Reference to the Mystery Train Case

Chapter 9

There were only a few in-betweens when Shuuichi Akai deemed a situation had gone to the dogs. Having the sister of your ex-lover that's being targeted by the Syndicate caught on video, as well as finding out where and when she will be, happens to be that.

Moreover, Bourbon was already on the move for her.

Yes, things have certainly gone from bad to worse.

"However, if you look at it in another way, this could be our chance as well," the peculiar boy in glasses said across the sofa from him.

Akai raised an eyebrow, "Are you planning to make her a bait for them?"

"No. That's too risky. If a member like Vermouth or Gin got involved, then Haibara wouldn't be in her right mind to follow our instructions. Best to put her aside where one of us can monitor her from getting in the way."

Akai winced at his words but couldn't deny the girl could be an obstacle. The FBI agent witnessed firsthand at the pier how she barged into the boy's plan without his knowledge. Self-sacrificing just like her sister, but it backfires into risking Conan and Jodie's lives instead.

But Akai, of all people, understood her action. As a fellow ex-member of the Syndicate where the people are soaked with 'killing intent' to the point of revulsion. Escape had only ever meant death for her.

"Then what chance are you talking about?"

He was met with a pair of blazing blue eyes that left no room for doubt in his words, "We're going to have them kill Sherry."

'Ah, so that's your plan.' Akai smiled as things came to this. "I see. If we do that, the girl will no longer be targeted and she'll be all the safer."

Conan nodded, "However, since we don't have an in from them like Kir this time. We'll have to solely rely on the person masquerading as her to fake her death."

"But to find someone at the last minute that's well-versed with disguises, and can act convincingly in front of a Syndicate's codenamed operative with an ad-libbing skill to get out from any unexpected danger..."

"What about me?" the legendary Japanese actress, Yukiko Kudō came barging into the library. Having been in the Kudō Mansion for her weekly make-up crash course and touching up on his "Okiya Subaru" disguise.

""Absolutely not,"" both men rejected her idea.

"Why not?" She huffed.

"You know exactly why!" The boy's voice was strung and angry, glaring at who Akai suspected was his mother, "You'll be facing one of the Black Syndicate members and stand directly in their line of fire. There's no way we'll let you–"

"But I'm the best choice, aren't I? My acting is among the best, my disguise decent, and I've done my own stunts during my years as an actress so I know how to maneuver out of danger. Ai-chan can relay her words from an earpiece so it will be easy for me to be her," Yukiko argued.

"However, to drag a civilian…"

The former actress tutted and cut Akai off, "I'm already involved the moment I help hide you from their eyes. So don't pull the 'civilian' card on me."

Having had an extended period with the celebrity, Akai knew when to give up on an argument from one of the most stubborn women he knew. Yukiko might even be capable of giving his mother a run for her money. Furthermore, he can see that she's a talented and marvelous person who carries a sharp mind that makes Yukiko an asset. But he also understood the boy's feeling of wanting to keep the sweet and carefree person away from the darkness of the Syndicate.

'How will you handle this, boy?'

Conan had been silent the rest of the time, resting his head on his hand that he usually had when fallen into deep thought.

"I don't think that plan will work well, Yukiko-san." The boy's tone turned grave but steady, emotions having bled out from his face. "I still have little idea of Bourbon's plan when it comes to Sherry, but Vermouth will definitely try killing her. If she's present and spots you in any way, our plan will immediately be blown. You are the obvious choice when it comes to disguises after all."

'I see, instead of fighting off her idea, you reject her after considering the possibility. That's one way to keep her safe.'

Yukiko frowned, "I'm not an obvious choice, I'm your only choice. Or do you happen to have another actor who can disguise on the spot just lying around?" She asked rhetorically.

Akai crossed his arms, a list of names running through his head as he tried to determine who could meet their criteria until he ran out of people.

