Once again, his eyes had fallen onto the calling card that had been sent to the police. It was signed from none other than Hayabusa, the phantom thief that Kazuto was supposed to assist in capturing. And he was intent on putting an end to this thief's career. Tonight.

"Is everything in place?" The detective asked as he turned to the chief.

"Everything is as you said," Kita answered. "There are guards at every door, all in pairs, the roof is currently being patrolled, as well as the halls. The painting itself is on display right where it should be, lights are still on so he can't sneak his way through. And...are you sure you don't want any guards with you?" He asked with a bit of worry in his voice.

"No, no, I'll be fine. If there is one thing that thief won't be expecting, it'll be me. I believe he's used to all of your faces by now, a new one might just throw him off. That and in order to observe him, I need to have him within full view." Observing someone from a distance could be done, but if this thief kept to the shadows and out of sight, that made things far too difficult. It would be fine for another case, but to get rid of the thief, he had to be right where he could see him.

"If you're certain. But be careful, he's a tricky one," Kita warned before leaving Kazuto's side, heading off to go and check on his men, again. (He could never stay in one spot, especially when working.)

Kazuto glanced over, watching Kita do his work for a moment before heading inside the gallery. The guards gave him a glance, though knew who he was, not bothering to question his tactics for the time being. The detective looked to each one he passed, trying to determine how they'd fare tonight. Some were nervous, others agitated, some looked unenthusiastic about being here another night.

He can't get in at all with all these guards. Though, I wish this gallery had a better alarm system, that would have been helpful to our cause. I hope security keeps an eye on the cameras. I heard he knows how to mess with them...As well as impersonate others as well. A truly tricky thief. Not one to be taken lightly.

His thoughts continued as he made his way to the area which held the painting of a rose, one that looked realistic, as if it could be touched and even plucked from it's place on the wall. Even if he wasn't an art critic, he could certainly tell why this piece of art was so valuable.

Perhaps it would have been better if we could have moved the painting elsewhere? Although the curator simply wouldn't budge about letting us touch it. He sighed. Well, at least Kita was right. He can't really swipe this piece while it's still on display. And I'm not about to let him get past me. Kazuto grins to that, his curiosity heightening. What tactics would Hayabusa use on him? He had read through his file countless times and could recall each trick. Although he wasn't exactly sure how they were done, he knew what to expect. But the detective knew he still had to be on guard, there may be even more tricks up his sleeve that he had refused to show off to the world.

"Detective?" Kazuto turns to the voice, eyes falling on Kita. "I hope you don't mind me dropping by, I got a bit worried. Thought you might need some help in case that annoying thief showed up."

Kazuto stared at the other for a moment, smiling and shaking his head. "Oh, don't worry, chief. I told you I was fine. He can't do much with me here. And if he tries anything, then you know the men stationed nearby would certainly help me out."

"Of course. My mistake, but you've never been up against him before. Are you certain you don't need another person to stand with you in the light?"

"I'm certain. Thank you for your concern. But...Kita?"

"Yes, detective?"

"When did you stop calling me by my name?"

"Huh?" Kita's eyes seemed to go wide for a moment, a panicked look crossed his face. "Oh, I'm just being formal with you, on duty, you know?"

"Really? Last time I checked, Kita was also not one to be shocked over something like this." Kazuto tilts his head, that smile never fading, his eyes glistening. "So, are you the famous Hayabusa I've heard so much about?"

'Kita' lets out a sigh. "I knew I should have eavesdropped beforehand to." He shrugs before snapping his fingers, doing a quick twirl, his appearance as the chief disappearing and now reappearing as his true self. Hayabusa smirked, a hand on his hip as he faced the detective. "I got to hand it to you, his other lackeys fell right for it."

"Well, I'm not like his men," Kazuto said as his eyes wandered over the phantom thief. "That is an interesting trick, to imitate him down to the size, voice, even gestures. But you're going to have to be on point if you want that to work on me."

"Thanks for the tip, I'll be sure to take it to heart next time," Hayabusa replies as he bows slightly. "But if you don't mind, I have a fine piece of art to steal and I'd hate for you to get into any trouble."

"I'd get into trouble if I allowed you to walk away with this. Besides, aren't you worried about the police surrounding you?" Kazuto asked. It had been a lie, a test to confirm if it had been the real Kita. He would have known that no one else was stationed here.

"If you call for them, then I'll just disappear." Hayabusa winks as his hand slowly reaches to grab one of his many feathers. Kazuto tries to recall what his feathers can do, they all looked the same but there had to be a difference between them to denote their use. "I can do that right now, you know."

"I may be unable to see you if you play that trick, but I can still see the painting."

"Oh really? Because the painting seems to have already disappeared." Hayabusa grins as his eyes look beyond Kazuto.

"You're expecting me to fall for a trick like that?" He asked. He hadn't seen anything happen, his feather was still in his hand and as far as he was aware, that disappearing trick only worked on him, not anyone or anything else.

"I think you should take a look, I promise I'll stay in place."

