Reference to Detective Koshien Case, Dark Knights Heist, and Purple Nail Heist

Chapter 4

"What do you want, Hakuba?" Kaito asked irritably. The half-Brit high school detective had invited him for lunch on the weekends. An offer he couldn't believe was anything good, considering who he was up against.

"No need to sound so hostile, Kuroba-kun. You did agree to meet with me after all." Saguru Hakuba requested a menu from the nearest waiter and looked at ease with hanging out with someone he believed to be an internationally wanted criminal.

"I'm not one to deny free food when offered," Kaito picked up the same menu and ordered the most expensive food with a cup of coffee, just to make a point. What point might that be? Pettiness, generally. "Besides, this is you we're talking about, you'll probably find a reason for me to be KID if I hadn't come."

With Hakuba knowing his identity (even if he has no proof), Kaito felt too unnerved to be around him. Mostly because it feels like his every move is judged and analyzed like being under a microscope.

So Kaito made a point to avoid him. If it just so happens that the Brit's personality clashed with his, all the better.

"So…" the part-time thief leaned forward in suspicion, "What business do you have with me?"

Hakuba blinked, taken aback by the sudden question, "Pardon?"

"Don't play dumb. You're not one to meet up without a reason. If it's something urgent, you could have done it by phone but it's important enough that you had to tell me in person. So out with it."

"My, how perceptive, Kuroba-kun. You have the making of a detective."

The young magician playfully shuddured, "Spare me the thought, I like to stick to the mystery-making business rather than a boring job like yours. It's no fun otherwise."

"Contrary to what most people think, detectives do have fun… but enough about me, how are you Kuroba-kun?"

"Huh? What are you—"

"You're drinking black coffee instead of your usual flavored latte which means that you're struggling to be awake even now. Your reaction time for your retort is late by 0.87 seconds. And I bet if you washed up that make-up of yours I would spot shadows under those red-rimmed eyes of yours so I'm deducing you haven't had enough sleep these few days. As for the reason… Nightmare?"

"Mind your own business," Kaito bit out when it was exactly as Hakuba said. The young man hasn't been sleeping well ever since his last heist. The so-called demon that haunts the thief's life now invades his dream. Every time he closed his eyes the same thing flashed before his eyes.

A haunting masquerade mask.

Jeweled earrings glittered like blood.

Unforgiving flames of long past.

The grieving cry of a young boy.

Eyes of vengeance piercing through his soul. Never failing to wake him up as if telling him, 'It's your fault, your fault, your fault–'

"Unfortunately, it's my job to poke on other's business, so that's an impossible request you're asking me, Kuroba-kun."

The sickly sweet and sarcastic tone of the Brit's words broke his reverie and Kaito managed to keep himself together, "Don't abuse the word 'impossible', Hakuba-kun. "

That elicited a chuckle from the young detective.

Their ordered food and beverage came and put a halt in their conversation as Kaito immediately dug in his steak with voraciousness. On the other hand, Hakuba was minding his table manners and calmly sipping his tea. "Kuroba-kun," he began, "You have nothing to blame yourself for that night."

Kaito almost choked on his food before glaring at his classmate, thinking Hakuba better be thankful he had his poker face on or he would have smacked that prick's face. "I have no idea what you mean."

"If you had been KID during that unfortunate heist, then I know you had done everything you could do to help Jack Connery. The tight grip he had on your glove was proof that you reached out to save him. I don't know exactly what happened then, but if I had to deduce…"

"For the love of– I'm not KID so why the hell does that matter–"

"...Nightmare was the ICPO agent who had threatened you for your cooperation to steal the Dark Knight. His motive was most likely to help fund his son's surgery for his cranial disease. Through his background and connection, it's no wonder his work as a crime planner works 100% since he could manipulate or observe the law enforcers as he wished."

"Hakuba..." Kaito growled.

"Not being able to steal things himself. His modus operandi involves working with other thieves, demanding a cut of the profit, and later on would turn them in or kill them if necessary. He tried to off you that night because you must have figured his identity out. Both of you got into an altercation. He slipped from the catwalk before he could shoot. You caught him..."