Conan was having the same luck as the FBI Investigator. He tried to come up with anybody for the role until he was pulling his own hair in frustration. 'Dammit, isn't there anyone? A person none of the Black Men could predict and can slip away from their reach unscathed.' Conan opened his eyes and his gaze landed on a particular series. He felt breathless as the answer was staring right at his face.

Maurice Leblanc — "Arsené Lupin Gentleman Thief"

A flash of inspiration struck him, making the boy jump from his seat. He rushed to the work desk that had a laptop on top and began typing on it. Akai and Yukiko exchanged glances before making their way to stand behind him.

"Found it!" On the screen, it was revealed that Conan was searching for a particular article featuring the duel between Senior Advisor Suzuki and Kaitou KID that will take place on the train in question.

"I found it, our perfect cast for the role."

The boy's grin stretched from ear to ear as he faced them with his findings. But it was different from the kind where he figured out the case before catching the culprit. This is the smile Akai recognized to be his scheming face.

"He~ Kaitou KID. How nostalgic, I used to hear him often when you– when Shin-chan was little."

"That jewel thief?

"Do you know him, Akai-san?"

"I watched one of his heists on television before. He caught my interest after hearing this boy is known as the KID Killer."

Conan held back a groan of embarrassment, "Please don't call me that here."

"He is certainly eccentric for a thief, but if he's half as good as the rumor says then the man will be a great asset to us."

"Oh, believe me. He is that good." Both the adults blinked, hearing the shrunken-teen sounded a bit boastful of the thief. "KID is no doubt the best option. I have faith in his ability to do a clean job. He'll be at the Mystery Train in order to case his heist location. I'll spot his disguise and corner him as blackmail to rope in his help for our plan."

It's a sound strategy. Though Akai still had misgivings of how simple the plan was to get a thief risking his life for a stranger. He has experience handling low-risk criminals as undercover for an operation, but never as an integral piece.

"Boy, are you sure you want to request help from a criminal? I may not have a solid reference to his character, but can we truly rely on him to be the linchpin of our plan?"

"Ah, don't worry." Conan had a knowing smirk on him, "He might act as nothing but a conceited thief to the world. But after getting to know him I know exactly who he is; a simple idiot who can't leave alone when someone is in need of help."

At the statement that was said so matter of factly, Akai couldn't help but find it curious at the child's confidence and fondness for the jewel thief. 'In other words, he is the same type of person as you.'

"I'll take your word for it. But if so, is there a need to blackmail him at all? He sounds like the type who would follow your request regardless."

"No way!" Conan denied vehemently, his tone turned high and lost his usual timber, "If I do that then he's going to hold it as leverage over my head. I definitely don't want to be in his debt. Who knows what unreasonable demand cooked up in that damn head of his."

Akai blinked dumbfoundedly at the reaction before coughing at his fist to hide the impending chuckle. Even Yukiko took it a step further and pulled him into a hug because of how "cute" his shrunken son sounded.

'I didn't think I'd see you act your age for once, boy.'

They discussed further the details of their plan and arranged the logistics. Akai then went out of the room to contact James and have him set up the required earphones, leaving the disguises for Yukiko to handle. Thus, left the mother and son to their own space.

"Neh, Mom." Shinichi looked up and asked, "Wasn't Dad the one who named him KID?"

"That's right!" Yukiko perked up at the mention of her husband, "He misread the name of a rogue thief he happened to chase that one time. It was a rare moment of Yuu-chan being clumsy, and it was during an interview too! Who knew the nickname would spread like wildfire? He can be so adorable," she gushed out lovingly.

"Hahaha…" this hopeless woman...

"I always thought it was strange because just like Shin-chan, your father rarely got interested in theft. Though I do remember he had been a flashy one."

"Then, then did Dad happen to mention anything about him? Specifically 8 years ago, around the time he disappeared."

"Saa~ I'm not sure. During that time, I had been in mourning after all so I don't think I would notice much."

