So sorry for the wait. This story was meant to be a lot longer, but I lost interest in writing for this fandom a few years ago and that made it hard to return. I've decided to wrap everything up just for the sake of being able to give it an ending. Next chapter will be the last.
Get the Gem
"Wait, you mean there'll be no open heist?" Shinichi asked in surprise.
Kuroba shook his head as he texted on his phone with his assistant. "I've already stolen the Violet Dream using a public heist. It wouldn't be a good idea to do it again."
"Is that because …"
Shinichi broke off, unsure if he should ask the question. They had been friendlier towards each other since they'd talked things out after the whole exposed identity thing, but that didn't change the fact Kuroba could be a prickly guy when he wanted. Digging into his secrets was a sure way to make him turn all hedgehog defence.
"What?" Kuroba glanced up from the phone.
"It's just at the Corbeau heist there were bullet holes and shoes left frozen at the scene. They didn't belong to the taskforce. That wasn't the first time something like this happened either, right?"
Kuroba tensed, but then he exhaled and all the tension eased out of him. "Should have known you'd pick up on that."
"So …?"
A sigh. "Let's just say I have my own organisation to deal with."
Shinichi rubbed his chin. "You know I could—"
"No. I know what you're gonna say, and the answer is no."
"But—"
"I can handle these guys just fine, Kudo. Worry about your own nasties with guns."
Shinichi wanted to argue, but he knew there was no point. At least not in this moment. "Fine. How are you planning to steal the gem?"
"Uh-uh, no detectives allowed in this plan."
"But—"
Kuroba pressed the Send button and placed his phone down. "Kudo, I consider you a friend now, and as your friend I'm telling you that you will sleep better tonight if you stop asking me questions."
"Yeah. That really doesn't make me feel better."
Kuroba shrugged and spread his hands. "Can't win 'em all. Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna—"
"Hold it!" Shinichi grabbed his arm. "Look, I won't interfere with tonight." Much as he didn't want to support crime, he also understood that this was the only way to get the gem. "But you are in my body. I have a right to know what dangers you're about to jump into."
Kuroba pursed his lips in a petulant way, then threw his hands up in surrender. "I guess I can't argue with that. Alright, I'll let you in, but you've gotta do exactly what I say, and you're not to poke your detective nose into Gramp's business. He's already panicking over the fact you know who I am."
"I won't do anything."
"Good." An earpiece was thrust into his hand. "Then you're gonna need this."
oOo
"I don't know why," Shinichi said as he sat in the backseat of the assistant's car with Kuroba, "but I expected your plan to be …"
"What?" Kuroba said absently, half hunched over a computer screen where he switched through the museum's security video footage.
"I don't know. Flashier than this? I mean we're both just sitting here. You're not even the one stealing the gem."
Kuroba spared him a glance. "Why would I? I could never pass for a security guard when I'm this height."
Shinichi knew he had a point, but still.
"Always such a critic," Kuroba muttered, and though he rolled his eyes, his tone was more teasing than anything. "A lot of work went into this. I had to find the right security guard, had to make the mask for Gramps, had to knock out the security guard …" He input a few keys, zooming in on one of the rooms on the screen. "This stuff doesn't magically fall into place, you know."
"Yeah, yeah. I know all that, or did you forget I'm the one who usually figures out your tricks?"
Kuroba rolled his eyes and reached over Shinichi's lap, snatching some of the crisps from the open bag. "Whatever. Just admit you were hoping to get a chance at being a phantom thief."
"Was not."
"Were too."
"Was not. Being a detective is much more—"
"Boring? Yeah, I know."
Shinichi's lips pursed.
Kuroba flashed a grin and popped another crisp in his mouth. So annoying. How did anyone put up with this guy on a daily basis?
"I'm almost at the room where the Violet Dream is displayed," the old assistant's voice came over the earpiece. "Am I clear to commence retrieval?"
"Hold up," Kuroba said, sitting up straighter. "Let me do this and …" He typed a series of keys, then clicked ENTER. "Alright, sensors are disabled and the guards are looking at an empty room. You're good to go."
"Excellent work, young master."
"Just be quick, Gramps. You got a six minute window before the other guard comes back."
"Understood."
Kuroba switched off his microphone and relaxed against the backseat.
"You're calm," Shinichi observed.
"Gramps will be fine. Sure, he's not as agile as he used to be, but he knows his stuff."
"I hope you're right."
Kuroba glanced down at his hands, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Look, I don't like having to rely on him for this either, but he does know what he's doing. This was the best plan. Trust me on that."
"I do …" Shinichi shrugged, rubbing the base of his neck. "I guess I'm just not used to taking the backseat."
Kuroba wrinkled his nose. "Was that a pun?"
"Not intentionally."
They shared a small smile.
"I've got the gem," the assistant's voice came through, crackling slightly with static. "Leaving now."
Kuroba switched the mic back on. "See you soon, Gramps. We'll keep an eye out for the other guards."
oOo
The heist was wrapped up with no problems. Shinichi kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but maybe that was just his experience. Bad luck—and corpses—tended to follow him like an unwanted smell.
The assistant, still wearing the mask for his own protection, drove them to the witch's house. It looked even creepier at night, and the hunchbacked servant who greeted them didn't help. Akako didn't come to see them though. It was the servant who took the gem, the servant who told them to wait, and the servant who later came and told them that his mistress had much to prepare and would summon them when she was ready.
"You mean we're still stuck like this?" Kuroba demanded.
"For now, yes," the servant said without sympathy, and ushered them out of the house, slamming the door on their faces.
Shinichi sighed. After all that work.
"Can we really trust her with the gem?" he asked once they were back in the car.
Kuroba shrugged. "She insists she won't go back on her word, so I guess we have to."
This was not comforting.
The assistant dropped them off at Shinichi's house and was about to leave, but Kuroba stopped him.
"Keep an eye on things at home for me, okay?" Kuroba asked. "Once the news gets out that the Violet Dream is missing again, those men might get suspicious."
A smile curved the old man's lips. "Don't worry, young master. I won't let anything happen to Aoko-san."
Red spilled over Kuroba's cheeks. "I wasn't—that isn't even—" He huffed and folded his arms, looking off the other way. "Thanks, I guess."
Shinichi repressed a snort. Someone was in serious denial.
The old man left, leaving the two boys to climb up the wall and slip inside Shinichi's bedroom. As far as tonight was concerned, it was mission accomplished.
