Thanks for the comments/favs/follows! Please enjoy the update! We've reached the end of Arc 2 - Diamonds. Get ready for Arc 3 - Spades!

Summary: In which there is a heist.

Showtime begins thirty seconds later than Kaito had originally planned.

It's not as unnerving as Kaito had expected it to be. Instead, as he glances down at the room below, it's confines holding familiar faces with unfamiliar weaponry, Kaito can't help but feel a wave of calm rush through him. It starts with a warmth that spreads down his back, out into his limbs.

He can do this.

He's certain of it.

The thirty seconds is all part of a waiting game – showing up later than expected had ruined any chances of watching the KID task force go about their usual patrols, has made in impossible to do anything but go in blind.

Not that Kaito's too worried about that, all he needs is a smooth entrance and he'll be in possession of the diamond within seconds. It's titillating, how his heart is pounding against his rib cage, excitement leaving him breathless.

"Not too long now," Kaito says, gaze glancing between each of the KID task force. He takes a moment to analyse their body language, to see which leg seems tenser than the other – any clues into which leg has a holster on it.

He draws maps in his mind, biting on his lip as he shades out any areas which have immediate sight from the task force. The entire room is shaded out – which means he's going to have to create a diversion.

Okay. Fine by him. Kaito's always loved a good distraction.

It's why he'd become a magician in the first place.

"Distraction," Kaito mouths now, bringing himself up on his elbows and wiggling until there's enough space for him to access his pockets. He's got some ideas, although he's pretty certain the task force won't be so easily distracted as they had been in the past.

That had been back before they'd been chasing a supposed murderer – the stakes are too high to simply mess around.

Kaito's hand moves past the gas mask he'd worn previously, something he pulls out now, placing it on the grate in front of him so he can push his hand further into his pocket. He needs to push up on one of his elbows, but eventually, he grabs what he needs.

Four cannisters, the one's he'd seen Hattori eyeing when he'd been preparing for the heist. They're hollow, gas inside them begging to be escaped, but he doesn't dare break them open yet. Instead, he takes a few seconds to adjust his view, crawls nearer to the grate of the vent – the fall will be nothing worth worrying about provided he lands correctly – and takes a deep breath.

"It's show time," Kaito says, as if this is like every other heist. "Time to get that diamond."

He places one gloved hand against the grate, blinks when the movement brings dust up at him, before testing the metals resistance. It's an old grate, and he's already removed the screws, so there's only a small groan as the metal pries off.

Not enough sound.

Kaito needs more – he pushes the grate off, fully. And waits.

And as he's waiting for the grate to clatter against the marble flooring, he pulls out the phone he'd grabbed on his way to the heist, pulling up a prepared playlist.

The grate crashes against the floor just as he presses play – the first track, scheduled for only thirty seconds, is silence.

"What's that-"

"It's the grate."

"Should have known he'd come in through the ventilation," Inspector Nakamori's gruff voice almost catches Kaito off guard, but he pushes forward despite it. He's gained more than he deserves with Aoko's forgiveness, he doesn't deserve her fathers too. "KID's up to his usual tricks."

There's almost relief there.

As Kaito grabs hold of the cannisters, he tells himself not to feel guilty at the prospect of removing the relief in the man's voice. He pockets them in his outer pockets, fingers wrapping around the gas mask for later use.

"Why hello there, Inspector," Kaito calls, pulling himself from the vent and allowing himself to drop. He rolls to his feet, glancing at all of the guards that stiffen at the very sight of him. "It's been a while."

The sight of Nakamori Ginzo is as jarring as hearing his voice. Kaito swallows, adjusts his top hat. He forces himself to wear the widest smile he can afford. It only takes a second before Inspector Nakamori has his gun out of it's holster, the metal aimed straight at him.

For a moment, Kaito feels panic well in his chest. It entraps him, for a millisecond, before he can disassociate the fact that his once father figure is pointing a gun at him. The panic transforms into something else, an ugly sort of emotion that Kaito just knows will leave some sort of stain on his very being.