'Mourning?' And suddenly Shinichi remembers. A time when he was a kid, she was dressed in an all-black garment. Mom didn't cry, but she didn't need tears to show how heartbroken she was since then. All Shinichi knew then was that at the time she lost "one of her Seven Knights."

Dad didn't go then to look after him, but Shinichi swore he had been mourning just the same. It was one of the rare times he saw his father drink late at night — despite being a lightweight — with solemn eyes that words can't quite describe while gazing intently up at the full moon.

"What about after his reappearance, did Dad say anything then?"

"Oh, he did! He did! After his reappearance, it becomes such big news that it even reaches LA. At the time, Yuu-chan said something weird…"

"Something weird?"

"'So the torch was reignited' or so he said."

Shinichi became contemplative as he turned over the words his Dad used. Being a novelist, there are hundreds of ways those words could mean.

Looking down at her son, Yukiko hid a sad smile behind her carefree mask. 'I'm sorry, Shin-chan. But I can't afford to tell you yet… sensei's greatest secret. Though since it's you, it won't be long until you connect the dots.'

The former actress looked out from her window, watching the crescent moon that would now always remind her of her teacher and good friend. She wondered what he might think as he watched his three disciples about to clash within the confinement of the Bell Tree Express.

The assassin-slash-actress, the bystander mother, and the successor.

'I wonder if this is another part of fate… Tōichi-sensei…'

. . .

Kaito should have known this type of case would happen on a Mystery Train with the mini Death God on the loose. He should have disguised himself as a conductor when he had the chance.

"Is it really okay, Bocchama? To say nothing to that detective?" An eldery man's voice came out from the face of an eldery woman, "It was only for a moment, but we definitely saw a mirrored door."

"It's fine, it's fine." Kaito's voice shrugged off Jii's concern from the face of the older housemaid, Sumitomo-san. "Meitantei is on the case, and he'll see through a boring-ass trick like that before this train even reaches Nagoya."

"But…"

Kaito smiled at seeing his partner truly worried over the case. After all, both of them understood the gaping feeling in their chest of an unjust death left unsolved. The two wouldn't wish such a feeling for anyone that could have mourned the victim.

"I know how you feel, Jii-chan. But don't forget that we're here as criminals. Once the police investigate, it would come to light that Kaitou KID and his assistant had come disguised as the aunt of the late magnate and her housemaid. I doubt any testimony we made would be valid, and we can't exactly appear in court as key witnesses to his crime. Worst case scenario; we would be used as a scapegoat to shift the blame off the culprit."

"Such… Such a thing…"

"Well, it's not like Meitantei would let it happen. But for a smooth investigation and for our own sake, we should meddle as little as possible."

"I see."

Seeing the frown still etched on his disguised face, Kaito added, "Don't worry, Jii-chan. On the off chance our little sleuth hasn't got a clue before reaching the last station, I'll leave him a hint to the culprit."

The tension finally loosened from his shoulder, "That's reassuring to know."

However, what Kaito didn't tell Jii was that he had an uneasy feeling throughout the investigation. Like an intense pressure he often felt when being targeted by Meitantei. 'But it's not like we started the heist yet, so for what reason would he be searching for me? Or am I thinking too much?'

A knock on the door had them ready their poker mask, KID was the first to greet whoever was behind it and was a bit taken aback when no one was there… until he looked down to be met with a cheery, innocent face of the glasses kid.

'Speak of the devil and he shall appear…' Kaito almost let out a shudder at the creepy timing the brat came as if he was summoned.

"Boy, is there anything else you might need from us?"

Conan shook his head and chirped, "I just came to tell you that Kogorō-ojiisan figured out the culprit and wants everyone to come meet him by the end of the hallway."

"I see, then we'll promptly be there at the awaited place."

Conan nodded after confirming their presence before going off to the next room. Kaito glanced back at Jii and gave him a cheeky grin, 'See? I told you.'

Jii rolled his eyes, but other than that, he kept his poker face intact. "Forgive this old man's needless worry, this Jii has an ominous premonition is all… that this might not end as a simple trip."

