Chapter 8: New Set Of Wings

I signaled Hakuba to remain still while I slunk slowly around the showcase, hiding amongst displays of lesser jewels in see-through cases, leaving the dark jacket nearby in case it came in handy later.

I made my way directly opposite my original position, leaving some of my toys littered around. There were two large statues on either side of the next room's entrance and I took some time to hook up a few of my newest obsessions before making my way around the two guards who stood in-between them. I could just imagine Hakuba taking notes while watching me work, climbing carefully up one of the statues and using the ceiling and a guild wire to make in to the other, keeping a few other wires rigged to my party favors.

I made it back over to our hiding spot, between two pillars close together and off to one side. I shivered when we faced each other and made a note to myself to retire his costume when this was over, it was just too creepy.

"Kuro-, whatever" Hakuba removed the mask so his voice wouldn't echo "Kid-san… this really feels stupid... we've got less than a minute until the allotted time."

"If I don't keep track of the exact second I appear I don't think my look-a-like will do it either. A five minute window for arrival is okay… and… I… wanted… to..." Hakuba looked in the direction I was, over at the officers that had gathered in perpetration for Kid's arrival, and waved a hand in front of my face.

"Hey Kuro- Kid-san, what are you looking at?"

I didn't answer him but continued watching a peculiar female officer who I'd never seen before, looking somewhere in her thirties. Her hair was a medium shade of brown, tied back and she had unique Amethyst eyes that matched her nail polish. She looked nervous and her fingers were being twirled inside her pockets.

After I pick her out I continued to scrutinize her appearance. She had the basic blue uniform the other police officers were wearing, one I'd gotten a replica of long ago even if I didn't bring it along. I never found a reason to unless there were a bunch of new officers because I needed an identity to go with the uniform. I took both of those from whom ever I ran into first to make it simple. With this woman, I saw the basic outline of make-up which female police officers almost never wore lest they be treated more like woman and less like detectives.

Even though the room was full of officers, a least fourteen, the woman stayed off to the side and away from the others. I never took my eyes off of her. There was something that didn't feel right.

To test the waters I waited until she was facing me and flashed my cape in view for a second. No one else would have noticed it and I had plenty of distractions to throw at them if she sounded the alarm. I was glad Inspector Nakamori wasn't there yet or he would have caught any movement I made.

Her eyes widened and Hakuba shoved my good shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing, are you trying to get us caught?"

"Shhh, I've got it under control." I turned back to the woman and saw her making her way to my position. She was doing a bad job of being inconspicuous but the other officers' attention was already taken up with restrained tension and excitement.

I grabbed Hakuba's shoulder and pushed him to the door, making sure that the woman caught the motion. The detective followed my guiding slowly with a puzzled expression.

When we rounded the corner there were no officers in the other room and there never would be because sneaking in from the adjacent room just wasn't my thing so they never bothered with it. Even when I did sneak in from the other room they never saw me coming.

I made sure we were away from the surveillance camera and got out my card gun, shooting it slightly so that we'd just be out of frame. A blank screen would have warranted unwanted attention.

I shoved Hakuba behind me just as the woman followed us in. I relaxed comfortably in her presence and flashed a smile at her which made the arm at her side twitch, not for a gun, just a small motion of surprise.

Body langue was everything but what really throws people off was sincerity. It seemed like the entire population expected to be lied to so when you're sincere it confuses them. I made it my job to keep that all my words and actions were true to how I felt, changing my emotions themselves to hide what I didn't want anyone to see, masking my expression with false control only when nervousness or fear attacked me. The woman used this sincerity against me.

"Oh my goodness, you're really here..." she stood in front of me and started crying which made my own chivalric nature kicked in. I went over to her a bowed deeply, a bit more of Kid kicking in response then my normal self.

"It seems as if you wanted to see me." I greeted her and raised my head to smile brightly again. "I'm here so please stop crying."

I could hear Hakuba sigh behind me but paid him no mind.

