Chapter 22

"Move!" Shinichi dove to the side as a bullet grazed KID's side and impacted into the roof shingles. He grabbed KID and pulled him forward, another bullet passing through right where his head had been. Thoughts racing, Shinichi practically dragged KID back inside Suzuki's building, down stairs and through halls, looking for someplace to hide.

They had reached one of Suzuki's display rooms, Shinichi intending to return to the party in order to gain help from the police officers trapped there, when KID pushed him to the ground. Shinichi fell hard, bruising his shoulder, and KID collapsed on top of him, pushing him underneath a table. What was he doing!? Shinichi tried to glare at him, but it was too dark.

Before Shinichi could tell him off, a gloved hand covered his mouth. Panic reared and Shinichi tried to buck him off, but he was too strong, holding Shinichi still long enough for a group of people to run into the room from the direction they came from.

A click of a gun cocking. "Kaitou KID…" A slimy voice breached the dark. "Come on, now; is this really the time for games?" Footsteps echoed around the room. "We're not even after you tonight, or the jewel. Just hand over the Lupin brat, and no one has to get hurt."

KID inhaled and threw his voice, making it unclear exactly where it was coming from. "Oh? And what guarantee do I have of that? Seems more like you to just shoot both me and the kid, Snake."

The man, Snake, laughed. "You know me too well, KID! However, Lupin will be safe, for as long as Boss wants him. But if you don't… well, let's just say we have a little leverage."

KID laughed back at him. "Leverage? You really think you can hold leverage over me?"

"I know so. Give us Lupin and we won't kill your son."

Son? KID has a son!? But he's too young to have one—

"Eh? What are you going on about, old man?" KID scoffed. "Kaitou KID doesn't have a son."

"No…" Shinichi could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "But Toichi Kuroba does, right?"

This man was saying… that Toichi Kuroba, Kaito's dad, was KID?

But Toichi Kuroba is dead, right?

And… and based off of his previous deduction, that would mean…

Oh.

KID barked out a laugh. "You're bluffing!"

"Do you really want to try me?"

Before KID could respond, Shinichi elbowed him in the ribs and threw him off before sliding out from under the table. He stood and put his hands up, stepping towards the dark shadows shaped like people. "Don't shoot," he told them. "I'm unarmed."

One of them walked closer. "Arséne Lupin the fourth?" Snake asked.

"That's correct." Shinichi let Snake walk up to him and grab him. Finally, Shinichi could see him in the dim light; a sleezy man with a handlebar mustache.

Snake sneered. "I didn't expect this to go so smoothly… What's your angle, kid?"

"I didn't have much other choice," Shinichi shot back. Uncocking his gun, Snake spun Shinichi around and ziptied his wrists behind his back. "As I said, I'm unarmed, and KID fucked off the moment you said his name."

Snake's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you." Snake jerked him and he hissed. "KID's not the type to leave someone behind."

"For once, Snake, you're correct." KID appeared, disregarding the chance Shinichi gave him to escape, and pointed his card gun at them. He could not see his face from under his hat. "Release the young prince. Now."

"You should have stayed hidden, KID." Another shot rang out and black bloomed upon KID's white coat before he fell back into the darkness.