'You said that before, but isn't that about the murder?' Kaito decided to let his worry slide and didn't question him further.

As Sleeping Kogorō's Deduction Show started; carefully explained the event that happened based on the testimony, explaining away the inconsistency, revealing the trick before pointing out the culprit alongside its proof.

When Satoru Ando finally confessed to his crimes as well as the motive, Kaito didn't know who he wanted to hit more; the victim or the culprit.

What Murobashi did; injuring and killing the people in that mansion for petty theft was absolutely despicable. But if Ando-san had found proof, he could have brought justice to the past victims.

Unlike some people who couldn't find proof of a crime.

He could have done anything aside from murder. But to resort to being a killer to satisfy his own feelings… 'What kind of justice is that?!'

The most irritating of all was because he knew exactly how it felt to be in the culprit's shoes that he was angry with him.

But then smoke began to slowly fill the cabin, and when a dark-skinned man claiming to be Kogorō Mouri's apprentice cried out there was fire present, the rest of the passengers reasonably went into panic and Kaito had cussed him out for his tactless approach.

"Wait a minute… this smoke barely has heat in it and way too light to be a fire smoke… obviously this is a kind of smoke bomb but… why did he..."

"Obaa-san!" Tantei-kun addressed them two with an urgent tone, "Hurry and follow me!"

KID nodded. Since they are supposed to be in a panic state, the pair would listen even to a kid as long as he got them out of the line of fire. But the thief was too immersed in his character, too focused on avoiding his disguise being blown to suspect an ulterior motive from the little detective.

Not until he had everyone else leave Carriage 7 before shutting the door so there would only be three of them left in this carriage. "You two… you are Kaitou KID and his assistant, right?"

'At this point, I'm not even shocked he figured it out.' "What, what might you be referring to?" Kaito tried to gloss over his suspicion as a last-ditch effort, but there's no fooling him once Meitantei got rolling with his deduction and saw all the evidence he needed.

"Be a little grateful that I didn't press you guys for not wanting to get involved with the murder case."

"And so? You've made it clear that I owe you one, so what are you trying to get me do?"

'As expected of Kaitou KID, the conversation flows quickly.' Conan pulled out a phone and showed the thief a picture of Shiho Miyano. "I want you to disguise yourself as this girl and shake off the bad people chasing after her."

Kaito leaned forward to get a good look at the woman and felt his face twitching at the figure, 'Oi, oi, isn't this the scary ojou-chan from your group of friends?'

"Your conversation with them will be picked up by the microphone. The person herself will be waiting in a separate room and tell you everything you need to say via earphone." Tantei-kun handed him his phone, "Explosives might get involved once they corner you in the storage hold, so be careful–"

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

The two boys jumped by the sudden shout by none other than the disguised form of Komino-san, who suddenly stood from her wheelchair and glared at the shrunken-teen.

Kaito, for all his childish antics and excessive energy, is a young man with deep compassion and optimism. Jii would bet that denying the detective's request was never something he even considered. The elderly man had unknowingly taken advantage of that during the Sunflower Heist and had almost cost the young master's life. He would not stand for others to do the same.

"I've stayed silent and listened to you two, but I will not allow the young master to risk his life in this shady mess you're dragging him in."

"Jii… Jii-chan…" Kaito hissed.

"Bocchama, please reconsider this! I've sworn to not only follow you but to protect you even with my life in exchange. Just because you're fond of the young lad…"

'Jiiiiiii! TMI! Too much information!' Kaito thought in panic. It was only thanks to his mask that he could hide the blush adorning his face.

"...he is still a detective! There's a limit to how much you can bank in his words."

Conan was left speechless. His eyes boggled at being addressed by the mysterious assistant he never heard the voice before, and how whatever snag in his calculation, Conan had never considered the assistant's fervent protectiveness to the unerring Kaitou KID of all people.

"Jii-chan… I understand your feelings… But this seems a bit–" Kaito choked on his words midway and even Jii was left gaping.