The woman shook her head and wiped the tears away. "I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do and I didn't think you would really come…" when she breathed in it was unsteady "I need help."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "It seems like that's been going around recently. What did you want from me Madame?"

She laughed softly "…. It's funny but I actually want you to steal that diamond."

Again, I raised my eyebrows and looked over at Hakuba. Forget the detective for now. "And why do you want me to do that? I don't make a habit to steal things for the favor of others."

"You don't understand…." Her eyebrows creased and her words held anger. "That is my diamond."

I was quiet for a while.

"Would you like to clarify how the diamond is in the museum right now?"

The tears came back to her eyes. "You don't believe me." Her shoulders slumped in defeat "The police didn't believe me either. I thought you might steal for something for a good reason this time."

"I always steal for a good reason. Explain it to me and let me decide for myself what I will and will not do. I reserve judgment until the end." Hakuba elbowed me where I'd been shot and I winced.

"Sorry…" he steadied me with his hand. "Wait. What do you think you're doing? You're not going to take anything with me here." He whispered fiercely.

"You don't even know if I am taking it." I turned away from him again to the woman who had been watching us, bewildered. After seeing Hakuba her demeanor changed to one more frightened then nervous. I definitely had to make sure he wouldn't be wearing that again. "Go on, but make it short. I don't think the police will take their time and wait for you to finish before trying to arrest us."

She nodded. "My name is Shizu and my mother bought the diamond about ten years ago. She died a few months ago and her will was… misplaced. My mother had some debts and the bank took the diamond which was more then they needed, giving me a few thousand dollars but I don't want the money! I could have paid off the debt over time but because my mother's will is gone the bank took it for restitution even though they didn't have to… I just want it back, I'd be glad to pay the money she owed but they won't do it."

I had a soft spot for those of the opposite sex and an even greater one for someone who'd lost a parent. Shizu had everything going for her.

I thought about what I could do. If I stole it now I would be a thief, I wouldn't be giving it back. Technically I would be giving it to its rightful owner but it would still be crossing a line I didn't want to cross.

"How much money did they give you?"

"Um, maybe twenty thousand."

"And how much did your mother owe?

"Somewhere around that amount as well."

"Well, it seems I'll be able to help you then. If I get it back for you, you must return the money they have given you and pay back the loan, even if they refuse. Technically they can't blame the theft on you so I'll have to take your word that you will do it."

She looked like she could have jumped up and down. "Of course, anything."

"I have another question for you, what would you have done if I hadn't shown up?"

"I would have taken it," she didn't even hesitate. "You have no idea how much I've been through trying to get it back. I would have tried to steal it over and over until I got it." She looked down at her outfit. "It took a lot of time and lying to get me here to even have a chance of getting it back."

"I understand how you feel but you should keep trying to work with the law next time until you know you can't do it anymore. Leave the thieving to the professionals. People, including myself, don't like it when kind women like you get arrested." She smiled at me.

"Should a thief really be telling a would-be-thief to not steal?"

"Only the good ones. The stupid thieves who believe that they could get away with it or those looking for a scapegoat are the only ones who'd encourage someone else along for the ride. You should take my advice, don't get mixed up in this any further."

"I know," she started crying again. "I should… I don't know. I won't do it again; I'm going to get my mom's treasure back."

"I'll get it back for you so don't worry but I need you to listen to me right now. Leave," I told her and got out a small blank card and pen I used to write my notes "give me your address and get out of here; I'll take care of the rest."

Hakuba purposely hit me where I was injured this time.

"You are not going to be doing any thieving while I'm here." He removed the mask slightly so that only I could see him.

"Hakuba-san, don't you understand?" I looked towards the other room, lowering my voice so the woman couldn't hear. "How much do you think a black diamond is worth? They're incredibly rare, even for colored stones."

He thought about it, his expression changing from anger to a different type of anger, more loathing than anything. "They didn't even give her close to the amount of the stone's worth."

"Good job detective. She's going to pay them back for what she owed and have her heirloom returned. I'll see if I can't get the police to work with her later but I can't be dealing with both your situations at the moment."

