Yes! I've finally gotten something to update this story with!
And...well...Hmm. Never mind. But I think you readers would probably know Haijime-chan's fate, right?

"Oooh, shiny. Yet looking at it from behind the glass doesn't really capture the lustre of this precious creation…ho-hum…"

Kaito sighed, and chewed on his pencil. Looking around to make sure that no one was looking at him, he quickly stepped closer to the art exhibit, his eyes fixed on the night's prize.

"Kuroba!"

"Ah crap." Kaito turned to face his mortal rival, preparing himself for another snide comment and soon to be unfulfilled promise. "You've been stalking me lately, haven't you?"

"Now why would I do that?" The detective had a mixture of amusement and feigned shock on his face. "It's not like you're Kid or anything, right?"

"I dearly wish now to slap you across the face."

"Come now, Kuroba. If you had a heart clear of guilt, you wouldn't mind me following you around, would you?"

Kaito's hand twitched, then was very still. Hakuba's sharp eyes caught the action and laughed. "Go on then, slap me. I won't get you charged for anything, except maybe on the suspicion that you are Kid in disguise." He laughed and went away, chuckles streaming out behind him.

Kaito signed the second time that night. It was not as if he wanted to start this out of a playful hobby. Those damned people who decided to blow up his dad had to pay. Dearly.

And hopefully this one had what he had come for.

….

"So…Conan-kun. What's this we're doing again?"

"Catching Kaitou Kid. Duh! I've said that the fifth time today already!"

"When is he coming?"

"At twelve tonight! Now quit bothering me!"

Kindaichi stood back up and eyed the irritable young kid. It was as if he was intruding on some top-secret case, one that even the police are tight-lipped about. Then again, it was the business of a detective to know everything about the case if he were to solve it.

He strode over to the glass box which contained the prized piece of art. "Doesn't look like much anyway," he thought. "What would a thief want with this?"

"Because it's big."

He turned around to find a slim teenage boy standing behind him, with his hands in his pockets.

"And what is it to you?"

The teen laughed, brown locks of hair bouncing on his head as he did so, and gazed at Kindaichi with a knowing look.

"I'm the one investigating this robbery."

"Wait, what?" Kindaichi was mildly perplexed. "Conan-kun told me it was that old jeez over there!" He jabbed a thumb in the bumbling inspector's direction, causing his new acquaintance to laugh uncontrollably.

"What? Wasn't he right?"

"T-That's true, but that old jeez you say is only the official investigator, and those elaborate traps he creates can't even hold a young thief down to the ground! I, on the other hand, at least have a fighting chance of apprehending that rascal."

Kindaichi felt even more confused now. Was this guy actually kidding? The only persons so far who had gotten within inches of the thief were Conan and his friend Ayumi, although that was unintentional. He wondered if Kid even knew the child.

"Whatever you say."

"Good, because I must be getting back to work now. See you sometime soon!" The teen turned to go, but turned back almost immediately. "Oh, my apologies, we haven't even introduced ourselves yet. My name is Hakuba Saguru, pleased to make your acquaintance." He held out a hand in a friendly gesture.

Kindaichi took it and squeezed it firmly.

"My name is Kindaichi Hajime."

…

What was taking that gosh-darned guy so long?

Conan glanced at his watch. It was three minutes to twelve, and Kindaichi was not back from his little tour of the premises yet.

He had better come soon if he did not want to miss the show.

He cast his glance towards the glass box. It looked abstractly beautiful, yet surprisingly familiar. He couldn't think where he had seen that same style of sculpting, the answer seemed so close to him, yet it was out of his grasp.

As he watched, an unfamiliar figure crept up towards the box, tilted it open slightly and shook out the ornate piece. It was quickly replaced by another that looked exactly identical. A fake, he thought. Maybe Kid would go for that.

Then, no. Kid wouldn't be that stupid to grab the fake, especially if he's watching the box as well. I think I had better follow it. Kindaichi would probably be good enough to look after this, though.

He picked up his heels and started tailing the officer.

….

The maze of corridors astounded Kindaichi. It was not that he had never been in places like this before, but the simple intricateness of the architecture amazed him.

"Excuse me!"

An officer clutching on wearily to a leaden box pushed past him, sending him crashing into the wall.

"Hey! At least watch where you're going!" he cried after the hurrying chap.

I wonder. Where's he going with that? Unless…It's a bomb?

Kindaichi watched closely as the officer turned down a corner and entered the first door on the right. After a while, the officer emerged, but without the box. He glanced around hurriedly for a few seconds, before dashing down the corridor and out of sight.

Kindaichi stood frozen for a few minutes, then entered the room.

….

Where the hell was he?

Conan skidded to a halt in the fluorescent-lit maze. The sneaky man had managed to lose him!

Never mind. He glanced at his watch. It was one minute to twelve. He had better get going.

After all, who would even think to look in a dreadfully confounding place as this?

…

As I suspected. A fake.

Kaito dreamily watched the glass figure in the box, clumsily replaced by the officer just now.

Never mind about that. Even though I know that is not the real one, it would come to light soon enough. I'll play with them tonight, a game of Dummies!

…

The room was dark, with stage costumes of every shape and size imaginable adorned the clothes hangers that hung around the black walls. Kindaichi stepped in cautiously, shielding his mouth and nose as a large cloud of dust puffed itself up to meet him.