Because right in front of their eyes, Conan Edogawa was bowing down low enough to show them the back of his head.

The pair were reasonably baffled by the sight.

"I understand that my request may be impertinent. However, no matter what, I want to protect my friend. In order to make sure nobody has to be sacrificed, I need KID's strength. Please. There's no one I trust more to pull this off than him."

In the face of such sincerity, not even Jii could protest against his heartfelt and desperate plea. Kaito knows when to raise their hands in defeat. "Looks like we're completely outmatched."

"Bocchama!"

"Don't worry, Jii-chan. Even if it was an unreasonable request, I said it before right? There's no obstacle in the world that Kaitou KID can't breakthrough."

Kaito took one look at Meitantei and shared an understanding of their mutual feelings. Whether they be thieves or detectives, it doesn't change how they're both stubborn men who refused to leave anyone to die.

"Especially when I have Heisei Holmes on my side. I'll be fine." Kaito winked reassuringly, "Besides, what kind of gentleman thief would I be if I don't help a damsel in distress?"

The old man relented with a sigh, "What am I to do with you?"

"Sorry, Jii-chan. I might go off with our backup plan so go on without me."

After much hesitation, the elder man finally left after giving one final prayer that his precious young master would come back safely.

That left only KID and Conan in Carriage 7.

"So KID, I heard you're fond of me–"

"I'll forget hearing you beg if you forget to hear that."

"Deal."

And the last three minutes were deemed to never happen.

Conan then led the thief to his room in Carriage 6. The earpiece, clothes, mask, wig, and makeup tools were all kept in the secret compartment of his bag.

"You're certainly prepared for me."

"If not you, I would have done it instead."

Kaito has so many questions how that would work, but deem that unimportant at the moment. He started peeling off his current mask and didn't need to ask the little detective to turn away. They were back-to-back as the thief began to work.

"How many am I dealing with?"

"Thankfully, one man."

"Place?"

"Carriage 8."

"Main objective?"

"Her death."

"Let me guess, from the explosives you mentioned?"

"It will likely be detonated once it detached from the main car so keep that in mind when you made your escape."

"Hai, hai." He already started wearing the light brunette wig by the end of his instruction and turned to face Tantei-kun, who offered the earpiece to him.

"Anyway, this is connected to my phone. Haibara will tell you everything you need to know. Don't move until the call's connected. Oh, and remember this face," the boy showed KID the picture of Subaru Okiya. "He's your backup."

"Understood, Commander." KID mock saluted him.

Conan began running back to Carriage 7, but only after he called his mother's phone from a crowded carriage and deceived Vermouth. Everything was happening too soon and too fast, Conan had been frantic that he wouldn't make it in time.

He barged into Room B — where Akai-san and Haibara are having a silent staring match — before shoving his second phone on her.

"KID is disguised as you and he's about to meet one of the Black Syndicate's members so tell him what he needs to say!"

Haibara was understandably shocked and befuddled by the sudden turn of events. He wouldn't blame her if she thought this was some elaborate joke. But Haibara was quick on the uptake and took charge of the phone.

"Subaru-san, if you please."

The FBI Investigator nodded at the small tactician and made way to watch over their 'special guest.'

With all the pieces in place, KID and Conan had their game face on. It seemed only fitting then that the detective borrowed the thief's catchphrase.

' 'It's showtime!' '

KID: So I heard from a little birdie that you trust me?

Conan: And I also heard that you're fond of me?

KID: How about we both pretend that never happened?

Conan: Deal.

They just– They just can't be honest with each other XD

I basically established that Jii and Haibara are the ones with common sense between their partnership.

Also, this case had been the first time Conan had actually interacted and acknowledged Kaito's assistant. I thought it was a shame that we don't get to see them interact so this is how I deem their first official meeting to be like because I refuse to believe Jii, who devotes his life for Kaito, would just stand quiet while his young master is being asked to risk his life (again).