"We could just bring it to the attention of the police now."

"No." I smiled sadly "Unfortunately people aren't as good as you think. If the bank notices the police snooping around they're going to falsify documents, hide things under the rug and such. A woman going up against a large corporation would be impossible."

I couldn't help feeling bad for the detective as I forced him to do something against his nature. I would be glad when he was back with the cops in the other room and free from the murkier aspects of my job.

Shizu gave me the card and pen back with her name, address, and phone number written clearly. "Thank you so much for helping me… and believing me. I was starting to think I'd never get it back."

"Go now before the cops come, and save your thanks for when the diamond's back in your hands." She nodded and smiled to me before leaving, again rather conspicuously, through the other end of the museum.

"Hakuba-san, stay here while I get the gem and don't get into trouble." I snuck back into the other room and he continued to follow me. I waved my hand at him. "Shoo, I told you not to follow me."

The mask was hiding his features again and made it impossible to read his expression, but he kept after me as I made my way to a nearby display case. He hadn't said a word after I had admitted that I was going to take the diamond.

I took a hold of two of my guild wires and swallowed before taking a small microphone into my hand.

"Hello there gentlemen," my voice echoed around the room "I have to admit that I did not send the warning to you but the jewel has caught my interest and I feel I'll have to liberate it from you."

"Kid!" Inspector Nakamori ran in from another room, anger and surprise mixing on his face, turning it an unbecoming shade of red. "What the Hell are you up to?"

"As I said, I've come to take the jewel; do forgive me for not leaving an authentic notice." I pulled one of the wires and there was a pop followed by pink smoke releasing form the capsules I had placed around the room.

I reached for Hakuba's hand as I ran for the case, dragging him along after me. I knew if he followed me this far, he'd continue to do so and having him run blindingly through the smoke after me didn't look promising. Inspector Nakamori ran for the case as well and I felt as his hand reached mine and I lost the detective's. I twirled around in his grasp to try and get loose. How he'd found me in all that smoke was a miracle.

"Hah, I've got you now Kid!" A few more twists proved to only injure my one working arm. I sucked it up as I used my hurt one to reach into my jacket and pull out a can of sleeping gas.

The inspector wasn't as stupid as he looked. I managed to keep him in front of me with my speed advantage but he latched onto my other arm which immediately stopped all my struggling. Having a motionless Kaitou Kid in his grasp must have unnerved him because he froze along with me.

Hakuba wasn't as inert. He took the can out of my stiff arm and sprayed the Inspector right in the face, this time pulling me along after him.

I was so surprised at his actions that I wasn't worrying about the situation for a few seconds; a cry brought me out of my stupor. "The Kid has an accomplice! Hurry up and catch them before they escape!"

Okay, time to bail. Hakuba got us over to the case as the smoke was starting to thin out. I had to cut the case open since there seemed to be something strong keeping the glass lid closed. The trinket was out and in my hand in seconds. I placed it in my front pocket like I always did before taking off.

We ran for the door when everything started going wrong. Someone from the task force caught Hakuba's arm and pulled him back. Before he could free himself another officer grabbed his black cape and pulled, putting the detective off balance and unable to free himself.

When I turned back to help him an officer lunged for me and managed to grab my ankles, forcing us both to the floor painfully. I rolled away before another could jump on top of me, trying to kick off the first one without hurting him.

I was able to get one leg free and tried to reach my second guild wire. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something that made me pause.

Hakuba had gotten his balance back and, though the officers were bigger than him, had been able to avoid them doing more the latching onto his clothing. I noticed the first officer who had grabbed him was now trying to do so again, wearing a pair of handcuffs. There was just something comical about the whole scene that I was tempted to stay there and watch.

Whatever he was doing wouldn't keep them off him for long. I knew from personal experience that it was impossible to win a fair fight when you were smaller and outnumbered, no matter what Hollywood movies tried to tell you.

