With the exception of the plot and the original characters that are depicted in the story, the author makes absolutely no profit off of this work of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended on the franchise of Detective Conan that rightfully belong to its owner Aoyama Gosho.

Once again, I would like to thank OnyxKatana and J0kersGirl for their help. But above all else, I profusely thank the audience for being so patient with the typing of this chapter since it appears that the cliffhanger from the previous act had left everyone on edge :) And so without any further delay, let the curtains rise from the stage and allow the seventeenth act of Paper Faces to begin!

After Kaitou KID had made his grand return to the public two years ago, the Ekoda Art Museum had become one of the many places where a "performance" would take place before his eager audience and dearly beloved police force. While he had already sent a pearl-studded scroll to Inspector Nakamori that he would steal the world's largest alexandrite, Persephone's Pomegranate, at eleven o'clock tonight, the Phantom Thief's true aim was found in the western section of the facility. The owner of this particular gem, sixty-five year old Kusanagi Seimei, had a tendency to show off his rare books alongside with the jewels he had collected for years.

This evening, Seimei would be allowing his most prized possession in print to be on display for the public: a red-jacketed, 1902 first edition of Sir Conan Doyle's classic novel, The Hound of The Baskervilles. Rare books were fine and all, but under normal circumstances, it was the worst gift to bestow upon a beautiful young lady, especially when she was a high school teenager! Why give her a novel when there was a jewel with a history of romance and prosperity? But Shin-chan had never cared for jewelry, and once before had said to Kuroba Kaito that 'normal' was a subjective term, all the while re-reading The Sign of Four during their study hall period.

That was why, in his mind, KID was relieved that the gallery would be held here. This venue was not where he first met his beloved critic. It had, instead become their proverbial Reichenbach Falls last summer, at the Apollo's Chariot heist to be precise. Now aware of the truth, KID had no desire to let it remain as such a reminder.

Because tonight, he would set everything right between them, once and for all. The realization of Shinichi's feelings for Kuroba Kaito did cause a few altercations in his plans, but he quickly remedied all of the possible loopholes, down to the very tiniest detail. Now, at last, he could put everything into motion without the interference from either the police force, Snake, or the Organization.

He had sent a separate note to the Detective of the East through the post office a few days after the public announcement of his heist, with a riddle that would lead the coffee-haired teen to the rare book collection exhibit. Being an adamant admirer of Sherlock Holmes, KID was certain she would chase after him to retrieve The Hound of The Baskervilles to the rooftop. From there, it would provide the Phantom Thief a window of fifteen to twenty minutes before Inspector Nakamori and his task force would realize that they were duped once again by KID.

KID would tell Shinichi everything; his civilian identity, his predecessor, the gem he was seeking, and confess his affection for her. He hoped that by stealing this book, she would realize how much he cared for her and reciprocate his feelings.

He wanted to spend eternity with Shin-chan, the Phantom Thief and his priceless gem. Two sides of the same coin, bound together until the end of time. However, Kaitou KID would eventually have to disappear from the world's stage just as the Detective of East would have to hang up her deerstalker hat. However, when their game of cat-and-mouse came to an end, he hoped Kudo Shinichi would still be by his side.

Shaking his head, he dismissed the thoughts from his mind. A quick glance at his watch told him that he had ten minutes to make sure that everything was set up the way he wanted it, and another five minutes before his elaborate plan would go into action. Adjusting his disguise, he rechecked his multiple hidden pockets to make sure that he had everything he could need. Card gun, smoke bombs, silk scarves, and all the other tools that he required for this heist. Finally satisfied with everything, he made his way to the first floor balcony, where he had placed the switch to trigger the first phase of his complicated setup. Just as he was counting down the final minute before his plan would go into action, he heard the familiar screech of police sirens.

Looking out of the window, he saw six police cars stop in front of the building. Kaito almost swore out loud. Why did Inspector Nakamori have to call so many men? It wasn't like they could stop Kaitou KID anyway, but the increased numbers meant a risk of delay in his plans. He couldn't afford any delays. Everything had to be just perfect in his plan for Shinichi!

Just when he was about to initiate his back-up plan, he noticed a small group of people making their way over to the hotel on the opposite side of the street. There were at least three officers, one broad man wearing a beige fedora, and a woman with short dark brown hair. The man looked horribly familiar to him, and caused a feeling of dread to settle in KID's stomach.