"What're you doing here Kaito?" Nakamori asks. The man is terse, not that Kaito can blame him. Beside him, Aoko lets out the faintest sigh, worried, but doing her best to keep it from showing. Even with the vest, Kaito knows her anxieties are going to be at levels he won't be able to wave off.

"Isn't it obvious," Kaito responds, and there – he can hear it, the second track from the phone playing, a subtle change from the silence, only noticeable if pointed out. "I'm robbing the place."

"Right," Nakamori says, his voice dry.

"I did in fact, leave a note," Kaito says, tone flippant. He moves his hands towards his hands – an open move, one that'll spring the heist into motion. "I'm certain you found it, else you wouldn't be here."

The inspector takes a step forward, levels the gun. "Hands up, this isn't a conversation, it's an arrest."

Kaito cocks his head, "okay. If you want me too."

He raises his hands up. Nakamori nods towards one of his team members to handcuff him, send him back, and Kaito would rather die than go back.

Boom.

Track three of his playlist. The sound vibrates against the vent, ricocheting like a bullet only with far more damage. For a second, there's confusion: The sound is too loud, migraine inducing, and Kaito uses it to his advantage. His hands reach down into his pockets, fingers tightening around the cannisters that he throws to each version of the room.

"What's a show without a little music inspector?" Kaito calls, voice almost swallowed by the music, as he lifts his top hat, retrieving the gas mask from inside.

He manages to pull it on, just in time to shield himself from the smoke that explodes into the room.

"Will you help me?"

Ran surges forward, glances at Shinichi with every inch of emotion she can muster and says, "what do you need me to do?"

For a second, there's silence. They don't have much time, Ran knows, but even still she can't find it in her to force him to hurry. She should, Ran knows she should, but it's impossible. How can she, when she's struggling to think of what she could possibly do to aid Shinichi?

After a few seconds, Shinichi nods his head. He bites into his lip and offers her the faintest outline of a smile. He says, "we need to find a way to evacuate the building, without them thinking it's part of Kaito's heist."

Ran bites her lip. Thinks of all the provisions the Inspectors had told her about, the things they'd brought to ensure nothing go wrong. She says, "I'm pretty sure that's impossible, the task force expected KID might force an evacuation, so they made counter plans against it."

Shinichi places his hand on his neck, digs his nails into the scabs that reside atop of the skin and frowns. "Any alarms pulled would go ignored then."

"And the fire services are waiting outside just in case fire was to break out." Ran adds. She doesn't mention the ambulance waiting outside either, but surely Shinichi would have anticipated one – what with guns being authorised.

"Damn," Shinichi mutters, "it sounds as if they're not going to leave for anything less than a bomb…"

Ran really hopes he doesn't suggest they build a bomb.

"what if," Shinichi breathes, scratching deeper into his throat now, "instead of getting everyone out, we get all the people from outside in?"

The idea of bringing more law enforcement officials into the building to hunt them down brings Ran nothing but anxiety. Surely Shinichi can't be suggesting they make it harder to remain anonymous that it already is.

"I don't understand."

"It's perfect," Shinichi says next, lips widening into a smile. He drops his hand, glances at Ran with blood staining his neck and joy brightening his eyes and says, "the more busy the place is, the less likely a sniper's going to shoot."

Ran pales at the word sniper, feels nausea creeping up her throat.

"Sniper?"

"Yeah," Shinichi says, "no one's going to risk taking a shot that's not clear – even them, because it'll raise more questions than they can answer. So if we can make the exhibit room busier, Kaito should be safer."

Ran bites her lip, uncertain. She says, "but wouldn't that get him caught? And you, Shinichi you can't afford to get caught. You'll die."

His expression darkens, "if Kaito's killed because of something I dragged him into, I should get caught. Either way, I can break him out of a cell if he's caught, I can't bring him back to life."