An officer caught my good arm and I smiled, reaching the wire. With a quick pull, more capsules started to pop, these containing fake Kid dolls and sleeping gas for an easy escape. The officers around us were startled, loosening their grips enough that we were both able to free ourselves almost simultaneously.

Hakuba ran to me and helped me off the ground before running at full speed out room. I caught hold of him before he dragged us too far.

"There's going to be too many people outside. We have to go through the ventilation shaft again."

"Are you crazy?" He took off the mask for a second to cough; some of the pink smoke must have gotten trapped underneath. His eyes were wide and I could see sweat running down the side of his face. "We'll never make it through in time and I'm positive the helicopter is trained on the roof at this point."

"We'll worry about the details when we get there." I attached the wire in my wrist to the suction cup and Hakuba held onto me as it raised us up to the vent.

If the detective had been loud getting into the museum, he was deafening getting out. His rushed movement assaulted the metal and after a few minutes I had to grab hold of his ankles.

"Calm down Hakuba-san or they'll be able to tell where we are form the next city block."

He turned to face me in the confined space. "Calm down? I can't believe I just did that! I helped you steal something…" The detective's frame was trembling with the adrenaline rush and nerves.

"Calm down. I shouldn't have brought you along so if you want to blame yourself, make sure you blame me more since I'm the one who actually stole it." The detective would be torturing himself after tonight and I wouldn't be able to look at him without feeling guilty if he couldn't get over it. I should have waited to help the woman until I had the assassination problem taken care of. "I'm sorry."

Hakuba started laughing. It was calm and quite at first but it quickly started to become hysterical. I waited for him to finish, not sure what to do if the cops started coming after us too soon.

"You have nothing to sorry for Kuroba-kun," he placed a hand on his forehead. "It was just a bit much for me. I'm better now. I don't regret what I did as long as you follow up on this and tell the authorities."

"Of course I will," I assured him and tapped his foot "I told you I would didn't I? Now get going you weirdo before you get us caught" I smiled. Hakuba was still trembling but that was only to be expected and we made good progress the rest of the way. I had to get in front of him at one point to get us up the final lap of the vent.

Just as he had said, the helicopter was covering the roof. Most museums had wide designs, focusing on being tall one-story building with a lot of leg room. The helicopter wasn't anywhere near us.

Hakuba got out first to help me and we made our way the few feet that brought us to the edge of the building. There was at least a thirty-foot drop to the ground and the large crowd at the bottom being held at a distance. If we did descend from the roof, the officers around the base would be able to catch us before we made it into the swarm of people. I would have gone for it if I'd been alone.

As it was I prepared to use the hang-glider.

"Okay Hakuba….-kun, we're going to fly out of here so if you hold onto my…" Wait a minute. That wouldn't work.

"Your shoulders? Kuroba-kun that would really hurt you if I did." He looked at me dubiously.

"Then you could hold my waist… but you might fall off." If he did hold onto my waist his grip would have to be good and he'd have to hang in there a long time. He'd also be throwing the balance off the glider, making it almost impossible to steer.

"I'm aware you don't know much about me but I'm not too fond of these types of suicidal activities. I might not be able to hold on. So how is this going to work? There's no way you can handle the glider and hold me without injuring your arm further."

I flipped through the options in my head and picked the smartest one. I unclipped my cape, along with the petal nodes that held in the spring-wire controlling the frame of the glider and belt around my waist that held the tiny frame to may back. I removed Hakuba's cape, swung mine around his shoulders and clipped on the shoulder pieces and belt.

"You don't honestly believe that I can fly this contraption do you?" He looked like he'd rather turn himself into the police.

"Don't worry, you can do it with my help and I can clip my belt to it as well so that I'll only need one arm to hold on. You're heavier than me and I won't be able to control it with the weight so off center if you insist on me driving." I threaded the cord for the release switch through his clothes and placed it in his hand.

"It's easy to maneuver, just don't dip the nose" I latched the clasp around his waist "or we'll go careening out of control and crash, looking like so much ketchup on the pavement."

"Thanks for that reassuring visual."

