aren't too serious. The arm wound is a minor graze, and the leg was a clean bullet wound. There were no complications." He nodded to the door, "Any progress?"

Shiratori sighed, shaking his head, "Still unconscious. The doctor said his condition worsened even more. I'm ready to charge the man with another count of murder if Takagi-kun doesn't wake up by the trial date."

Nakamori crossed his arms, "Well, with their ringleader arrested, it's only a matter of time before the others are rounded up. Now that Kid got away…again…I sent the Taskforce on a manhunt. His cronies are as good as caught."

Shiratori nodded, "Let's hope. Has Satou-san's mother been notified?"

Nakamori nodded, "She just arrived and is in her room now. The doctor had already put her to sleep for the night though. If all goes well, she should be fine in the morning, but I doubt they'll let her leave so quickly, especially since the doctor is the one she was supposed to have her ankle follow-up with."

Shiratori glanced back at the room behind him, "Let's hope Takagi-kun shows some improvement in the morning…."

Satou woke the next morning to see Shiratori dozing in the chair next to the bed. He must have gotten off duty from Takagi-kun's room…

"Psst! Keiji-san!"

Satou looked around, but no one else was in the room. She sat up and pulled back the blanket on the bed. Her right arm and left ankle were wrapped in bandages. She looked up again. "Who's there?"

"Keiji-san, here, in the mirror!"

Shiratori began to wake up as soon as Satou gasped, "Kaitou Kid!"

"Well, no. I'm the Wizard – you remember, don't you? From Oz!"

Shiratori blinked. "The what…of what?"

Satou blinked, "I'll tell you later." She turned back to the Wizard in the mirror, "What are you doing in there?"

The Wizard sighed, "Not everything went as planned when you left Oz. The Witch's cronies took over the Hall as soon as you left, just before your partner was able to leave. They stormed the Emerald City, and locked me in a mirror – don't ask – before I could send Takagi-keiji back to Tokyo with you."

Satou gasped, "Then the reason Takagi-kun is still unconscious is because…"

"Right, he never left Oz. His consciousness is in a state of limbo. We need you to come back to Oz; set things right and free his mind before he gets caught in a state of unconsciousness forever."

Satou frowned, "I thought you said Oz didn't exist and that it was just a dream…what if I'm dreaming right now?"

"Takagi-san's coma is no dream, Satou-keiji. I had to get you out of Oz before the takeover. Now, the same way I got you out, I need to sneak you back in to fix the wrongs that have occurred. Without the ruby slippers, I can't send either of you back again."

Satou looked down at her leg, "I…I don't think I can this time…at least not by myself."

The Wizard looked over at Shiratori, "Take him with you then. The more help you have, the better. There are a few people left in the city that can be of assistance. It's the only way to get Takagi-keiji out of his coma."

"Satou-san," Shiratori began, "While I have no idea what's going on, we will need Takagi-kun's testimonies to appropriately sentence Toshiro."

Satou looked down for a moment, and then nodded. "Let's go." Shiratori stepped out for a moment for her to get dressed. She pulled on her suit from the previous night, thankful the fabric was black to hide the blood from the night's adventure, but at the same time, wished her mother had brought her some new clothes.

When Shiratori walked back in, the Wizard put his hand to the glass of the mirror, "Ready?"

The two officers looked at each other. Satou nodded, "Yes, we're ready."

"Place your hands on the glass like mine. I'll pull you through. There's no telling where in Oz you will end up, or even if I'll be able to contact you again. Just get yourself to the Emerald City."

Satou took a step towards the mirror and had to be caught by Shiratori before she fell on her face.

"You shouldn't do this, Satou-san," said Shiratori, helping her back up, "You can barely stand. The doctors would never allow it."

"The doctors don't know that if we don't go, Takagi-kun will never recover! Shiratori-kun, nothing you say or do will stop me from going, so let's stop wasting time. I can't do this alone."

Shiratori sighed, nodded, and helped her to the mirror. They placed their hands up, mimicking the Wizard's stance on the opposite side.

"I'm going to pull you in now," said the Wizard, "I would close your eyes, it might be a bad dizzy trip."

Shiratori kept a tight hold onto Satou as he felt himself pulled through the glass. He closed his eyes as they began to spin into a void, faster and faster. Shiratori felt Satou go limp beside him until he too lost consciousness….

To be Continued…

First peek at the summary for Part 2, coming early 2011!

Back in the Land of Oz to save her partner, Satou finds that things are not how she remembered. The citizens of Munchkinland once again live out of fear, the Emerald City is deserted, and Oz has been taken over by mysterious sorcerers. In order for her to set things right, Satou needs the ruby slippers, but how can she find them in a dangerous world where she has no idea where to start looking, and when everyone she knew is gone?