While the man in question was leading this small group, walking behind him was none other than Shinichi, wearing a grim frown as she followed them in through the glass doors and across the foyer. Pulling out a pair of binoculars, the Phantom Thief continued to watch them as then he witnessed them as they walked towards the elevators. Twisting the thumbscrew on the binoculars, KID witnessed the man press a button to the third floor. As soon as he saw that, the criminal quickly shifted his sight to their destination, where he continued observing them before they disappeared from his line of sight.

The messy-haired teen felt his heart lodge in his throat as indigo orbs widened ever so slightly upon remembering where he had seen the portly man before. It was Inspector Megure, from Division One. Homicide. Someone had been killed and it was at a KID heist.

Technically speaking, it was before the heist even started, but it gave the Phantom Thief more than enough reason to worry. No one knew better than him how dangerous one of his heists could get if violence had slipped onto his stage without knowing it.

Kuroba Kaito's blood was thrumming as anxiety began set in. What if Snake or one of his operatives had decided to attack someone to draw him out? What if they hurt Shinichi? A determined expression then stretched on his mouth, nearly shattering his Poker Face. To hell with the heist. It could stand for a little delay. He had to make sure Shinichi was alright. He would be damned if he let Snake lay a finger on his critic.

Making a split-second decision, the Phantom Thief moved out to the side and quickly exited using the fire escape, but not before he reluctantly removed his costume and donned a set of jet-black street clothes with a matching cap to hide his unruly hair. Running down, he crossed the road and blended into the crowd of KID supporters. Gritting his teeth, KID looked around and saw a law enforcement agent standing near the hotel's entrance. He seemed to be alert for a moment while the group bolted through the lobby, but as soon as they were out of sight, he pulled out his phone and rapidly started to tap it with both of his thumbs.

Taking advantage of his distraction, Kaito slipped into the hotel and quickly walked over to the elevators, going to the third floor. Once the elevator doors opened, Kaito didn't need any further clues. The hubbub and the yellow tape at the end of the hall were more than obvious signs. It was a confirmation of KID's worst fears: someone had been murdered, and Kudo Shinichi was now tangled in the midst of another murder mystery once again.

xPFx

When Shinichi had received her own invitation to KID's heist, the Detective of the East was more than a little startled. The riddle that been sent to Inspector Nakamori clearly read that the Phantom Thief would come after Persephone's Pomegranate at midnight, when the gem in question would be put on display to the audience by its owner. So why would he send her a different note with the intention to steal a rare book written by Sir Conan Doyle? And the first edition of The Hound of The Baskervilles, nonetheless! It wasn't the first time he had tried to trick the police by saying he would be going after one gem and steal another when no one was looking, but to suddenly change his tactics like this?

For once, Kudo Shinichi was at an utter loss as she stood next to Aoko with a small group of anti-KID supporters at the barricade that separated the crowd from the police doing their job. The coffee-haired teen sighed heavily, rubbing her throbbing temples as she desperately tried to come up with a possible solution in accordance to the little grey cells of her mind. Yet just when the pain was about to increase tenfold, a familiar voice suddenly pierced it like a well-aimed rapier.

"Kudo-chan? Is that you?"

Shinichi craned her head upwards, surprise etched across her face at the sight of a large, man standing behind the barricade, dressed in a light brown coat and matching hat that looked all too familiar. "Inspector Megure? What are you doing here?" Her azure eyes widened in surprise while his own beady black ones narrowed. Inspector Megure then tipped the brim of his hat forward. "Something has...happened. And I might need your help on this one, Kudo-chan."

In an instant, the eighteen-year-old teenager was gone and the Detective of the East was staring at the man with a hardened expression. "Of course. Please lead the way." And that was what Inspector Megure did. He led them across the road and to a nearby hotel. After taking the elevator to the third floor from the lobby, he led them down the hall and made a left at the end, reaching an opened room where the forensic team was starting to set up shop, pulling out cameras and other equipment essential for tonight's job.

Inspector Megure nodded to a nearby police officer and ducked beneath the yellow tape. "The victim's name is Kusanagi Seimei, age sixty-five and the owner of all the artifacts in the Ekoda Art Museum. He was supposed to have been there by now with the jewel that Kaitou KID was supposed to be stealing tonight, Persephone's Pomegranate. But as you can see," He nodded towards a desk where an ornate box laid open. "It isn't here. And the victim was found on the balcony."

