36: Omake: Greatest Pursuer
"In all the world, the Phantom Thief KID has only one true enemy. Only one who can find and disarm traps as well as the Modern Lupin's mother must be able to." She took a triumphant pose… that in reality didn't look all that triumphant or proud.
"The teasing of KID's cape only served to make the great pursuer all the more determined, but she was forced to stop at the sight of a nearly invisible tripwire trap that would activate… kami knows what kind of trick…. Alas, the joke's on KID, as his wired device was no match for the knowledge and skill that the heroic heroine commanded."
The wire fell harmlessly to the floor with a soft 'slap' and the confetti bomb's lights blinked off.
"She swept past traps that had already been sprung." Sweep, sweep, sweep….
"Her journey continued, dodging inconvenient, felled police officers; their dark uniforms rumpled and ragged, dangerously difficult to spy in the darkened hallways. More traps were bypassed with ease as she, that fantastic follower, flew up the stairs… huff… it only took… puff… a couple minutes… (to rest?)… no! To… agh… make it… to … the… top!"
She gasped for a moment, resting and settling her breathing, while in her mind the illusive thief escaped out the door and onto the roof (in slow motion no less). Determined, she stood up and stepped over the threshold.
"Vigor renewed at the glimpse of her prey, she warily stepped onto the roof. There before her, regal in the moonlight, was that gentleman burglar: the Modern Lupin, Magician in the Moonlight, Man of Miracles-"
"Ne, obaa-san… what are you doing?" The narration was interrupted.
Tchaiko Tama turned around to see Kumori Ayaha, her apprentice of a sort, standing in the doorway. Tama sighed, leaning on her broom. "My dear…" she said, "I'm chasing a ghost."
Ayaha frowned in confusion, tilting her head to the side. "What do you mean 'ghost', grandma? KID is still alive isn't he?"
Tama chuckled, "he's pretty good, but I can tell… I have been cleaning up after KID for twenty years!" Turning around, the old woman picked up her dustpan and whispered, "I can tell they're different." Cackling, she headed back through the door and onto the staircase. "Hurry up Aya-chan! Or I'll leave you behind!"
Ayaha nodded, spinning around so quickly that her hair flared out behind her. "Yes! Coming!"
As they made their way slowly down the stairs, Tama spoke. "I have been working at this museum for many years… in that time the phantom thief KID has appeared countless times, several of those times happening here – in this very building. It was necessary for me to learn how to quickly spot his traps and tricks, so that I don't get trapped in them while doing my work. He usually manages to leave only the barest traces behind because he is so good with planning, but active traps are still a danger. It's been a long time since I have fallen for any, though. It's been fun, but I am old now… I think it's time for me to retire and leave the new KID for a new Janitor."
Ayaha stopped to watch as the old woman left. "New KID?" She mused, then shrugged, "it's probably just senility setting in or something… I'll never understand how old people think."
(Tama means gem/jewel and Tchaiko means 'in search of'. Ayaha means cloth wings and Kumori is shadow. Don't even ask how this idea happened… I don't even know. Well, I do… but I'm not telling you!)