Heya !

Yea, time for one of my favourite combi, Hattori x Kid ! :D I prefer Conan x Heiji but this one is cool also ; )

o.O.o

emmahoshi : Oh, glad I was able to surprise you then : p Ah, well, since Hakuba's father is supposed to be head of the MPD, I assumed he would have met Conan's here, seeing how often the boy was here. And, as you said, Conan is in the newspaper as the Kid killer, so his face should be familiar to some, above all from Tokyo, so that's why I had him to recognize him : ) Ah, sorry for the mistake : ) AS to the paint, I used it because it was fun :p I also wanted to use it to give the identity of the culprit but didn't use it in the end. Haha, I'd say Heiji is being paranoid... Dont' forget we're in heiji's head, Kasai has to do something with Heizo's murder so all crimes around must be his fault... Yea, paranoid or irrational :p Oh, thanks for the ovation xD And yea, France won last match... They face Iceland next time, we'll see ^^ I'm not really fond of football, I like the sport but got bored by how money has a too important role in it (god, some referees are being paid, I'm sure of it... And being paid millions to practice your sport ? o.O) but I can't ignore the fact it brings people together. So I'm still following it a bit, to share everyone's excitement : )

Chapter 14 : Time to work together ?

A look to the ones in the room I just entered informed me we had been split in two : a large half of the guests were missing, probably in another room and with some other guards since only 8 were here.

Kudô wasn't with us. In fact, there was no child and barely any woman in here. Mostly men, all looking ... It took me a long second to spot our common point. The size.

We had been sorted by size and that probably meant I was in the room of the "possible candidates for being Kid". Those men were clearly not stupid. They knew he was hidden among the guests since they sealed all the entries and probably estimated his size thanks to the scene and the mikes on it. As gifted as that Thief was, the height was the only thing he couldn't mess much with.

To be honest, I'd have preferred to end with idiots. Idiots with guns are always a bit instable but not as tricky as an intelligent criminal group, or at least an intelligent leader.

I had a thought for my best friend, hoping he had been able to escape this mess. With his small size and his smart brain, he perhaps had been able to sneak elsewhere ? Well, even if he had been caught and put with the other guests, I guessed he was safe. The men were wearing hoods and had kept them even after they got the control. Meaning that they weren't here to kill. They were minding about the witnesses and that meant they'd keep them alive. Probably...

I was frowning, trying to hush my dark thoughts, chin in my hand, when I felt something hit my shoulder.

"- Hey."

I jumped around, ready to fight for my life, to recognize Todoki.

"- Sorry, I didn't want to scare you..." He whispered with embarrass at my face.

"- It's ok... Where have ya been ? I didn' see ya when all this began...

- I was in the kitchen to refill my plate but... Some of those guys entered and kicked us out before sorting us...

- Yea, they're lookin' fer the Kid, I'm sure o' it... Even if they stole everyone's wallets an' jewellery, I'm sure they wouldn' get a tenth o' that necklace value... No way they'd give up.

- So we're being suspected from being that Thief ?"

I turned to him, sure to have heard a pinch of amusement in his voice. Jeez, this was no game, those guys were pro and we were in real trouble.

"- I wouldn' find that whole situation that fun if I were ya, Todoki..."

"- Ok, let's get straight to the point..." The leader's voice echoed in the room, now that everyone fitting their sorting was here and the door closed. "The Kaitou Kid is very probably among you. For everyone's sake, Kid, would you like to step forwards ?"

A heavy silence settled into the room and I took the opportunity to look at the ones with us, trying to see any sign of the Thief.

Most faces were under shock, contrasting with the bright colours on the jackets of most. I counted at least two injured, with one being helped by his neighbour to stand. Damn bastards... With a closer look, the second one I thought was hurt had perhaps just paint on his face, bright red, just like the one on my shirt. Among the ones I could recognize, I spotted only Tanioka. Kasai and the other cops - the ones remaining... - were nowhere in sight, probably locked somewhere else.

Sahashi-han was still standing near of me, even if now Todoki was the closest. He also looked quite calm, seeing the situation. Apparently, not only the face was Kudô-like, the self-control was of the same kind too...

"-... so we'd like you to cooperate. We'll search you. Nothing big. You may lack one or two personal belongings afterwards but, if everyone behaves, there won't be any violence, clear ?"

Not as if we really had the choice...

And everyone knew it, no one really tried to stop them when they started to empty their jackets and bags, putting the wallets and the jewellery aside, quickly palpating the trousers and the necks of the guests.

I had myself a very minimal search : being in working clothes, all my belongings were in my locker and they knew it. I feared a second for my Detective's Boy badge, wishing with all my heart Kudô wouldn't chose that one moment to try to contact me, but he didn't and they didn't notice it or ignored it if they did. I was also lucky they didn't look at faces too closely, knowing the foundation on my skin would be visible to anyone staring a bit too long at me, and I didn't want to have to explain that...

Fifteen minutes later, the men were clearly empty-handed, I could see it on their faces. Well, way of speaking seeing the bag full of fatty wallets and shining jewellery. The guests were here to spend cash, in the name of the Charity. There even was a huge glass jar they planned to fill in the closing ceremony with the bills gathered during the party. Much more impressive than a bunch of zeros on a bank account, right ? But that would have been safer, seeing what was happening...

I bet the exact same thing was happening in the other room. But there would be a difference in ours, question was still to know which...

I saw the leader take his talkie out, talking with the one on the other side with a low voice, not looking really happy. Yea, good news incoming... We'd soon know if those guys were real bad guys.

"- Ok, since apparently the Kid isn't disguised as a cop and no entries have been forced, we just got the confirmation the Kaitou Kid is among you. Remember I tried the easy way. But now..."

