This is more of a fusion-fic than a crossover. Ace Attorney x Magic Kaito x Detective Conan. I recommend watching the Ace attorney live action movie if you get the chance. It's spectacular.
There was always a large crowd for the famous Hakuba-Kid courtroom battles. Shinichi, even using his weight as lead detective could barely get through the doors of the courthouse, let alone actually into the courtroom to see the trial. Every seat was packed, and the wall was lined with eager spectators crowding each other out of the way to get a better view.
Shinichi was lucky there was always a gap between the lead fraud detective and his task force. Nakamori and the task force were officers he rarely had to see, and Shinichi was thankful for that. The man was driven and the best man Shinichi knew for rooting out deception, but he was also impossibly loud and abrasive. Anyone who ever interacted with the man knew better than to try and bother him in a volatile situation, which this had all the earmarks for being.
"Kudou-keibu! I have a seat for you here!" Takahashi, Nakamori's right hand man, gestured over to him, pointing at the seat situated closest to the defense's desk. The gallery seating just behind Kaito's desk was crowded with Kid fans, wearing monocles and top hats and one enterprising fan actually decked out fully with a flowing cape. Every one had 'heart KID' headbands with Kid's doodle.
Shinichi settled in the chair, nodding his thanks to Takahashi. "What's the atmosphere been like?"
"Not good." Takahashi glanced meaningfully over at Nakamori. "One of the journalists outside questioned Nakamori-keibu's credibility concerning the supposed theft of the evidence."
Shinichi winced.
"We're nearly ready to start," Takahashi said, shifting nervously in his seat.
Shinichi scanned the room, noting Megure at the judge's seat and his grim, blank face. Hakuba was seated primly at the prosecution's bench, a pocket watch in hand. Kaito's side of the courtroom appeared chaotic and haphazard, the defense's bench piled high with paperwork and files. Kaito was in full Kid regalia, but without any of the Kid charm. Instead, he was in deep conversation with Akako, who was also in full witch regalia, the cobra heads on her shoulders and forehead piece glittering.
The door to Shinichi's right opened and Haibara was escorted inside and to the accused's bench. She held her head up proudly, eyes widening as she caught sight of Shinichi and her relief broke through briefly.
"And now, the Case of Miyano Akemi – Day 3. This court is now in session."
"The defense is ready, your honor," Kaito said, rolling to his feet and sweeping a bow towards the judge's seat.
"The prosecution is ready, your honor," Hakuba echoed, on his feet and giving a perfect bow. "I believe that with Kudou-keibu's presence in our audience it means that his men were successful in finding Wokka Kaspar." Hakuba noted, eyes riveted on Shinichi.
Shinichi didn't acknowledge him, having eyes only for Kaito, who'd looked up in surprise and relief. Shinichi nodded.
"Then yesterday's theory can be verified to the court," Megure said, gesturing to the court officers to escort in their witness.
The first officer brought in the bird cage that Wokka had been trying to flee with, the angriest cockatoo Shinichi ever had the displeasure of encountering within the cage and making menacing noises. Two men flanked Wokka, leading him down to the witnesses stand.
The audience started to titter in excitement, several individuals leaping out of their seats to get a better look. Wokka's face was set in a stubborn expression, staring at Haibara in barely contained rage. Shinichi tensed in his seat, ready to defend her if Wokka tried anything threatening.
"The court will now hear testimony from Wokka Kaspar," Megure said.
Wokka shook off his attendees, holding onto the witness stand with one hand. "I wasn't trying to evade the police. I needed food for Gin."
"And Gin would be the name of..." Kaito said leadingly, his palms on the defense bench. Akako shifted at his side, hands folded neatly in her lap.
"Gin is my cockatoo," Wokka gestured back to the bird cage, the bird inside shrieking a curse word.
Kaito came around the bench, cape swirling at his heels. Sometimes, Shinichi really questioned Kaito's choice to dress as a stage performer, but he supposed Kaito fit in well with all the theatrics that went with the bench trial system. He certainly drew every eye and the public adored him.
"Witness, we should start with your acknowledgment of your alias, Vodka." Kaito stopped in the center of the room, hands in his pockets and shoulders relaxed.
"Objection. It was established yesterday that Wokka Kaspar has no alternative identities or connections to the so-called Black Organization." Hakuba remained seated, a bored note to his voice, but a fierce glint to his eyes.
"The Black Organization was the criminal syndicate apprehended by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation, correct?" Megure asked.
"The very same." Kaito glanced over his shoulder at the judge, the charm on his monocle swinging. "Witness, you murdered Miyano Akemi and tried to place the blame on her sister, Miyano Shiho."
"Where is your evidence?" Hakuba asked, pushing off the bench and to his feet. Kaito shifted so his back was to the prosecutor. "This is a court, Kid, not the streets of Tokyo. Where is your evidence for any of your accusations?"