Ran muses over it, takes time to think it through and yet it still tastes bitter on her tongue. The idea of anyone being caught or – god forbid, killed – leaves bile in her throat and yet if it had to be either of the two…

"Okay," she says, "we'll bring as many people in as we can. But… but you leave here in one piece and without chains, do you understand me?"

Shinichi leans forward, traps her hand in his. As he offers a strained smile, he squeezes, the lightest comfort, the most he can afford to give. "I understand."

Aoko is certain it's going to be another smoke bomb, like the ones Kaito's used in the past. It's not. The gas is smoky, yes, but not coloured like KIDs usual bombs. It sends alarm signals rushing through Aoko's brain.

She closes her eyes, lifts a hand up to her mouth to use it as a filter, but it's hardly efficient.

She still feels water welling in her eyes, her throat growing scratchy with every breath. Her father had said Kaito was the same old KID – but Aoko knows that's not true. There's an element that's changed, more reckless maybe, or simply more determined.

Aoko's not sure.

The only thing she's sure is that KID's brought tear gas to the heist. And that he's using every opportunity to taunt her father.

Why?

Is there a point in taunting her father, getting him to keep track of his position through it all? Isn't KID supposed to be inconspicuous, at least some of the time, drawing attention away from him during his illusions and tricks.

There has to be a second motive, Aoko just doesn't know what it is yet.

"Turn on the fans," her father shouts, authority dripping from his throat. It's hoarse, already affected by the gas. After watching him aim his police issued handgun - .45 calibre, her mind supplies, rather unhelpfully – she can't help but feel as though he deserves it.

Just a little bit.

"They'll wash this smoke out pretty quickly KID," her father shouts, and as the music, such horribly loud music, finally dies down, she can hear his footsteps echoing within the exhibit room.

Aoko bites into her lip – if all goes well, surely Kaito will use this time to steal away. Get away before anything else can happen.

"Aoko," it's a whisper from beside her, from someone who really needs to leave. "I need a favour."

"Aoko's all out of favours," she whispers back, trying to keep her voice steady. And then: "tear gas was a foul move."

"So are guns," Kaito says, and there's a darkness to his voice that hurts, just a little bit. "But that doesn't matter, this favour does."

Turning to him, and squinting through her own smoke-borne tears, Aoko finds herself struggling not to frown. Helping KID had never been part of the deal she'd found in her head – but helping Kaito had. If she helps… she's inadvertently breaking the line she's fit between the two.

What a situation he's put her in.

"Tell me the plan."

Miyano Akemi likes to think of herself as an opportunist.

Her sister, Shiho, tends to think of her as a little reckless. That's okay though, because as long as it's not the younger of the two sisters being reckless, Akemi is perfectly happy to continue with things the way they are.

Or rather – to continue with their dynamic as sisters. There's a lot she'd like to change lifestyle wise.

"Okay," Akemi mutters to herself, hands brushing against the bun she's pinned up, lowering the hat she's wearing to cover her face, "this is about to be the stupidest thing I've ever done, or the smartest."

She hopes it's the smartest.

Taking a step forwards, she pushes past the crowd of civilians piling around the blockades for any sight of KID, heading towards the police. Taking a deep breath, she forces herself out of the crowd, glancing at the police officers lining the patrol.

"The task force called for more outside patrols," she says, pulling out the fake police badge Shiho had made for her. "Can I get through?"

"…only the assigned personnel are allowed," says one of the officers. Akemi forces herself to remain serious, to avoid pouting at the refusal. "It was in the briefing."

"Wasn't it also in the briefing," Akemi says, crossing her arms over her chest attempting to look fed up, "that the inspector in charge of this case can assign detectives, as he sees fit."

She's hoping that whoever's in charge had in fact said something along those lines, because else she's going to be completely screwed.

"Well yes but–"

"Now if you wouldn't mind doing your check to ensure I'm not KID, then we can move on and let me do my job."