"Stop, Hakuba–"

"...but failing to hold onto your hand while gripping the jewel in the other, Nightmare fell to his death–"

"THAT'S ENOUGH, HAKUBA!" Kaito cried, not caring of the looks he received nor the broken poker face; his whole body tensed, breathing shallow like he barely breathed, and cold sweat dripping down on his face.

Deep in his mind, a part of him was shouting to keep his poker face on and risk Hakuba confirming he's KID by his reaction. But Kaito couldn't care less. If Kaitou KID ended because he let a person die then maybe it would be for the best.

The high school detective was not perturbed by the backlash and simply plowed through his explanation. "Of course, there is no evidence for this personal musing of mine. That's why what's officially written on the report was that in the middle of capturing Kaitou KID and the Nightmare, who had a falling out, Agent Connery died protecting the pair of black opals 'till the end."

The only visible reaction Kaito let be seen was the pause of his trembling hands, but he still wouldn't meet his classmate's face.

"Therefore, Jack Connery was listed to have died in the Line-of-Duty and Kenta-kun should receive enough money from his father's life insurance to cover the upcoming surgery," Hakuba finished his explanation with a sip of his tea. He waited for any further reaction but the teen magician stayed unusually quiet.

"That's all I wanted to tell you. I don't expect you to have anything else to say so I'll be taking my leave." Hakuba put the exact amount of money for their orders and got up from his seat, leaving Kaito to his own thoughts.

"Why…" Kaito's quiet words barely reached the detective's ear, making the Brit halt in his steps.

"Why leave it as is? If it had been you in the past, you would have no problem finding proof for your deduction regardless of the reason. So why?"

After a second or two, Hakuba sat back down. The young man crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling as he tried to gather his thoughts and feelings that he had trouble putting into words. "Did you know I was invited to be in a Tantei Koushien? It was fake, but I thought it interesting enough to join and meet with other detectives of my age."

The left-field change of subject threw Kaito off but he stayed uncharacteristically silent and listened.

"There I met a brash detective, reunited with a brilliant one, and arrested another detective-turned-killer. I won't bore you with the details of the murder there, but you could say I was schooled by the three of them."

"Oh ho, for the great Tantei-san to be taken down a peg, they must have given you an impression." The idea certainly cheered Kaito up.

"They did. The case taught me there are still many things I need to learn as a detective. For you see, the murderer killed a high school detective because his flawed deduction led to the suicide of her best friend. It was a tragic story but it was similar to ones I've heard from hundred other culprits before, and since she tried to trap even uninvolved people to die on the island, I didn't pity her fate. However, when I shared this with the brash detective on our way back, he told me this…

"If it was me half a year ago, I might have agreed with ya. However, an idealistic but brilliant guy once told me that a detective who cornered a suspect with deductions and let them die is no different from a murderer. I don't agree that we can be responsible for other people's actions. But I highly respect his belief that choosing ta be a detective means valuing life over any other. Which is why we detectives need ta be aware that our words hold weight that can hurt people as bad as any weapon. There's no point in being smart if we can't help them. Or at least… That's what this case reminds me."

"Huh…" Kaito was dumbfounded, he wasn't sure because of the story or how Hakuba managed to remember the whole speech word for word, "That's some wise sentiment coming from someone you call brash."

"Indeed, those are wise words. As expected of the KID Killer."

Kaito mindlessly nodded before the name hit him and outwardly gape, "Kid, KID Killer?!"

"I'm sure you know him, Edogawa Conan. His impressive streak of seeing through KID's tricks and foiling his heist is impressive even for me."

Of course, he knows him. And Hakuba knows he knows him. But Kaito has to pretend from "knowing" to "vaguely aware" of the little detective. The young magician had to hold back a smirk at the words Meitantei came up with. It sounds just like him.

"It wasn't hard to figure it was the child's words when Hattori's gaze was glued toward him the whole time he spoke."