"Who found him?"

"That would be his personal assistant, twenty-seven year-old Hawatari Natsuo. He came to see if the victim was all right when he wasn't answering his phone. Kusanagi-san was supposed to be giving a speech at the banquet hall a half hour ago and then present the jewel to the public, and apparently he is never late to these sorts of events. The PA's giving a statement right now to one of the officers."

Shinichi nodded, while looking around the room. She had made her way over to the balcony, delicately avoiding the yellow tape and forensic instruments scattered around.

"Any other information so far?"

"The PA said that Kusanagi-san had a family history of heart disease. Apparently, he was born with a slightly weaker heart, although not serious enough to hamper his daily life. We're guessing that the cause of death may be a heart attack, but that doesn't explain the missing gem or why there was a needle mark on the back of his neck. An autopsy and tox screen will hopefully shine a light sooner than later. The medical examiner says that the time of death is between eight and ten o'clock this evening. I have a few guys making rounds right now, taking statements from the other occupants on this floor to see if anyone had seen or heard anything when Kusanagi-san was alive." Megure explained, flipping through his police notebook. "We're also talking to his wife, Kusanagi Mimi. Apparently, she had been at the bar for most of the night, but we're checking to see if her story pans out. We may have found a motive as to why the wife would want her husband dead,"

Seeing Shinichi nod, the burly man continued his evaluation. "According to his phone records, Kusanagi-san made several phone calls to a PI in Beika over the last two weeks, some of these conversations lasting an hour or more. Shiratori-kun speculates that the wife was having an affair, and Mimi-san had Kusanagi-san killed because she didn't want him to find out about it or else she'd be cut out from his will, which according to the PA, was starting to be revised with his lawyer. Shiratori-kun is at the agency right now questioning the investigator whose phone number matches to the one that the victim had been calling. Takagi-kun is also trying to get a hold of the lawyer and confirm about this will's existence."

Shinichi straightened from where she had been crouching near the balcony. She had walked around the room as Megure spoke, occasionally peering at things here and there, checking the bed and nightstand, flipping through the pages of a notebook on the dresser, glancing up at the ceiling, all the while lost in her own world. "Are there any other suspects?"

"Aside from the wife, no. Kusanagi-san seems to be on good terms with everyone, but that doesn't mean he's hasn't had a few enemies. We're also checking his company's financial records in case there's an internal problem that no one will come forward about."

The Detective of the East hummed softly. "Well, that does give us something to work with despite just having one suspect on the roster, though as we find more clues, we'll hopefully have more to go on with this investigation. The only thing I've found so far is this." Shinichi held up a playing card- the Joker- between her index and middle fingers. "Of course, it could just have accidentally fallen out of a deck used for some game earlier, but until proven otherwise, it's evidence."

Another thing Shinichi had noticed but decided not to mention right now was the pillow used to cushion the victim's head. The pillowcase seemed to be of a slightly different stitching and weaving than the other ones, and it gave off a slight scent of peanuts. When her gaze fell upon the stone floor though, she felt her blood run cold at the sight of a familiar, broken monocle. She knew only one person in the entirety of Japan who wore a monocle, and was associated with playing cards.

No matter what the circumstantial evidence pointed to, Shinichi couldn't find it in herself to believe that Kaitou KID could hurt anyone innocent, let alone kill a man for supposedly no reason other than to steal a gem he declared his next target when it would be returned to the police in less than a few hours.

However, Shinichi decided to withhold judgment for the time being. As Holmes once said, "It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has all the evidence. One begins to twist facts to suit theories, rather than theories to suit facts." The sleuth could not assume that KID had a hand in this, even if she discovered the monocle. A moment later, Shinichi went out onto the balcony to take a breath of fresh air, as well as to examine the area closely. She couldn't find anything odd on the balcony; everything seemed to be perfectly normal. Just as she was about to re-enter the room, her eyes fell on the inspector.