She gets two pinched cheeks, pulled at with enough strength it leaves her cheeks stinging, but Akemi finds herself walking past the blockades without any other question.

"That's the easy part over," Akemi mumbles, pulling down on the hat again, paranoia overwhelming her system as she forces herself to keep walking forward. "Now I've got to find Kaitou KID. Or better yet, Kudo Shinichi."

Ran bites into her lip, quickens her pace as she races down the corridor with Shinichi. Part of her wants to grab his hand and drag him away, never let go and just leave all of this behind, but she can't.

Instead, she keeps herself focused on the moment, eyes glancing towards every camera they pass – later, she'll be convincing, explain it was just another police officer she'd been working with, but for now…

"Shinichi," Ran says as they reach the stair well, after they've passed one of the guards without gaining so much as a second look. It's currently heist time after all, everyone's anticipating KID's movements that they aren't anticipating theirs."You need to leave."

He almost trips at the words, catches onto the bannister before turning to look at her. His expression is nothing short of hurt. Offended that she'd even consider making him stop halfway.

"Ran–"

"Trust me when I say, you shouldn't be here." Ran glances towards the corners of the staircase. There aren't any cameras, so she takes the opportunity to cup his cheek in her hands, staring him in the eyes. "You should be running from here. I'll get people flooding the halls, but you need to go first."

Shinichi tries to pull back, but Ran won't let him. Instead, she drags him towards her, rests her forehead on his.

"Do you have any idea, how much it breaks me to tell you to leave?" Ran asks. Her voice shudders, as if she's been standing out in the cold for hours. Like it had broken when she'd first been informed of what Shinichi had supposedly done.

Shinichi lifts his hands, pulls on Ran's wrists until she lowers them. "Kaito needs to live, I need to make sure he gets out of this alive."

"He won't die," Ran promises, "I'll get so many people inside the building that no one would risk firing their gun. You just need to trust me."

He opens his mouth to complain, but she won't allow him the words. Ran's known Shinichi long enough to know that as soon as he gains a little headway with something, his stubbornness won't allow him to let things go.

"Do you trust me?"

"Ran," he glances away, doesn't meet her eye, "it's not about trust. It's about what's right."

"Don't be stupid," Ran whispers, "it's always about trust."

Shinichi lets go of her wrists, lets them drop. He still won't look at her, and Ran isn't sure whether it's a step in the right direction, or a backwards step. Overthinking it right now, isn't going to help.

"I trusted you over the police, over the evidence." Ran says, voice louder than intended but filled with a passion, a calmness that can only be expressed through closeness. "I trusted the version of you over the version people told me you'd become, and you try to tell me it's not about trust?"

"Ran–"

"You asked me to help, didn't you?" Ran turns now, realises that she won't be able to look away if Shinichi refuses her, "so trust me to do just that."

There is quietness for a few seconds and for a second, Ran's certain that's it. She's not going to get any further, Shinichi's not going to accept her help – why would he, he'd probably thought she'd given up on him before now – and then:

"Okay."

She glances over at Shinichi, at the frown he offers her, and offers her widest smile.

"Okay?" She says.

"Yeah, okay. I'll always trust you, Ran."

Ran smiles. "And I'll always believe you over everyone else. Now, go."

Shinichi leaves with heavy footsteps, racing down staircases without so much as a goodbye. Probably because to say goodbye would be permanent – maybe because to say see you soon will bring questions to both of their minds as to when exactly 'soon' is.

Once he's gone she whispers, "I'll wait for you, Shinichi. I always will."

There are three points of entry that KID would consider.

Akemi and Shiho had found documents of the museum online – funny, what an internet connection and lack of job do for production levels – and narrowed it down to the three.

The roof is off limits. Previous heists with KID making his way to the jewels with his hang-glider had made it so the KID task force employed police helicopters. The entrance too, is off limits – not that it takes a genius to figure that one off.

