38: No Loose Ends

Everyone was tense.

Even Nakamori-keibu was silent as they waited, the hand holding his radio raised by his ear in case he needed to give orders. Megure-keibu and Mouri-tantei stood next to him, both obviously on alert.

KID stood disguised among the group of cordon officers closest to the huddled inspectors. He was watching the building in front of them intensely, but his ears strained for any notifications that might come from the radio.

Suddenly the night exploded gunshots and loud struggles.

Nakamori's radio crackled to life, "inside secure, escapees heading your way now!"

"Stand alert!" Nakamori shouted, "we're about to see some action!"

The police around KID shifted subtly, their bulletproof vests squeaking and the ammunition they carried clicking, as they checked their weapons.

KID had great faith in his props, but he self-consciously checked that his extra magazines of playing cards were in easy reach. He knew he wasn't a cop and there was no way he'd ever use a real gun, but his card-gun was all he'd ever needed before. It was all he'd need now.

The magician's eyes flickered to a nearby police car. He couldn't see through the tinted windows in the dark, but he knew that his miniaturized rival had slipped in with Mouri-san and was watching. Conan had probably already recognized him.

KID shook those thoughts away and turned back to the building just in time for the doors to burst open and several black-clad people topple out.

Instantly shouts of "FREEZE" and "DROP YOUR WEAPONS!" went up from the assembled police.

The cacophony of gunshots and shouts started again, even louder now that there were no walls to muffle the sounds.

KID didn't rush in to subdue the organization members like the other cops, but instead hung back to cover them with precise cards shots and keep watch for any dangerously stealthy members.

"Hey you!" Nakamori shouted, making KID glance back. "Why have you broken formation!"

KID didn't respond, but instead swung his arm around to aim his gun just over the inspector's shoulder.

The group of detectives and inspectors all stepped back in horror, thinking his actions malicious.

KID's shot flew true and completely missed all of them to hit the hand of the man sneaking up behind them.

Snake cursed as his gun was knocked away, and glared at the young-looking cop who'd thwarted his assassination attempt. "How dare you!" He growled, revealing his presence. The unassuming cop was his only interest, despite the group of armed cops just to his right. There was only one person Snake knew who used a gun that shot cards. "You've escaped too many times for me to let you go now, when I have nothing to lose!" He charged towards his enemy with abandon.

KID reacted in kind, charging towards the assassin with determination. He slipped his card gun into the holster on his hip and pulled an impossibly long string of silk scarves from his sleeve.

Time seemed to slow.

Beneath the haze of adrenaline and the excitement of finally getting justice on his predecessor's murderer, KID noticed the stillness of the night. The fight was over for everyone else, the bad guys caught.

The only one left was Snake.

With a feral snarl, KID dropped beneath Snake's guard and looped the scarf rope around his dominant hand before sliding between his legs. With the rope now also wrapped around Snake's leg, the magician gave a tug and knocked the assassin off his feet.

Of course, Snake was a trained fighter in his own right and let himself fall backwards onto KID rather than forwards onto his face. Twisting, Snake ended up on top of the younger thief in position to reach for his throat and sneer in his face.

Tucking in his chin, KID evaded a strangle hold and kicked out, rolling both fighters over.

Snake rolled them again.

This time he got a hold of KID's neck.

Snake leered victoriously.

Rather calmly, KID pulled sharply on the rope of scarfs and smirked when Snake's eyes bulged out with the realization that it was also wrapped around his throat. "You killed my father" KID hissed, "don't doubt that I'm brazen enough to return the favor."

Freezing, even for a matter of seconds, was long enough for the surrounding cops to reach in and pull Snake away. The assassin snarled and writhed in their grip, but the silk cloth tangled around him held long enough for him to be cuffed.

KID pulled himself up and brushed at the filth and mud smeared on his police uniform and face. His cold indigo eyes never left Snake's murderous ones.

"You killed my father" KID said louder, "all for Pandora."

Snake barred his teeth.

"For…" KID said, pulling something from his pocket, "this."

Snake's face fell slack as he stared at the small glittering stone in the magician's hand.

A moment later the gem exploded, small shards dropping to the ground – a couple even flying up to knick KID's face.

Snake gaped as the path to immortality was destroyed before his eyes.

KID's gaze was cool and steady, though his voice wavered. "Enjoy prison, Snake. I win."