I gulped when I saw him taking his gun out.

"...It'll get less funny. "

Two of his men grabbed a woman on his nod and one pointed his weapon at her temple.

"- We'll kill one of you every two minutes. Hope you're ready to have those deaths on your conscience." The man said again, ignoring the girl's cries and starting to pass among us, playing with his gun under the nose of each guest.

Seeing the woman was shaking and crying, I couldn't stand it anymore and stepped towards the guy. I knew that, with my suspicious look, I shouldn't be standing out but this was mad, I had to stop them. Or at least try to reason them

"- Stop yer bullshit, ya're not goin' ta kill fifteen persons...

- For several hundred of millions yens ? I will." The leader retorted, without even hesitating, as he came close to me and put his gun under my face. "But if you're the Kid or if you know who he is, just spit it and I won't have to perform such a bloodbath...

- The guy is probably miles away..." I retorted with a bored look.

"- Really ?"

I sweat-dropped when the man came closer, passing a finger on my face. With the stress and the heat in the room, I knew I had been sweating and... Yea, clearly, Kudô had still to learn from his mother about makeup...

"- I'd say he might not be "miles" away. "Centimetres" away might be true though... Where's the sapphire, Kid ?

- Ya don' have the right guy.

- I bet that's what the true Kid would say. And that kansei-ben... A bit too exaggerated for the role but it's perfect, you can feel the hours of training.

- That's my native language, ahou !"

I knew I was perhaps going too far and it turned to be true when, too focused on his gun, I didn't notice his other hand before it slammed my cheek.

"- I'm not sure it's pretty good for your health to insult someone with a gun... Why the foundation if you're not the Kid ?"

I rubbed the corner of my mouth, feeling the hit still echoing in my jaw, my lip probably broken. I had an explanation but it wasn't for him or anyone in the room to know. And he was pretty much starting to piss me off. A smirk appeared on my face.

"- I like lookin' at my best in mundane parties..."

The man had a nasty smile, perfectly aware of the fact I was just messing with him.

"- Ok guys, I think we got something here. Get everyone else out of here and put them with the others. Grab the bag too..." He said, with a sign of the head towards the bag filled with stolen goods. "Breaker, Blue, you stay with me."

I had still my eyes in the leader's but I could hear at the footsteps the order was being followed. Good. Less potential victims could only be good and that would give me free reins if I tried anything.

Though I was a bit concerned for Sahashi-han, not really wanting him to end alone in a room with the one who tried to kill him, since he was very probably back among the guests.

Well, I guess I should worry about something else right now. Something like my own health.

"- Hey, what are you doing ? Hurry to go with them !

- Ah, sorry, my lace..."

Leaving my opponent from the eyes a second, I turned my head, to see Todoki was kneeling on the floor, his hands on his left shoe.

"- But that'd be a pity for me to leave, since I'm the one you're looking for." He said as he got up with a smirk, coming closer to me.

I didn't know what he was trying to do but it was stupid.

"- Oy, stop with the nonsense, Todoki, those guys are dangerous.

- I know." He said, his hand on my shoulder to force me to step back, putting himself between the criminals and me.

I looked at him, wanting to try to reason him again, I didn't want him to get killed... But my words got lost when I saw his face from the side.

The guy was smiling. And that smile...

Holy crap.

Todoki Kai. Kaito(u) Ki(d)do. Kaitou Kid. That Kudô-like was the Kid !

His smile got a little wider when he noticed I understood, I guess he could see it at my face. I tried to bring back some composure in my expression, not wanting them to guess who the real one was, not yet.

But still... I bet he knew who he was dealing with as soon as we met in the lockers' room, that would explain why he used such an easy anagram, he was just playing with me ! I bet it made him laugh to see me being all friendly with him, totally missing the fact he was an international Thief.

I perhaps would have gotten upset about my wounded pride but not today, not with three guys with guns facing us.

Those guys were also looking at... the Kid, a bit startled, hesitating in what to do.

Though their leader didn't hesitate much.

"- I'm moved to see such a friendship, girls, but there's only one Kid and one necklace. So one of you is extra luggage...

- It can't be him, look at how poor is his disguise, even you lot saw through it..."

Oh, so nice of you, Kaitou Kid...

"... when mine is perfect. So let him go and I'll tell you where I hid the Sapphire.

- You're the funny one... Nah, let's do this. He stays with us. We'll be nice with him if you're nice with us. But if your memory fails... He'll pay the price."

Todoki... Nah, Kid looked at me from the corner of his eyes, apparently a bit concerned for me to be dragged in that mess but I just shrugged.

They had the lead for the moment, we had no choice but to obey. And to try to seize any opportunity they'd give us to get free and neutralize them. Two against three would be easier than alone.

"- Let's go to the main room then..."

After a short walk, the Thief first, me behind him, a guy on each side and the last one behind us, ready to shoot us if he spotted any funny move, we were back into the party's room.

"- I'll need to sneak under the scene...

- Ok..." The boss agreed, though I could see he was suspicious. "Don't forget, one step aside and I can't guarantee his life anymore...

The guy felt the need to stick his gun against my ribs in a cliché menace so I rolled discreetly my eyes to indicate to the Kid I was good. And ready for any plan he'd come with.

Three or four long minutes later, I could feel the leader was starting to get impatient. And indeed...

"- Hey, my trigger finger is starting to itch, brat...

- I'm coming !" Kid's muffled voice answered from under the scene.

Hearing him getting closer, I tensed, clenching my teeth, sure the Thief was coming back with a plan else it wouldn't have taken that long.

But I wasn't expecting this and my heart missed a beat when the greatest mess started.