Chapter 10
"Whaaat?", Ayumi cried, shocked. "You'll be leaving soon?!"
"Why?", Genta demanded.
Christie smiled apologetically. "You remember I told you that my parents live overseas, and they're too busy to look after me? Well, they've both decided to take a break from work in order to spend more time with me. They want me to come live with them again- I've got to go."
Ayumi's eyes filled with tears. "But you can't go! We won't be the Detective Boys without you!"
"Yes, you will", said Christie firmly. "You'll solve every mystery that comes your way and make me proud."
She caught sight of Haibara flicking away imaginary tears at this emotional display and glared at her.
Ayumi burst into (real) tears and threw her arms around Christie, who stared at her uncomfortably and patted her awkwardly on the back. Seeing that Genta and Mitsuhiko were also suspiciously shiny around the eyes, her expression softened. An idea occurred to her.
"Listen", she said, "there's a person who's moving into the house next to Professor Agasa soon. Her name is Shinichi Kudo."
Ayumi let go of her and wiped her eyes. "So?", she sniffled.
"She's a detective too- an even better one than me. She can help you out if you ever get stuck on a case, and she's a nice person. I'm sure you guys'll all get along."
"Hold on", Mitsuhiko said slowly. "Shinichi Kudo... isn't she that famous teenage detective? How do you know her, Christie?"
"We're distantly related. Actually, she looks a lot like me."
"Understatement", Haibara sang quietly, drawing curious glances from the other Detective Boys.
"A-anyway", Christie continued hastily, glaring at Haibara, "I want you guys to be nice to her, alright? Don't pester her, but you're welcome to come to her for help. Consider it my leaving present."
"Okay!", chorused the Detective Boys.
"Slick", Haibara laughed quietly as they walked home. As usual, her and Christie lagged behind the group as they walked, all the better to converse normally.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Getting these kids to like you as Shinichi Kudo. Afraid you'll be lonely once you're all grown up?"
"No", said Christie grimly. "This way, I can prevent them from getting into any serious trouble, and eventually cause them to forget all about Christie Edogawa. Once I'm grown, they'll never see me like this again, so it's best to sever the bond as much and as soon as possible."
Haibara's teasing smile faded. "You may be right. But don't go around befriending these vulnerable kids until the Black Organisation is taken care of."
Christie grinned at her. "Finally starting to have faith in my plan?"
Haibara tossed her hair and sped up to walk with the others. "When hell freezes over."
"What?", Ran gasped, as Christie finished speaking. "Your parents want you back?"
"Yes, Ran-neechan. Mummy and daddy said they want me back right away! They've even taken time off work so we can play together." Christie allowed her eyes to fill with tears. "I'll be super-happy to see them again, but I'll miss you, Ran-neechan!"
Ran's eyes brimmed with tears and she gathered Christie into a hug. "I'll miss you too, sweetheart."
"You've been like a big sister to me."
Christie felt sorrow squeeze her chest as she knew that statement to be true. She no longer thought of Ran as a love interest, but now as a caring big sister. Her two years as a child had altered her feelings for Ran, towards other people, towards life. She valued it a lot more- her experiences had taught her to view her life as a precious, valuable existence. She no longer took it for granted.
And she herself had changed too. Looking back at herself, she saw how she had sometimes acted arrogant and proud when it was uncalled for. Now she saw how she had been, and realized how she had changed for the better. She was kinder, sensitivity replacing arrogance, humility replacing pride. After all, how else would she have been able to to survive KID's most taxing heists ( without spontaneously combusting) before learning to take a joke.
Ah, KID. He had played a large part in her change in character too, hadn't he?
Ran tightened her arms around her and Christie smiled sadly.
Don't worry, Ran. I'll be back soon, and then I'll give you my answer. It might not be the one you've been hoping or waiting for, but at least you'll get it.
Christie looked around the vast hall KID's heist was being held in. Professor Agasa seemed to be attempting to hide (unsuccessfully) behind her, looking around nervously- he was frightened to having KID play a prank on him.
Christie had said goodbye to Ran (accompanied by her 'mother', who was now waiting for her with her father back at the Kudo mansion) and her grade school class, which was why she was at the heist with Professor Agasa. Christie scanned the crowd silently, for once keeping out of the way of Nakamori and his men. The person in charge of the venue had allowed them in, having heard of how skilled Christie was at picking KID out, although she had been forgotten in all the excitement. Besides, the blonde detective Hakuba had been invited as well, and most of the attention was now on him.
Christie glanced at her watch. Two minutes until the heist started. Just two minutes to find KID before he revealed himself. She continued to scan the crowd. There were a lot of people, since the person in charge of the venue had also decided that it would be good for business to let the public in. This obviously irritated Nakamori, who was stomping around like an enraged rhinoceros and yanking on the cheeks of anyone suspected of being KID.
Just two minutes. She could do this.
KID stared around the hall. He was disguised as a young, pimply member of the taskforce. He kept in character perfectly, scanning the crowd nervously, allegedly for KID, and stuttering whenever spoken to. Really, his character was just a walking cliche.
He saw a pale flash in the corner of his eye at about waist-height, and turned to see Christie standing out of the way in a corner of the hall. The flash he had seen had been the moonlight reflecting off of her now-silver hair. She was the only person he knew who's hair turned silver in moonlight. Not even Hakuba's did that.
A vaguely familiar, chubby, elderly man stood behind her, looking apprehensive. KID noticed the semi-protective way Christie stood in front of him, and decided to avoid including him in his trick. He looked scared enough already.