From her current position, Shinichi could clearly see Megure conversing with Miwako Sato, an officer in Division One whom the teen meet two years ago as Edogawa Agatha in the Nichuri TV blackmail case. The petite brunette was, to say the least, one of the most lethal female law enforcement agents in Japan and under Megure's supervision. Standing next to Sato-san was a gentleman in his late forties, wearing designer's clothing that seemed to enhance the obvious distaste he had for the police even when he was speaking to them.

However, and surprisingly, Shinichi could hear next to nothing of what they were talking about. When she pulled the sliding glass door open, the sleuth was immediately assaulted with a wave of different sounds. Cameras clicking and flashing, murmuring, and the finely-dressed man explaining to Inspector Megure that he heard a scream from his room at precisely fifteen minutes after nine o'clock, not a minute sooner or later. But just to confirm the theory that was brewing in her mind, Shinichi yanked the door to the other side and shut it all the way. Silence reigned supreme once more, though she could still see the three adults speaking animatedly. Furthermore, she could barely make out the sound of Sato's cellphone going off, a device which usually created a terrific racket whenever it rang. Shinichi saw the slender woman put the phone to her ear, and moving her lips as she spoke.

But the crime scene remained deathly silent. So how was it possible for the man talking to Inspector Megure to hear the victim screaming on the balcony, with the door locked from the inside, when I can't hear anything in the same scenario?

Opening the glass door, Shinichi stepped inside the luxurious room just as the portly man turned to her with a quizzical expression. "Did you find something, Kudo-chan?"

"...I think so." Shinichi then shut the sliding door closed, and opened it again before she turned her undivided attention to the supposed witness. "Sir, from your room down the hall, you've told Inspector Megure that you heard a scream at nine-fifteen, is that correct?"

The middle-aged man wrinkled his nose. "Yes, that's correct." Shinichi nodded and turned to the man in charge of Division One. "Inspector Megure, Natsuo-san said he found the victim on the balcony? And that he had to open the door?"

Inspector Megure raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that's what the boys have found out when collaborating their testimonies. Why?" He asked.

"Because I think that the balcony isn't where Kusanagi-san died. I'd like to perform a small...experiment, if you don't mind, with one of your officers. Is that alright?"

"By all means, Kudo-chan."

Once the coffee-haired teen thanked him with a courteous nod, she gestured to an officer standing near Sato to follow her onto the balcony. Once the two of them were outside, she asked Inspector Megure to try and speak to them as soon as she shut the door. He looked at her in surprise, but decided to humor the Heisei Holmes and said he would. Nodding, the young woman pulled the door to the opposite side of the balcony and closed it. Shinichi waved at Megure, signalling him to speak. Both the Detective of the East and the equally confused officer strained their ears to hear even the smallest sound, yet neither of them heard anything. She looked at her companion and asked if he could hear what Inspector Megure had said.

"I-I don't know. I didn't even hear him!"

Satisfied that her theory had proven to be correct, Shinichi opened the door and entered the room with the stunned officer right behind.

"Inspector Megure, there is no way that this witness could have heard Kusanagi-san scream out on the balcony at nine-fifteen because this door," Shinichi rapped it lightly with her gloved hands, "Is double-paned, soundproof glass. The scream that he heard came from inside this hotel room, and the murderer moved the body out onto the balcony before locking up the door. However, I don't think the killer acted alone; taking into consideration of both Kusanagi-san's height and weight, a single person would obviously have trouble carrying him and opening the door at the same time without there being any significant signs of struggling, especially on the carpet where drag marks could be seen. But as you can see, there are none. Which means the killer had either held down Kusanagi-san while injecting a needle into his neck, or the accomplice had done the deed and the mastermind had simply opened the balcony door for his partner-in-crime to carry the body while taking Persephone's Pomegranate, most likely as compensation." Shinichi turned to Inspector Megure with narrowed eyes.

"Is there any way we can ask the hotel's head of security to look over any surveillance videos, including the entry and exit points for employees as well as the rooftops? We should consider that these two had meet either before or after the murder."

Inspector Megure blinked in surprise as he caught up to the sleuth's line of thinking before nodding. "I did send a couple of men to go check out the surveillance videos about ten minutes ago. They should be returning in a while to report on them."

Shinichi hummed in agreement and just when she was about to look around the room a little more, a ruffled officer and his colleague entered the crime scene, almost running into the portly man with flushed faces. "I-Inspector, we just found a note! I-It's from that the Phantom Thief who was supposed to take that gem tonight! Kaitou KID!"