I slapped him on the back. "No problem."

…

…

We were situated as good as we were going to get. Hakuba had the glider out and I was holding his arm, ready to clip my the belt onto his when we were airborne, for now I was on his right side and holding on with my left arm. The only reason we were remaining stationary was the detective.

"Kuroba-kun I really cannot do this. I'll get us both killed." His shaking hadn't gone away either, the controversy and adrenaline leaving his nerves shot. Hakuba had taken the mask off to see better and I was able to notice how much everything was affecting him.

"Just jump and lean the way I tell you and we'll be fine. You really over think things too much. You should try being irrational once in a while."

"I prefer my reality stable and logical thank you. This kind of stunt wouldn't help anyone; I don't see how people can do it recreationally." He shot me a look. "Then again, their first attempts are after being taught and having a professional with them."

I smiled at him. "I didn't even have a teacher so stop complaining." I wasn't going to tell him that I had almost become a street tattoo myself when I'd gone after Jii. It was by a small chance of fate that I hadn't died or run into the building that was suddenly in my face when I'd pulled out of the dive.

Hakuba braced himself. "I'm not going to think about what I'm doing and if we die I'll kill you."

"Deal, now take a few steps back so we're not caught in the downdraft of the building. Take off running and I'll follow. The glider should snap up in the wind after we fall a few feet." Hopefully the building was tall enough. I'd pulled off this height before but I'd been alone on the gilder, the extra weight would bring us down faster.

The detective backed up with me mirroring his footsteps. When we were a good distance he took off. I saw him close his eyes the minute his feet left the building and the glider snapped open.

"Hakuba lean forward more!"

He did as I said, though he was stiff and his movements were jerky. I could feel the air rush beneath us. If I was going to die, falling quickly with my adrenaline pumping didn't seem a bad way to go.

But today wasn't a good day for something so morbid. The wind whipped the glider into the air and I had to instruct Hakuba out of an almost midair summersault as I tried to hang on before latching my belt to his. It took a minute for a good wind draft to catch us and push us into an air current.

I turned to the white faced detective who was panting, looking like he was going to have a heart attack. "Did we die? I really hope we didn't."

"Don't worry Hakuba-kun, we're alive and well. I don't know if we'll be that way when I teach you how to land though, landings can be harder than taking off."

"As long as it means getting off this thing I don't care." He had one arm holding onto my coat so I wouldn't fall and I could feel him shaking. "This is something only you could find fun to do every night."

"Hey, I don't do it every night. I'd never get any sleep." I winked at him.

Hakuba started relaxing though the tension never completely left his body. "See it wasn't that hard was-" A sharp pain cut me off and Hakuba looked down with his eyes, not his head.

"What's wrong Kuroba-kun?" The world was dizzying for a moment and I couldn't answer him. There was a tiny noise coming from somewhere, like something cracking.

My head hurt badly. I took my injured arm and put it just above my temple and ear on my right side, furthest away from Hakuba. The glove came away covered in blood. I looked down trying not to throw the detective off balance.

There was no way this hitter was after Hakuba since it was impossible to recognize him. They had to after me.

My impaired vision didn't stop me from seeing a few riflemen on the buildings below us.

"Hakuba-kun lean up slightly and try and get us higher in the air." He didn't dare looked down but I saw a small nod as he did what I told him.

"What happened? Did you see something?" I didn't think he could get any more nervous. Another brush of pain above my left arm made me yelp.

"Felt something unfortunately. You have to get us higher" I thought about it for a second. "Actually I want you to dive so we can pick up speed and get out of here since rising is going to slow us down."

Hakuba looked at me like I'd asked him to eat mud. "What's going on? Why do I need to dive?" Another bulleted nicked the glider but not enough to bring it to the detective's attention. A little hole was the only testament that it had been there.

"If you don't dive now we're going to resemble Swiss cheese before we make it home."

That convinced him

"Is someone shooting at us?"

"Nope, me." I laughed at him, "but I don't think they'd care if they hit you."