"Well... well sure he's great and all, but the brat never actually captured KID-sama so I always think it's just the media exaggerating," Kaito tried to sound nonchalant but even he didn't believe his own act at this point.

"No. It may be unbelievable coming from an elementary schooler, but his skill as a first-rate detective is real. I was fortunate to meet with him a second time during that case."

Kaito's almost choked at his own spit from seeing Hakuba praising another detective without reservation. It was truly a rare sight to witness.

"It's pathetic, but I learned my deductions aren't words to show off but to make those who are guilty properly accountable and repent for their mistake. To prove my deduction of Nightmare would have done nothing but hurt the little boy, not just emotionally but physically as well, since he might lose the money for his surgery."

Hakuba crossed his fingers and rested his hands against his lips, looking almost like he was praying as he closed his brown eyes in grief. "A truth that helps no one does not need to come to light."

Kaito blinked a couple of times as if he was seeing a surreal sight, "Not that it's not nice to hear you reach enlightenment, Hakuba. But why are you telling me this?"

This time it was Hakuba's turn to freeze like a deer caught in a headlight. He turned his face away to hide the small blush that crept up on his cheek, "I, err, I also, err, want to apologize actually, that is, to you."

"Eh?"

"Don't misunderstand! I'm still convinced you are Kaitou KID. However, to prematurely make callous accusations upon your person without solid evidence was an amateur move even for me. Had you been anyone else, my deduction could have pushed you to the edge, and for that I am sorry."

Now Kaito felt it was safe to let go of his poker face and actually boggled at the Brit detective.

Hakuba seemed uncomfortable being stared at so blatantly that he got up from his seat again, ready to leave for real this time. "The point here is; I wanted to reassure you that I'm willing to protect the truth KID stole that day… and that I'm glad he survived from that nightmarish night," he said hurriedly in lieu of saying farewell.

Kaito was left alone with his thoughts, tracing back the conversation in his head until he struggled with whether to laugh or cry. He put his hand on his face, obscuring the emotions his poker face failed to hide.

"Even apart, I'm still no match for you, Meitantei."

. . .

Credit where credit is due, Jirokichi Suzuki is a daring old man that doesn't know when to give up. Who else would make a crazy plan of displaying millions-of-yen-worth gem in the middle of Ginza?

'Not only is it a decent strategy. Since he announced it this morning, there's barely any time for me to plan my heist.' Kaito wasn't sure he wanted to laugh or cry when he watched the morning news, but he definitely wasn't backing down from it, 'Don't underestimate a high schooler's stress-panic during a last-minute assignment, you old geezer!' Kaito cackled evilly in his own head.

As expected, Jii implored him to wait for another opportunity. But there's no way Kaito will let this slide. No matter how unreasonable the old fox is, a challenge is still a challenge. Unlike any other heist, Kaitou KID's integrity is at stake.

Besides, accepting it is not all bad. Not only does Jirokichi's official challenge allow more audiences to witness his magic (usually the police force was his only spectators), but it invites him as well.

"Since Meitantei is going to be in the audience, an adequate show won't cut it." Kaito's eyes stirred at the chance of another showdown with the little detective. "That guy can freakishly notice the tiniest detail. We need to up our game so he'll be too speechless to detect anything, don't you think so too?"

"Even if you say that, Bocchama..." Jii examined his young charge, looking absolutely thrilled, and grew worried. "Forgive this old man for intruding, but why go this far?"

Kaito frowned, "Eh? What do you mean?"

"Well, from what I'm seeing you're taking the extra mile to impress this young boy… young man… err… no, that doesn't quite fit either?"

"Just call him Detective like I do, Jii. And you know I always go out to impress my critics. Sure the Task Force can be a hurdle, but they can't be compared to him. Unless I make a grandiose show, the brat wouldn't blink an eye before he'll catch on to me."

"I'm sorry, but this old man is concerned if you're being swept by the boy's nature."

"Err... Jii-chan, where are you going with this?"