She needs to search the three potential entry points, and decide which to wait for KID at. And it needs to be correct. Who knows when KID will hold another heist after this one?

The three points:

One is the second-floor window, just outside the exhibit into a no-entry room. Outside the window is piping that KID could easily shimmy up to get inside. Akemi disregards it as soon as she sees the outside patrols. There's no way KID would be able to time it correctly to get indoors before any soldiers would catch sight of him.

Two is the first floor, just past the museums café. If KID were to scale the fence and hide within the bin outside, wait for the perfect opportunity, he'd be able to get indoors. From all the videos online though, Akemi's pretty sure that the man's ego wouldn't let his white suit get dirtied.

That leaves the third. There's a small ventilation shaft at the back of the building, one that leads down into the basement. A furnace that's been out of commission for years – Akemi's certain KID will use that one to get in and out of the building. But where would an escape after that lead him.

There's nothing else she can do but wait. There are bushes nearby – Akemi should hide, wait for KID to make an appearance and ambush him.

She does. And she waits.

"God, if I'm wrong how will I explain this to Shiho?"

In the end, she doesn't have to worry. After crouching in the bushes for ten minutes, she watches a hand reach out of the ventilation shaft, pulling himself up. There's a lack of white, a significant lack of white, but Akemi's 100% sure it's him.

She creeps forward, squints.

He's wearing the same uniform she is, a light blue colour that belongs to the KID task force. She supposes it's probably been bought from a fancy-dress shop, like Akemi's had been, before being altered to look like the real thing.

It's got to be him.

Akemi needs to get to him – she practically springs from the bushes in an attempt to catch him off guard, digging her fingers into his shoulder.

"KID," she says, pulling him back so she can see his face, "I need to talk."

KID turns, and it's not the face she's expecting, instead, it's the face of Kudo Shinichi.

The vent he came through isn't possible to use for an exit, so Kaito knows he needs to rely on Aoko for his escape. The smoke is going to be dispersed soon, and while he knows there's another vent that will get him to the lower floors within seconds, he can't get it undone by himself.

Aoko isn't the fastest, but as soon as he explains what he needs to her, she clicks her tongue at him and nods.

"Only issue," Aoko mutters as he pulls her towards the grate, passing her a screw driver, "I can't see."

Kaito takes a moment to think about that, realises there's not much he can do besides give her his mask and shrugs. But then – Aoko had given him her vest, the least he can do is exchange it for the mask…

He does, and through squinted eyes, he crouches down to the right-hand side of the grate, unscrews the right two, listening to the whirring of fans above him. Aoko glances at him twice during the movements, lets out a deep breath as she drops the first of the two screws on her side to the ground.

It clatters – the sound is deafening.

"I was going to let them capture you," she whispers, as she starts working on the next. Kaito lifts his fingers forward, pries them beneath the grate and tries to pull it off. "I wasn't going to let them shoot you, but I was willing to let them lock you back up."

Kaito doesn't respond. How could he – he'd practically been expecting it. Aoko's been open about her stance on KID since the beginning, it's not something she's ever lied about.

"But I don't…" Aoko takes a moment to breath, as she lets the other screw drop. The grate pops off with it gone, leaving the vent open wide, bringing their conversation to a standstill.

Despite his best interests, Kaito finds himself stalling.

"But you don't…?"

"I don't like the idea of you locked up," Aoko glance away, "not anymore. Off you go then."

Kaito nods, offers his best poker face and smiles. Then he turns to the grate.

A flash of red catches his attention before he can crawl inside. Though the smoke is still there, it's dispersed, easier to see through. And it's that which catches him off guard – this flash of red.

A red dot.

A gun – and not the one that Nakamori had been pointing at him previously. There's a sight and that can only mean one thing… except. One look shows it's not pointed towards him.

It's aimed at the gas mask.

"Aoko!"

From through the smoke he can see a flash of light.

"Hey, are you okay?" "Someone call an ambulance."

"Fuck there's so much blood, hurry up."

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