Detective Conan and Magic Kaito characters, settings, and ideas do not belong to me but to Aoyama Gōshō.

TMPD Antics

By Taliya

LXXI: Hakuba and Hattori

"Goddammit, Hakuba, can I not take a piss without you breathing down my back?!" Heiji snarled as he stomped to the sinks to wash his hands after relieving himself.

Saguru had stationed himself at the entrance to the men's restroom, attention politely directed away from the agitated homicide detective. "Apologies, Hattori-kun, but notice specifically said—"

"Yeah, yeah, I read the damn note," the Osakan growled, wiping his hands dry with his handkerchief. Kaitou KID had sent out a heist notice, indicating that somehow the Osakan detective had everything to do with this particular target, though Heiji, Shinichi, and Saguru had yet to decipher KID's intent. "That does not mean, Hakuba, that you have to act like a damn parasite."

The pair of detectives exited into the hallway of the hotel ballroom—the location of the phantom thief's heist. There had been a gala that night, celebrating Ran and Kazuha's graduation from law school. Heiji quickly found his fiancée in the crowd, chatting with the Kudous. The Osakan gritted his teeth and did his absolute best to ignore his blond, annoying shadow. Where's Kuroba when you need him?

As the time of KID's heist approached, the professors, graduates, and friends and family thereof began to grow increasingly excited. The attending members of the Kaitou KID Task Force, on the other hand, grew increasingly anxious with the exception of Inspector Nakamori.

"Any ideas yet, Hattori?" Saguru asked quietly as the seconds began counting down.

Heiji shook his head as he pulled Kazuha close to him. "Not a clue." At exactly nine, the electricity to the hotel was cut, plunging the ballroom into complete darkness. There was a muffled squeak, and suddenly Heiji grasped nothing but air. "What the—!" he yelped. "Kazuha!" His voice echoed in the vast room and silenced the charged titter of KID's captive audience. "KAZUHA!"

"She's safe, Tantei-han," KID's voice echoed in the blackness. A single spotlight focused on a raised platform high overhead and previously unnoticed. On this platform perched Kaitou KID with Kazuha grasped lightly around the waist to ensure she did not fall.

The Osakan snarled. "LET HER GO, KID!"

"Heiji!" the newly minted lawyer cried upon spotting her fiancé.

KID tutted. "Ah, ah, Tantei-han! How ever did you not realize my objective this night?" As Heiji sputtered incoherently, the phantom thief turned to his prize for the night and stepped back, teetering on the edge of the small platform. Gently grasping her hand, KID bent at the waist and pressed a delicate kiss to the back of her hand. "Congratulations, mademoiselle," he murmured, peering at her from beneath the brim of his top hat, "On your impending nuptials." He straightened with a gentle smile on his face.

Kazuha blushed furiously. "Th-Thank you," she stuttered, embarrassed yet undeniably charmed by KID's sincerity.

A roguish grin replaced his smile and he whispered with a wink, "And now for my next trick…"

The single spotlight winked out, once again blanketing the room in darkness for several seconds before all the lights turned back on.

Heiji blinked at the sudden change in lighting.

"Heiji!" Kazuha called, and the Osakan detective turned just in time to catch his future wife in his arms.

"You're not hurt, are you?" he asked frantically, visibly sweeping her form for any damage.

Kazuha shook her head. "I'm fine. KID—he actually just wanted to congratulate me…"

Heiji blinked at her words before he grumbled over his shoulder, "Some bodyguard you were." Saguru scoffed and shot his companion a dark scowl in return.

Author's Note: Um, KID sort of swept in and stole the show—and yes, pun intended. I figured Kaito as KID would do something as silly and as romantic as this, simply because he is a big sap at heart. And really, a riddle that our three detectives could not decipher? Preposterous! … well to be fair, they were not expecting him to go after a person… I hope you enjoyed it.

Completed: 19.05.2016