"What?!"

The unified response came from both the inspector and the Detective of the East. "How's that possible? We've have had every corner of the building monitored since we were called here! You two had better not be slacking on the job!" Inspector Megure shouted, causing the law enforcement agents to flinch at his harsh tone of voice. The one with scruffy-looking brown hair hiding under a Tokyo Metropolitan Police Force hat spoke up but didn't dare look at his superior in the eye as a gloved hand held out the note.

"W-We don't know, sir! We were doing our rounds around the hotel per your orders, and when we came here to the room, it was just lying in front of the door. Right there in the corridor, I swear!"

"He's telling the truth, sir!" His companion said.

Taking pity on the poor bloke who unintentionally earned the inspector's anger, Shinichi took the note from the trembling man and thanked him. Once it was out of his grasp, he immediately snapped to attention like a ball of coiled yarn. Judging from the nervous behavior he was exhibiting, the sleuth silently deduced that this was his first time at a crime scene. A KID let alone someone who's never been out in the field before.

Slicing open the envelope with a gloved finger, Shinichi pulled out a small piece of high quality paper and scanned its contents. The words were enough to startle the Heisei Holmes, but she could not allow her personal feelings decide on the next course of action in this investigation.

Clearing her throat, the sleuth regained her composure and read the note out loud with a calm, contemplative expression.

"I sincerely apologize for disappointing my wonderful audience, but it is with a heavy heart that I must cancel this heist. I shall not come to whisk away the famous Persephone's Pomegranate due to certain unfortunate events regarding its owner. Once again, my sincere apologies."

Written underneath these solemn sentences was KID's signature caricature.

Once the letter had been heard by everyone in the room, a stunned silence fell upon them until the person who had given the envelope to Shinichi swallowed and said to Inspector Megure. "S-Sir, there's something else you should know. During our rounds, Yamato-kun and I found one of the housekeepers in the hall and asked her a few questions. S-She was shaken up, you see, and said...she said that around nine o'clock, she started making her rounds on this floor and asked guests if they wanted fresh towels. Then around nine-thirty, s-she saw Kaitou KID running down the hall with Persephone's Pomegranate in his hand! A-And twenty minutes later, Natsuo-san came to this floor and discovered Kusanagi-san's body on the balcony!"

Murmurs and stifled gasps suddenly surged through the crime scene, yet those sounds fell onto Shinichi's deaf ears. All she could hear was the blood thrumming in her ears. It...This wasn't possible. Kaitou KID had a strict code of morals; he did not harm anyone physically beyond dousing sleeping gas or giving a small concussion. He might be one of the most wanted jewel thieves in the world, but it wasn't like him to break these guidelines that, up until now, he had followed to the letter, just to steal a gem.

Yet beyond the memories and personal experiences she had shared with KID as both Edogawa Agatha and Kudo Shinichi, they were simply constituted in the Japanese law system as being too emotionally attached to the case. They meant nothing to the police who investigated crimes and the courthouses that prosecuted them.

Inspector Megure shared the same sentiment. When Shinichi was on the balcony inspecting the crime scene, he had found a white glove caught on the edge of the sharp corner of a bird-shaped statue on the coffee table. While it hadn't made sense at the time, this new revelation had cemented it in his mind that the glove had to belong to KID. Including the Joker card that Shinichi had found earlier as well as the broken monocle, he was now convinced that KID had a part to play in this mystery.

He pulled down the brim of his hat, a hardened expression etched across his face as he spoke to his team and Kudo-chan, oblivious on the effect that his announcement would have on the latter.

"Another suspect's been officially added to the list, everyone. The Phantom Thief 1412, Kaitou KID."

It seems that the anticipated confession between these star-crossed lovers will have to wait until the Detective of the East can clear KID's name of first-degree murder! With a keen eye for detail, Shinichi will not stop pursuing the inevitable truth behind this carefully orchestrated crime is revealed! :) I can't believe the number of reviews for Paper Faces has reached the goal of attaining three digits! If it could 151 (another odd number! XD) that would be fantastic!

Please feel free to review or PM me with any questions, comments, or constructive criticism. Thanks to everyone who has favorited, reviewed, and added Paper Faces to their alert lists.

See you next illusion. - (KID caricature)