"This detective of yours isn't a simple opponent. It's one thing to have a brilliant mind, but the young lad seemed to carry a strong, pure spirit as well. The kind that can put pressure on an ordinary man and attract the people around him into his way."

"Oi, oi, what are you saying–"

"I'm telling you to be careful, Bocchama." Jii grasped Kaito's shoulders and made the young man realize the gravity of his words. "If you get swept up by that child's nature, you'll only get yourself caught."

Kaito's eyes went round like saucers before he threw his head back in a laugh at Jii-chan's worries. "It's the opposite," he answered.

"Opposite?"

Kaito nodded, absentmindedly twirling the pen deftly with a magician's hand, and grinned, "I don't want to lose."

Now it was Jii's turn to look shocked, "Pardon?"

"I don't want to lose, Jii-chan. That guy, even after turning into a 7-year-old, kept himself as a detective. Relentlessly and straightforwardly pursuing every piece of the truth without a sign of giving up. Never letting his size hold him back from achieving what his mind set on; whether it's to save people or solving mysteries."

Kaito remembered back of his time with the shrunken-teen, though far and few in between, was memorable. Running past a burning bridge, standing between swinging blades with a smug face, facing off with armed villains, and jumping off a skyscraper with no hesitation.

Kaito clenched his fist around the pen and his grin brimmed with excitement, "Seeing a guy like that, how could I do anything but my best? Just as he stakes his life as a detective, I will stake my life not just as a thief but as a magician. Creating the best entertainment for my audience with a magic no one can unveil. That's what it means to be KID the Phantom Thief."

Kaito didn't know, but at that moment, Kounosuke Jii felt he was seeing Tōichi Kuroba all over again as he witnessed the blazing stubbornness in his eyes with a smile that seemed to challenge the world to come at him if it can.

Like father, like son.

'All because of a schoolboy rivalry,' Jii chuckled mentally.

Afterward, Kaito promptly went out to case the intersection in question for his heist and came back with an idea. An exotic illusion with a simple trick that can be done even at the last minute. The idea itself makes Kaito want to shake hands with himself.

Since he didn't give out a notice beforehand, Kaito decided to begin the show once all the audience had gathered. When he spotted the sharp gaze of his favorite critic, KID knew it was time.

'Now let's see if you live up to your name, Great Detective.' The simple thought of finally stumping him completely using such easy contrivance made Kaito's blood rush in excitement, his smirk turned into a wolfish grin. 'It's showtime!'

Arriving in a timely manner on top of the pedestal, the crowd and media rushed to be in his vicinity. Kaito brightened at the wildly given attention, but he kept a poker face over his elation. Old Man Jirokichi then enacted the trap as expected. He felt touched that his fans were willing to help a thief like him even though there was no need. And the reporter gave KID the perfect introduction to tonight's magic show.

"Teleportation."

His escape went off without a hitch. Arriving at the rooftop in about 20 seconds and returning the replica to the TV staff perched there. He addressed the camera of his next attempt for the other half of the gems with the regality of a gentleman thief. The adrenaline rush of letting the whole of Japan know of his miraculous feat is incomparable.

Then he used his hang glider to fly over the net the old man worked so hard to set up. KID can already imagine the expression on his audience's faces; delight from his magnificent presence, the shock of his 'teleportation', the confused and humiliated looks of the people failing to capture him as they were left in the dust of his magic.

The very thought was enough to make him cackle aloud as he made his escape… until a round projectile skimmed past his face and destroyed his monocle with scary accuracy. His heart jumped to his throat while watching the momentum carry the dangerous soccer ball away. 'That… that was close!'

Kaito looked over his shoulder and, as expected, there was the little detective. The only one with a warning face as they locked eyes. 'That was a warning shot.' his gaze seemed to say, 'Next time, I'll pull that monocle off with my own hands.'

KID let out a smirk as he was delighted with the challenge that actually carried weight, 'Come see me tomorrow and prove your worth then, Tantei-kun.'

. . .