"What have you done?" Snake whispered.

KID smiled humorlessly. "Don't tell me you forgot what I promised after the first time you tried to kill me. 'I will find and destroy Pandora before you and bring your entire crime syndicate to justice' is what I said right? KID, though a thief, always keeps his word."

Snake spat towards the disguised phantom thief, glaring in rage as he was led away.

The car door slammed, locking the assassin away and shouts of concern went up as KID's legs buckled and he dropped to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. Given the circumstances, none of the police were quite sure what to do. KID was a thief, but he always returned the stolen items… barring the last one… and nobody ever got hurt, plus he had just helped them catch this crime ring.

On his knees, KID's shoulders jerked and his laugh rang out loudly. It wasn't mocking or even happy, just relieved.

Grinning dopily, KID pulled off his police helmet and settled his iconic monocle on his nose. His laugh rose even louder, making his breathing into shuddering gasps. He laughed so hard that his eyes teared up.

The unnerving laughter ended with a sigh and KID's chin dropped onto his chest. His eyes were closed. He obviously had no intention of going anywhere.

"KID?" Nakamori asked, also surprised that the thief wasn't taking his chance to run.

KID opened his eyes and ran a hand through his hair to stick it up more, sighing he stood up and smiled kindly. "Hakuba-san once asked why I stole, I told him he had to figure it out himself… what have you figured out Nakamori-keibu."

Ginzo frowned, "you said he killed your father and that you promised to bring him to justice. You stole to find that 'Pandora' you shattered. None of that explains why you're still here though."

KID chuckled, "why should I run now? My goals are all complete, my father avenged, the threat removed, the temptation destroyed… all that's left is for me to hang up my cape and tie up the last loose ends."

"You're turning yourself in, aren't you?" Conan asked, climbing out of the police car he'd been hiding in.

"Ah" KID agreed, "I am still a thief despite my good intentions… and if the Kaitou KID identity isn't retired properly then someone else could assume it for more nefarious purposes. That would be an insult to both my father and me. Besides, it will be nice to no longer have this vendetta hanging over my head. As much as I enjoy making other people happy, being KID made it hard for me to be happy myself."

KID turned back to Nakamori, "so, the last riddle inspector… who am I?"

Ginzo froze as KID stepped into the light. Even wearing the monocle it was obvious who stood in front of him.

Impossibly, Ginzo laughed: a bellowing sound that drew others to laugh too, especially the other task force members who also recognized the teen.

"Kaito-kun!" Nakamori chortled, "of course it's you! Who else could be such a tenacious master magician and master of disguise? How many times did you get security information right under our noses by just walking in to say hi?"

Kaito laughed too, "more times than I can count. I always felt bad about taking advantage like that… but I had a job to finish. It was kind of a thin line between doing what needed to be done and doing it in a way that wouldn't make you too mad."

Ginzo snorted, wiping his eyes "I'll skip the handcuffs… I doubt they'd do much good anyway, but…" he trailed off to eye the young magician.

"What?" Kaito asked.

"You're telling Aoko."

Kaito paled, to the amusement of the officers, rambling, "uh… can't we make a deal… or something? Aoko will kill me! Then you'll have to arrest your daughter for murder and it will be obvious, because she'll kill me with a mop after torturing me with f-f-f-finny things! Maybe I should just run now… save myself the pain."

Ginzo slapped his arm onto the distraught teen's shoulders, "I'm sure we'll come to some agreement."

Lights flashing, the KID task force inspector drove off with the thief he'd chased for so long sitting in the passenger seat.

Omake/Uneccessary End Scene:

Conan watched as the police slowly cleared out and realized that everyone had completely forgotten about him in all the excitement.

The shrunken detective sighed, who knew that Kaitou KID was actually a friend to the inspector and his daughter.

Shaking his head, Conan trudged towards home.

"That… was the weirdest arrest ever."

Pausing to look up at the moon, Conan smirked, "I wonder if he even knows that no one has pressed charges." He chuckled, "the greatest thief in the world… will probably get off with a scolding and a slap on the wrist."

(Sorry ya'll, I had so many plot ideas, but the words just weren't coming for me to actually write them out. Now that I'm back in school being bored it's a bit better, and an Avatar:tla break didn't hurt either. That show is hilarious!)