The detective narrowed his eyes, trying to see if there was a lie in his words. So, for a quick moment, he looked back. It was a quick turn of his head, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. But, it was indeed true, the wall that had been graced with such fine art was now clean.

"It's gone!"

He hears Hayabusa laugh and quickly returns his gaze upon him. The phantom thief was now holding onto...the painting? He couldn't exactly tell, there was something in his hand but there wasn't anything there. (He made a mental note to add this bit of information to the file.)

"And now, it's my turn to do the same. Au revoir, detective." Hayabusa bows, making sure that his painting slowly becomes visible so that he could see it really was in his grasp. Then, he uses that feather, throwing it to the ground and in the blink of an eye, he had vanished from sight.

Now the detective really wish that lie of his had been true. Perhaps he could have them camoflauge in the darkness next time. If there was going to be a next time he would participate in this. Before he could give a shout, an order, he paused. Faintly, he could hear footsteps. They were moving, moving, moving towards...

"Those guarding the east doors, lock them now!" Kazuto shouted. Not long after a click was heard, followed along with an irritated growl. "So, you disappear from sight but not sound."

Kazuto doesn't receive another answer and tries to pick up on his footsteps again, but then he hears noise. Too many footsteps echoing throughout the halls. The guards were alerted to Hayabusa being here and now they were intent on coming after him.

"What a pain in the ass. Guess I gotta make my own exit." Hayabusa's voice replies. It takes Kazuto only a split second to realize what he has in mind.

The window!

A loud crash is heard and the window glass is shattered. Hayabusa's figure is now easily seen. Whatever he had used had begun to fade. The phantom thief makes a dash for it, running outside while gathering more attention from the police patrolling the outdoors.

Kazuto chases after him (glad there was only one floor to this gallery), keeping him in his sight. How does he always make his escape? The reports had said he simply disappears. If he was going to keep doing that trick he had just witness, then he'd just have to keep an eye on him for now and then listen for his footsteps. Which was easier when they were inside a nearly empty room.

"There he is! Don't let him get away!" An angry Kita shouted the moment the phantom thief had come into his view.

Kazuto watched as they began their chase but he remained behind. Chasing after him is probably what he wanted. (And he was right.)

Hayabusa was mentally laughing at how foolish they all were. He had thought things would be a little tougher tonight, and they were for a moment with that detective hanging around, but he was certain that now that he had gotten away, it would be smooth sailing until he could make his true escape.

They never learn and this is why I always win. Hayabusa grinned as he easily got ahead of the crowd of police, using the darkness and surrounding nature of this art gallery to his advantage. As long as he stood within the shadows and out of their flashlight's light, he would never be caught. Though, he had to be careful with the painting in hand, or now secured upon his back. One wrong step and this would be damaged, worthless. (He'd never allow that to happen, if he did, he wouldn't be much of a phantom thief.)

He waits for moments when the guards look away, shining their light on something else and makes a quick dash to another sculpture, a tree, anything he could hide behind. As long as he makes his way back towards the gallery, where it now seemed empty, he'd be fine. He lets out a relieved sigh as he begins to make his escape but comes to a quick halt as he notices a figure before him.

"Didn't think you'd be getting out away now, did you?" That detective is right in his path, unexpectedly.

"Hmph. Not bad. Never met someone who could keep up with me." It was thrilling, challenging. "You're pretty smart, aren't you?"

"I don't mean to brag, but I might once I get you behind bars." Kazuto replies as he raises his hand, a gun pointing straight at the thief. "I think you know better than to move, right?"

"And you should know better than to point that thing at an illusion." Hayabusa replies, hoping to trick him, distract him.

"You're no illusion. Give up with your tricks, you can't do anything without getting injured."

"You'll shoot me? I'd like to see you try," Hayabusa tempted, moving his feet apart. If he couldn't trick him, he knew he could outrun him. Kazuto took note of his movement and aimed the gun down to his feet, getting ready to shoot if needed.

"Don't test me," Kazuto replied. (He didn't want to shoot him, he really didn't. But if it was necessary, then so be it.)

"Sorry, detective, but I can't stick around any longer." Hayabusa said as he could hear the others approaching here. He made a quick dash towards the detective, catching him off guard and quickly turning, running on past him. Whether or not he'd shoot now, he couldn't tell. But he didn't hear any gunshots as he ran, just angry and frustrated yelling. Which began to slowly fade as he ran out of ear shot. As soon as he left the gallery's area, he had to rely on the darkness and knowledge of the neighborhood to keep him out of sight.

Once he was certain he was safe, he let out a sigh, climbing up into a tree in an empty park. He glanced over to where he had been running from, lights shining around the gallery, a helicopter flying towards it to help patrol the area and find him. It was too late for that.

Hayabusa looked triumphant for a moment before his prideful look disappeared. "He looked...familiar." His brows furrow as he says that but shakes his head from the thought. He might just be imagining things. Maybe he's just too tired. He still needs to catch some proper sleep. Hopefully he could get a couple of more hours compared to last time.