'KID... KID... KID…'

Everywhere Conan goes, whether from his classmates, friends, and TV. All they talked about is KID's Teleportation, believing it was real magic or something alike. Times like these are usually when Conan becomes the buzz killer that shatters their dreams and illusion. But the detective stayed silent when he found no other explanation or evidence that suggested otherwise.

Oh, Conan knows it's not real magic. He's called the Moonlight Magician because he uses magic tricks to steal his prey. But Conan is not one to deny without irrefutable proof that it wasn't a miracle.

"But KID's instant movement was amazing!" Genta expressed his delight.

Those words were like a punch to the gut for the shrunken-teen because that, also, he cannot deny since 'dammit, it really was amazing.'

KID kept a level head while being surrounded by police and civilians, the technique and little prep needed for a challenge that was notified that very day, his performance as a whole never fails to give him the most puzzling riddle to solve.

All of it done with that trade smirk of his that never daunted from any feat that people claimed impossible. Shakespeare's words seem to come true that all the world's a stage when it comes to his magic tricks.

Just the thought of it was enough to summon the image of that arrogant scoundrel in his head, poking fun at him for not being able to solve this level of trick, and it rubbed him the wrong way.

Conan doesn't want to admit that 'KID = amazing'. He refuses to admit it. Someone will have to pull a gun at him before the boy admits such a thing.

(Later on, KID indeed pulls a gun at him and Conan admits he was at fault for jinxing it.)

Shinichi will not lose in this showdown of theirs. No matter what. Not as long as that smug thief stood against him.

'I can't wait to capture you after exposing your trick.' The Heisei Holmes thought at the face of a thrilling and daring mystery. A case that made his heart pound ever louder until he couldn't notice anything else but the chase. The suspenseful moment as he back Kaitou KID into a corner that Shinichi can't get enough of no matter what method he uses.

When the time for KID's second attempt for the other half of the Purple Nail was drawing near. The net was already up and only the police were guarding the gem. The magician then did the unexpected and called off the heist if the audience weren't there with him.

Conan examined the event from a safe distance with keen eyes, 'So you need 20 seconds and a crowd to pull off this trick.'

"Don't move!" Conan stiffened as he felt the familiar cold bearing of what felt like a gun, but the model was too ridiculous to be one. It was followed by a familiar mischievous tone, "Move, and you're dead."

"Moron, who would be afraid with a toy gun?" Conan scoffed.

KID took a second to react before pouting. "As usual, you're still a boring brat," he sighed.

"Well, sorry for being boring." Conan glared unapologetically while staying still. With his back against the thief, Conan is at his mercy and there's also no telling how KID will react otherwise. For the kaitou to make an appearance here means he has a purpose.

"Say, Meitantei..." KID began, "Do you know them? Thurston's Three Principles."

Conan knew them and explained the origin of the Three Taboos in magic while KID explained what they are. The shrunken detective began suspecting the reason for his presence was to mislead him and observe him through the tap on his clothes. (Frankly, Conan has freakishly too much experience with taps to not notice them.)

"I see," Conan grinned in understanding, "In other words, if you break the taboo and nobody figures out the trick, then it becomes the best illusion." 'It sounds exactly like something you will do.'

"That's exactly it." Conan didn't need to turn around to know he had that trade smirk of his. Essentially, he's also here to personally wage war with him. 'Try unveiling my magic if you can!' The thief seemed to dare. Taunting Conan as much as he's looking forward for the detective to counter the thief with his wit.

Ran's appearance was KID's cue to disappear into the crowd.

And so Conan waited until the appointed time of his heist. All the while the clues began to pile one after another before finally figuring out the mystery behind KID's teleportation. Unbeknownst to anyone, his blue eyes lit up in excitement at the approaching climax of their duel.

'Time to greet Mister Moonlight Magician.'

. . .

When Kaito decided to do the same exact magic and appear at the same exact place to steal the jewel. Jii-chan had reasonably been against it. The old man is a traditionalist, after all. He wouldn't dare to challenge Thurston's Three Principles.

