27: An Assistant's Obituary

Conan was breathing heavily by the time he'd reached the top of the stairs and stepped out onto the museum roof. As usual, KID was still there. The thief had his hands in his pockets and was leaning languidly against the low concrete wall that followed the building's circumference. "Give up the gem, KID." Conan said, putting his hands into his pockets as well. If KID had wanted to escape, he would have done so before the detective caught up.

"I will leave when the time is right." KID said, tucking a wireless radio behind his ear. "There is more at stake tonight than this beauty." The glimmering ruby appeared in the thief's hand and he raised it to the moon. Nothing happened beyond the expected, ordinary light refraction. With a sigh, KID dropped his arm, playing with the gem with agile fingers; he rolled it across his fingers.

Conan almost didn't want to break the odd peace the two shared, standing here in the moonlight, the sounds of the city retreating as the atmosphere thinned. It came to the detective that the magician was stalling. More at stake, huh?

"I assume it's whatever your assistant is doing that is so important. Would you admit to having an assistant?" Conan asked.

KID grinned, "yes. The best."

For half a minute more the night was silent, then KID stiffened. A series of distant gun shots pierced through the night, echoing the sound that had just come through his radio. "Jii-chan!" KID shouted. The ruby dropped forgotten from his fingers as he turned his complete attention to the communication device in his ear. "Sorry, bocchama. I changed the plan, you should be safe now." Jii said, and the line crackled and cut out.

Conan's relaxed stance had vanished the moment the shots were registered, but here he could do nothing beyond watching KID desperately calling his assistant.

"Jii-chan!" KID shouted again, "don't!... where are you! Jii-chan! Answer me! What did you do?!" Hands shaking, KID whipped around, "I'm coming" he said darkly and leapt off the roof. His white wings of silk unfurled and he flew off.

Conan cursed, retrieved the gem and raced back down the stairs. His curiosity getting the better of him, Conan jumped onto his skateboard and headed in the direction KID had been going. The lights of the police cars and Nakamori's shouting eventually got the shrunken detective to the right location. He watched briefly as some men, dressed in black,were cuffed and shoved roughly into the backs of the cars to be taken back to the station.

Nobody noticed the faux child slip past.

Nothing was in the buildings the black-clad men had been led from, but if KID was panicking for a reason… his assistant might not have gotten far. It was still by shear chance, that Conan heard the muffled sobs emanating from one of the buildings.

~o0o~

KID usually took delight in the feeling of flight. The weightlessness, excitement, and freedom were intoxicating. With the dread he was feeling at this moment, he may as well have been trapped underground. The tracker he had on his assistant couldn't be close enough. Jii!

The flight was only a few minutes. Slipping past the police, hiding from the regularly pulsating lights, the magician quickly came to the right building. It was a partially collapsed office building, a large hole in the roof provided the perfect entrance. The moon streamed in as perfect beams, one of which illuminated his friend.

KID's breath caught. Even from where he stood in the shadows, he could see that Jii's chest was neither rising nor falling. He wasn't breathing.

Letting out a muffled sob, KID ran to his assistant, dropping to his knees at Jii's side. If not for the blood, the elderly man could have been sleeping. He was killed by a bullet; one clean shot straight through the heart. Jii would have died almost immediately. A strange relief at that mercy, along with his grief, allowed the magician to let go of his poker face. He cried and didn't notice the bespectacled detective in the shadows.

After a while, KID felt utterly drained and empty. "Jii-chan" he muttered, resting one hand on his friend's cheek, "it's okay, you can rest. My father would be proud of you- I'm proud of you. I'll take care of the rest. You got Snake and the Crows. I'll get Pandora. No one else will die for it and your and oyaji's deaths won't be in vain." KID exhaled shakily, "thank you for always being there, I… I needed that." He gave his friend's body a last hug before laying him down with his arms along his sides.

Standing stiffly, the thief bowed deeply, and tipped his hat. Two soft 'clicks' echoed through the empty room as KID removed his cape. With a light toss it settled over the body. "The show goes on, Jii-chan. I'll see you when the final curtain falls."

KID stepped out of the moonlight, but stopped at the door and glanced back. He had to get someone to… Jii couldn't stay there. Yet, all that the magician wanted to do was go home and sleep.

"I'll take care of it." Conan said gently, revealing himself.

The thief glanced at his rival with blood shot eyes and nodded. "Thanks", he rasped. With heavy steps, KID walked away. "I'm sorry for your loss." Conan murmured. The young detective had seen enough murders to know how hard it was for the victim's loved ones.

Conan walked up to Nakamori-keibu, his expression solemn. "Inspector", he said softly. Ginzo glanced down at him, face flushed with victory. He frowned at the 'child's' blank look. "I found KID." Conan said, "there was a civilian casualty."

Nakamori's eyes widened, but he otherwise masked his apprehension. "Where?" He demanded. Without another word, the shrunken detective led the older man to the building, but did not enter. When Nakamori exited his face was drawn. "I know him." The inspector said. "Konosuke Jii. He's an acquaintance of my daughter's and a family friend of her childhood friend." He sighed, closing his eyes, and called it in.

Conan went home without saying anything. He never told anyone that Jii was KID's assistant. He never followed the theory that this 'childhood friend' was likely Kaitou KID due to Jii being a 'family friend'. Murder and theft are two different cases. The Case of the Kaitou KID would never be connected to the Case of Konosuke Jii.

Kaito walked morosely along the darkened streets. He automatically ducked down the dimmest allies and used the emptiest roads. Fears about continuing as Kaitou KID on his own raced through his mind while grief stricken thoughts reminded him that Jii believed in him.

Jii had always been the greatest assistant. He never thought something was impossible, but had no fears about voicing his own ideas and concerns. In a way he was the realistic counterpart to balance KID's craziness. He was also a brilliant friend and confidant. Kaito had always been able to go to him with his own worries and griefs, knowing that he would get a sincere and thoughtful response. If not advice, Jii had always provided good company for conversation, a warm drink, or even a simple game of pool.

Tomorrow he could begin to treasure Jii's life, but tonight… tonight he would mourn his loss.

(I personally think that if he was afforded the time to, Kaito would cry for Jii. At least he would if the man hadn't died of natural causes. Gah! I'm just killing everyone now! Maybe Aoko or her dad will be next. Or Hakuba.)