You've got to be kidding me. This must be the make-up room behind the stage where the thing is exhibited. Maybe going such a long way allowed the guy to lose any followers.

The leaden box was placed on a make-up table in plain sight. He walked up to it, glanced behind him to check that no one was watching, then flipped open the lid.

There, in the black velvet lining, the ceramic doll with the crystal heart laid, its ruby eyes gleaming vividly against the oppressing darkness of the room. The pure white diamond that shimmered in its chest seemed strangely hypnotic, as if charming its way into his mind.

He reached out a hand and picked it up, and turned it around to examine it from other angles. The doll was a perfect angel, its beauty so dazzling that he felt that he should keep it, although he knew he would be suspected of being Kid if he did.

Have you come for me?

What? Who talks? His head whirled around to stare at the open door behind him, which let its artificially bright light pour in, forming a white pool on the floor.

Aren't you the Kaitou Kid?

"What? No! I'm not him! I'm just…hey wait, why am I talking to someone that I don't even know is here?" He felt horribly confounded. Was he hallucinating?

You're not. Hmm .But you'll have to do, as it's about twelve now.

Twelve! He almost forgot! Kid was due to come at twelve!

"I…I've gotta go!" He picked up the box to put the doll back in, but was stop short by the unknown person's next comment.

Hey! Stand still, and I promise it won't hurt one bit!

After that he couldn't remember clearly, for the dark walls suddenly crashed down upon him, sealing his thoughts shut.

….

The lights were suddenly shut off, just as the majestic grandfather clock that towered the room struck its first chime of twelve.

Miyuki looked up into the night-colored space above her. Her hand squeezed Ran's tightly.

"What's going on?"

"I think Kaitou Kid's here. Let's watch the show, shall we?"

"Ranranranranran!"

Ran turned to the direction the exclamation had come from, and was not really surprised to find her best friend Sonoko running towards her.

"How did you get here?"

"My…My dad has ties, remember? He was in charge of the financing for this company as well." The slightly breathless Sonoko panted, then dusted the lint off her dress. "Well, I want to look smart for tonight's show! I want to see Kid-sama again!"

Then, she caught sight of the girl flitting behind Ran's back.

"Ah, Nanase-san! How nice to see you here! Going to enjoy the show as well?"

"Mm, yes thank you, Suzuki-san. You look like a great fan of Kaitou Kid's."

"Why, I absolutely adore him! I mean, thieves are not the most glamorous of jobs, but each time he pulls it off with the grace and sophistication of the 21st century gentleman! The way he charms his path into my heart! Oh, how he is so great! Did I mention that he has never been caught?" Sonoko serenaded her idol with heartfelt words, and gazed at the glass box with adoring eyes.

"Wow. I'd really like to see his show, and this is my first too!"

"Well, I promise you that he would also charm the socks off your feet!" Sonoko broke off just as a spotlight focused on the glass box. "Oh, here he is!"

As if on cue, a cloud of pink smoke suddenly exploded on the top of the box, and was quickly blown away by a mere swish of a snow-white cape. With a silk hat the color of snowflakes perched on his head and the monocle placed confidently on his eye, he whipped out his arms to present himself to the crowd. They cheered, some even squealing their hearts out on delight and admiration.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the show you've all been waiting for!" Kaitou Kid stepped down from the box and faced the audience. "Tonight, I will perform to you an unimaginable trick – I will take this and escape through the laser netting up there–" his finger pointed to the dense red lasers covering the glass roof – "and leave with my prize tonight, the coveted Fate's Marionette!"

The crowd clapped and yelled louder, egging him on.

Kid somersaulted gracefully onto the glass box again, but this time he landed inches above the box in midair. He flipped himself into a handstand and reached down for the box. His hand lightly touched the surface of cold glass, then sunk through it as if it was not even there! Gently pulling the statue out of the box, he balanced it in hand before the audience, then clapped his other gloved hand over it. When he removed it, the statue was gone!

"Whoa! How'd he do that?" whispered Miyuki to Sonoko as the crowd oohed and aahed in surprise.

"That's his style! No one knows how he does it!" she whispered back, the stars in her eyes focusing on the magician clad in white floating on the box.

Kid then slipped himself the right way up, and took a bow. "I will now take my leave," he announced, and jumped upwards in an energetic bounce. The leap took him all the way up to the level of impassable lasers. Everyone knew that one touch could sizzle his flesh right off the bone.

To the astonishment of the crowd (and the police), Kid mockingly sliced through the convergence point of the lasers, yet not a single one sear his clothes off. He bounded onto the rail that lined the circumference of the glass roof, took a last bow before launching his hang-glider and soaring off into the night.

His audience screamed and whistled their appreciation even as the white silhouette against the navy sky was long gone.

Miyuki stood with her mouth agape.

"Awesome, right?" Sonoko cried, clapping her hands enthusiastically. "Kid-sama is just so cool!" She clapped her hands to her cheeks, her glimmering eyes twinkling with love for the phantom thief. She rambled on and on about him to those who would listen, but Miyuki was not so interested anymore.

She looked around furtively, but there was absolutely no sign of where they had gone.

Whatever happened to Kindaichi and Conan?