Christie frowned, then looked up and stared at him, her gaze piercing and sapphire-blue. His breath caught in his throat and he became momentarily unable to look away.
Idiot, she's just a child, a voice snapped in his head.
Pedo, hissed another voice, which he quickly shook away. Where did that one come from?
Christie watched him staring at her, like a rabbit locked in a staring contest with a pair of rapidly-approaching headlights. She took in his stance (unconsciously KID-like), his height (tall due to thick-soled shoes), the tone of his skin (very pasty- almost like makeup...) and came to a conclusion- she'd found KID! She mentally congratulated herself, then congratulated him for not forgetting his contact lenses again. Instead of a sparkling, mischievous violet, his eyes were now a very fetching shade of muddy-brown. Nice.
She grinned, winked at him, then pointed him out to Professor Agasa, who gave him a sudden look akin to terror.
KID continued to stare at her, his mind in overdrive. She had winked at him, and then pointed him out to her guardian. Did she know who he was? But how? He had been staring at her, but surely that wasn't an adequate reason to suspect him, right...?
KID was so lost in confusing thoughts that he didn't realize that Christie had come over to stand right in front of him. She tugged on his trouser leg and he jumped.
"W-what is it?", he stuttered squeakily, slipping back into his role.
Christie motioned for him to crouch so she could whisper in his ear, but he stubbornly stayed where he was, remembering what had happened the last time he had done so.
"Mr Policeman?", she asked childishly, staring fixedly at Hakuba, who was staring suspiciously at them. "When do you think KID will arrive?"
KID frowned, followed her gaze, and noticed Hakuba also. "W-well, the heist n-note said at m-midnight..."
"Right, right! Mr Policeman, could you do something for me?", she asked lowering her voice. "This is an extra-special secret, so you must promise not to tell anyone, okay?"
KID, discreetly watching Hakuba pretending not to watch them, nodded. It was weird how well Christie could act like a child- scary even. "Y-yeah?"
"This is my very last heist, so if you meet KID, could you tell him to make tonight extra special for me, please?"
"Special...?"
"Yes, yes!", Christie laughed, clapping her hands in childish delight. "Like, reeaally funny? I want to have fun!"
Out of the corner of his eye, KID watched Hakuba wander away.
Forgetting his initial wariness, he crouched down beside her and allowed himself to speak in his normal voice. "I'll see what I can do, tantei-chan. And, in return, I don't suppose I could have my monocle and card gun back? I have spares, but even so..."
"Hell no!", Christie exclaimed, snapping straight out of angelic-mode. "Consider it a leaving present to myself. And you don't have to look so worried", she added, intercepting his nervous look, "I've wiped all the finger prints away, and they're in safe hands."
She glanced at her watch. As KID opened his mouth to argue, she brought up her hand and pressed her finger to his lips. Then, she held up his watch for him to see. "Kaitou KID", she said, her voice a perfect imitation of Hakuba's, "you are 5.3 seconds late for your heist."
She took her hand away and grinned.
KID gaped at her. "You- you sounded just like Hakuba! How did you-?"
"I can only do it with people I've met enough times", she said, shrugging modestly. "You want to see something else I can do?"
She composed her face, then smiled slowly. The smile widened opened up, became a maniacal, insane expression KID knew of old- his very own poker face, his Kaitou KID grin.
Christie held it for a few seconds, then dropped it and walked back to Professor Agasa without another word.
"I'm never washing this hand again", she said conversationally to Professor Agasa, knowing she was out of KID's earshot. She rubbed the hand that had touched KID's lips.
Professor Agasa gave her a puzzled glance. "What?"
KID straightened up, blinking at her retreating back. Then, he smiled. Looked like his tantei-chan was majorly talented in areas other than detective work. Who knew?
He shook his head, grinning widely, then noticed Hakuba frowning at his watch. Yipes- late for his own heist. That wouldn't do.
There were screeches of shock all around as multicoloured smoke exploded into the room. When it cleared, KID was seen to be somehow standing in the air above the display case, insane grin fixed in place, arms open wide to encompass the whole room.
Christie's breath caught in her throat as she stared up at him, magnificent in the moonlight. She noted the feeling of peace that settled within her, and knew instinctively why she felt it. There was no death here- none of the murders she had to experience at least every month, the absence of fear at the curse that seemed to plague her. She no longer felt like a walking Death God, causing sorrow wherever she went. Here, she was free.
Lady Luck seemed to favor KID. Maybe KID's proximity caused Her to favor Christie as well?
"Ladies and gentlemen! Let the heist begin!"
This was a fun chapter to make :) I'll try to make KID's heist fun in the next chapter too.
As I explained in the last chapter, I wasn't able to update as much as usual due to school work and stuff. But now it's the Christmas Holidays, I should be able to update more frequently!
...Or so that's what I say. Here's my excuse for yet-to-come, infrequent updates:
To make a chapter, I first write it in my notebook. This is to sort of get a feel of how I want it to go- also, I can get ideas anytime (during lunch, in the middle of the night, while in the bath, etc), and I can't have my computer on me 24/7, so a notebook's more convenient. Then, once I've got a chapter how I like it, I'll put it onto here whenever I have enough time. But I can get random bouts of writers block, or fall asleep during writing down a midnight idea and forget it all, or not have enough time to update at all.
The thing is, I can kinda see a short spell of writers block on the horizon (it usually comes about this far into the story), so I'm just warning you. Although it might not happen. I've been wrong before :P
...Alright! So, long, probably unnecessary explanation over- I hope you've enjoyed Chapter 10 of Moonlight Magician! Please review- criticisms are alright too (within reason), since they can help me later on in the story.
Thanks! :D