"The aliases of the two men who escaped justice were Gin and Vodka. And Wokka Kaspar's cockatoo was named after his partner and associate." Kaito met the blank face of their witness with a toothy grin. He gestured to the cockatoo, who continued to mutter curse words as it paced its stand in the cage.
"Objection. That is merely a coincidence. He may very well have named that bird after his favorite drink. Is that all?" Hakuba's voice was almost mocking, too professional to gloat even if his face showed how clearly he wanted to.
"I agree. Kid-san, please provide something less circumstantial," Megure agreed.
Kaito's grin faded.
"Fingerprints," Akako hissed.
Shinichi's lips tightened and Haibara's expression fell even further. The Black Organization didn't have fingerprints, but there wasn't a way to tell Kaito that, now.
"I request that the witness provide a fingerprint sample," Kaito snapped, head swinging back to Akako and fixing a smirk on his face.
"That won't be possible," Wokka said, leaning on the stand. He opened one hand and wiggled his fingers meaningfully. "During my inspection of a chemical plant, I was involved in an accident and my fingerprints were burned away."
"There is a hospital record detailing the injuries and treatment," Hakuba interrupted, tapping one of his files meaningfully. "My evidence." He gestured and the holographic screens popped up around the room, displaying the medical file and pertinent data.
Kaito's smirk never faltered, but his shoulders drew up even tighter. Akako started flipping through her own files.
"Your theory is difficult to prove without fingerprint evidence," Megure said, studying the information on the screen. It faded out of existence as he turned towards Kaito. "Is there anything else, Defense?"
"My sister's evidence. Is there anything-" Haibara said, stepping up to the edge of the accused's bench.
"There's nothing here on Vodka, only Gin." Akako lifted the box of evidence Haibara had turned over to them, all of her sister's personal belongings found at the scene of her murder. Her cell phone and laptop were placed on the bench, and Akako gestured to the devices.
"Miyano Akemi's electronics were wiped by an EMP, and it was determined by our technician that it was performed after her death." Kaito gestured and Agasa-hakase's report appeared on the holoscreens. "My evidence."
"What does this prove towards establishing a link between criminal alias Vodka and witness Wokka Kaspar?" Hakuba asked, making a cutting motion with his hand that wiped the holoscreens.
"Miyano Akemi was in the process of compiling evidence against the criminal alias Gin and his partner Vodka. She contacted my office and planned to turn over her evidence before she went into protective service." Kaito stalked around the witness stand, eyes fixed on Wokka and his smug and careless expression. "Miyano Akemi was found shot in the head in the apartment she shared with her sister. All of her evidence against these two criminals was wiped from her records. And the accussed, Miyano Shiho, found only one piece of trace evidence, captured by the building's security camera."
Kaito waved a hand and the holoscreens appeared, a video file playing. It was a simple shot of the back entrance of the building, a man dressed in dark clothes and a dark hat exiting the building. He was clutching his shoulder with one hand and had a phone pressed to his ear.
"...didn't have time to leave anything. Of course, I cleaned out everything! I'm on my-" And that was all the audio was able to capture before the man was off screen.
"Again, Kid, how does this establish a link between Wokka Kaspar and criminal alias Vodka?" Hakuba paused the video file at the moment the man exited the building. "We see a man leaving an apartment and holding a conversation. Even attempting to prove a link between their similar body shapes is only circumstantial at best."
"If you would not be so impatient, I believe I was getting to that next," Kaito said, stopping in front of Hakuba's desk and making a gesture with his hand. The video portion of the file cut out, leaving the audio track to play. "If you would be so kind as to repeat the words at the prompt?"
Wokka's placid expression melted into fury. He pressed his lips together and glared at Kaito, who let the audio track play three times before pausing it.
"Without an expert voice analyst, to the layman's ear any similarities can be assumed, especially now that you've prompted the court to listen for those similarities." Hakuba banished the holoscreens. "Try again."
Kaito's smirk only broadened, and he held Wokka's eyes as he crossed the distance between them. Shinichi leaned forward in his seat to better see their faces in profile.
"Then I request that a voice analyst be brought to court so the comparison can be made." Kaito paused and looked back at Akako. She shook her head once and Kaito's smile became more fixed. "In the meanwhile, I would like for our other witness to be brought to the stand."
"Other witness?" Megure asked, shifting in place.
"Yes, your honor. There is one other witness in the room who can provide a link between criminal alias Vodka and Wokka Kaspar." Kaito drew his hand up slowly and brought it down fast to point at the cockatoo. "Wokka's pet bird."
The room erupted into titters and laughter. Akako dropped her head in her hands and Haibara twitched. Shinichi groaned and wasn't sure whether to be mortified or disbelieving. Kaito ignored the room, staring down Wokka as the man started to pale.
"You're going to cross-examine a cockatoo?" Hakuba asked, voice raised to be heard over the din.