"Don't worry, Jii-chan. The only person we need to be wary of is our chibi-tantei. I'll personally handle him so stick with the plan."

And so to make sure no troublesome heckler could disturb his magic show, he stuck a bug on Tantei-kun's collar and observed his actions. KID then heard his deduction through the tap. When the thief was sure the detective wasn't close to finding out the truth, KID chuckled in glee when his red-herring worked like a charm and had him looking the other way.

'Ara~ Ara~ he bit the bait too strongly it seems. That's too bad. But as long as Tantei-kun doesn't solve it in time, he won't try to capture me.'

But it turns out the one who bit the red herring had been the other way around.

As he was lifted from the pulley in his dark robe, KID fired off his cards one by one in quick succession. Even from afar, he can imagine the audience picking up and reading the words to his countdown.

Three. KID grinned with victory in sight.

Two. His lips twitched as his whole body trembled in exhilaration.

One. Kaito's laughter bubbled out at another successful heist.

"Zero." An intruder said the extra number, and Kaito choked. He strained his neck up and spotted Meitantei standing on top, looking down on the thief.

"Tonight's magic show is free of charge. Your reward is zero, Magician under the Moonlight." Conan taunted in delight. He boldly stood where KID should have appeared with his back to the full moon as if mocking his title altogether. And as always, had that self-conceding smile that seemed to say, 'You almost fooled me there, Kaitou KID.'

As if fooling a great detective was a feat that deserves commendation.

'This arrogant brat–' KID had to keep a semblance of a poker face by taking a subtle but deep breath after ordering Jii-chan to drop the weights. Meitantei began exposing the truth of his magic in a matter-of-factly as if he'd been standing beside KID throughout the whole planning, not just for his instant movement but of his white daredevil clothing as well.

'Indeed a white clothing would make it easier to hide…' KID threw off his robe and stood upright like a man defying gravity,"But when something white suddenly appeared within the darkness… it becomes mysterious, right?"

Conan smirked in silent agreement. The thief and detective fiercely gazed at one another with indomitable will. There's no denying they are a pair of mystery-lovers. While one enjoys making them and the other finds joy in solving them. Both living up in the thrill of the game. Nothing more, nothing less.

Within this moment and space that belongs to them, under the gentle ray of the moonlight. On the battleground of this match of wits of theirs, where 'right' and 'wrong' become a blurry line.

As long as they keep chasing their goal.

As long as they don't give up.

They'll keep fighting and fighting 'till one of them stands on top.

Conan finally offered KID to give himself up while the thief was stuck in between a rock and hard place; either risk his accomplice or risk himself getting arrested.

'This is why I so love and hate you, Meitantei. It's not enough you had me cornered and risked capture, you want the elusive Phantom Thief to admit defeat by his own words.' Kaito gritted his teeth as he glared up at Conan's expression, standing on top like a cat who caught the canary. 'Damn sadistic guy.'

Conan was so sure KID would have no choice but to give up. He knew the magician was not the person that would forsake his partner, so it seems like this will be the day that KID–

"Then... I'll choose the middle," he replied blasèly as if he had never been cornered.

Conan blinked, confused, "Mi- middle?" 'How?'

Conan watched agape as KID swiftly shot his cards, took his accomplice, and flew away in a dash of speed that makes any movie stuntman applaud for his finesse.

'As usual, he's quick with his feet.' Conan clicked his tongue at the sight of them both barely escaping over the net. He still has his soccer ball and power shoes, but it was too high of a risk. It's one thing with only KID, it's another with him carrying his accomplice over 20 meters in height.

That's why Conan had to watch them escape together out of reach before noticing a purple glint from the corner of his eyes.

"That rascal–" The detective smiled at the pair of Purple Nail hung from the rope. He could have flown away with the gem given the chance but left them hanging instead. As if they were a reward for seeing through his magic. "–he's really rearing to make this a game, isn't he?"

"Still... that was a great show you gave us, Kaitou KID-san."