"Quiet! Quiet, please!" Megure banged on his bench, the hushed whispers dying off. "Approach the bench, counselors."
Kaito turned on his heel and strode over, elbowing Hakuba as he crowded in close.
"Defense, you are honestly asking this court to permit the witness's pet bird to take the stand?" Megure pitched his voice low, but it carried through the enormous room so even Shinichi could hear it.
"We've already established the bird can talk. I don't see why it isn't possible to ask it a few questions. If this case hinged on a witness's pet dog being able to perform a fetching trick, we could certainly ask to verify the dog's ability to fetch." Kaito defended.
"I realize you treat the justice system like a game, but even this is too ridiculous," Hakuba argued back.
"Afraid I'll find something you can't refute?"
Hakuba snarled. "Fine. I have no objections, your honor. If Kid wants to be made a laughing stock, then let him."
Megure sighed and waved them off. "Then I'll allow it."
Two officers escorted Wokka from the stand and over to the witness seating area, and another officer picked up the bird cage. The cockatoo shrilled whistles as it was brought to the stand, a fourth officer bringing in a table for the bird cage to be sat upon. Kaito stalked over to the defense bench, Akako on her feet and berating Kaito in hissed whispers.
"Are you sure that Kid was the best choice for this, Kudou?" Haibara asked, looking up from her seat to where Shinichi was in the crowd. He grimaced but nodded.
"Witness, please state your name for the court." Kaito stepped around Akako, approaching the bench and resting his hands on the railing.
"Hungry, now," the bird said.
Kaito's shoulders slipped.
"Can you say your name?" Kaito made his voice pleading and light, cajoling without being demanding. "Say you name, pretty bird."
"Hungry!" The bird repeated.
Hakuba snorted. "Maybe a treat will help, Kid."
"What a good idea, Hakuba!" Kaito said through gritted teeth. He pulled a packet of bird seed out of his pocket. "Treat for you, pretty bird. Say your name for a treat."
"APTX 4-8-6-9. Nanatsu No Ko 9-6-9-6-2-6-1." The bird whistled the children's song, bobbing its head in rhythm. It finished by clacking its beak and fluttering its wings. "Hungry, now!"
Kaito slid the open packet through the bars of the birdcage, and the cockatoo snatched the packet, sending seedcake across the bottom of the cage.
Shinichi nearly lunged forward. That music!
"That song! That's the connection!" Haibara was on her feet, leaning over the edge of the railing. Kaito frowned as he looked at her, brow furrowing as he looked between her and the bird. Wokka's face was the picture of horror, and Kaito needed to understand. "The phone number!"
"Kid!" Akako shoved a file at Kaito, who started flipping through it eagerly. He stopped on a page and held it aloft triumphantly.
"This proves the connection between Wokka Kaspar and criminal alias Vodka!" The holoscreens appeared, a copy of the court evidence on the Black Organization's leader's trial. He pinched his fingers together and the screens zoomed in on the phone records.
Ano Kata – 9-6-9-6-2-6-1.
"When you press the buttons on a phone, the button tones follow the melody of the child song Nanatsu no Ko." Kaito smiled, bright and hard. Hakuba seemed gobsmacked. "This bird belongs to Wokka Kaspar, who claimed to have no relation to the Black Organization. This evidence before you was not distributed to the public. There is no way for this man's pet to know both the number and the song without having a connection to the Black Organization!"
Chaos erupted in the court room, yet again. Wokka bolted to his feet and made for the exit, but Takagi and Satou were entering the doors and barring the way. Shinichi jumped to his feet and was nearly down to Haibara when Wokka turned and ran at her, arm drawn back in a fist. Then Kaito was between them, hooking his foot behind Wokka's knee and bringing him to the ground. Shiratori strode past Shinichi and cuffed the man, yanking him upright and forcing him back to the witness' chair.
Kaito watched them haul him to the chair, the entire room complete pandemonium. He smiled in self-satisfaction, walking over to Haibara and looking up to where Shinichi was standing above her.
"I think it'll be easy now to prove that you're innocent, ojou-san." Kaito pulled a rose out of his sleeve, bright yellow and dusted with gold glitter. He offered it to Haibara, who stared at him before gingerly taking it. "When I get your friend declared not-guilty, how about you join me for a celebratory drink, tantei-kun?"
"You haven't won yet, Kid," Shinichi reminded him, relief pulling at his affected serious expression, and the flush on his cheeks was probably obvious.
"I will," Kaito promised, looking over his shoulder at Wokka who was still wrestling with the police and Hakuba who was flipping quickly through his own files.
The Kid fans in the gallery seating were cheering, chanting 'Kid' and stamping their feet. There was little doubt that Kaito had won the day, but nothing was official yet.
"Maybe dinner instead, then?" Shinichi offered, just to see Kaito's cool guy pose falter a little and a soft blush darken his cheeks.
"You're on, tantei-kun."
