Darkness surrounded the gaudily clad thief. Impossibly, it managed to hide his pristine white suit and hat in the shadows, despite all logic and reason. But then, Kaitou Kid had always possessed the ability to pull off the impossible. The wind furiously tore at his cape and hat, whipping the former about him as if it was a single leaf rather than a flight capable device, and somehow ineffectual on the latter, which stubbornly remained stuck upon the thief's head.

Despite the ferocity of the wind however, kid remained perfectly still on his perch, a rather sturdy railing attached to a first floor balcony. A balcony which, when inspected further, actually belonged to a rather nice property in a well-kept and fairly up-market neighbourhood.

His monocle dimly reflected light from both the street lights and the soft light leaking from the room he was currently facing. The curtains were only partly drawn, and he'd ensured he was visible from inside, yet still his contact hadn't noticed. He idly wondered how much longer he'd be made to wait. Had the contact even noticed his presence out in the biting wind?

A shadow moved behind the curtain, and the thief perked up slightly. Had they finally noticed him out in the cold? The contact moved towards their en-suite in a sort of rushed walk, passing the part of the balcony exposed to view through the thick curtains and slightly misty window. They froze for the briefest of moments as the finally spotted his spectral form, at once both part of the world and yet not. They held up a hand, a swift gesture at the en-suite, a meaning both clear and urgent. 'One moment'.

Kid didn't pout at this, at his contact vanishing into their bathroom, but it was a close thing. Women. (Not that he'd ever be stupid enough to make the mistake of airing such an opinion to this particular woman. No. Kid rather liked his body as was. Not the mangled mess that it would be if he were ever so foolish as to voice what he really thought to her.)

It took her several moments, as usual, a traitorous little part of him whined, then she was out and at the glass door, a confused and slightly irritated look on her (decidedly pretty) face.

"This is clearly work related." She intoned dryly, as she slid the glass door open. What went unsaid was her confusion as to how he could do everything he did on top of above-average grades at school. "I haven't seen Kaito or Hakuba-kun in days." She shot an accusing look his way. Kaito steadfastly ignored it.

"So... do I scream and whack you with my mop, or do I show you the way to where otou-San is enjoying a very late dinne, as if you've never set foot in this house before?" She somehow contrived to sound both incredibly bored and rather genuinely curious simultaneously as she said this, though kid detected a faint hint of worry mixed in there too. He almost felt guilty. But only almost.

Aoko deserved an explanation, a proper one at that, but... it just wasn't safe. The safety of Saguru was at stake, and arguably his top priority right now, Damnit all. He silently flowed from the railing to the balcony proper, his feet making absolutely no sound at all. (He had always made an effort to make sound as he walked whenever in his civilian guise, knowing full well that ghost-steps were not only uncommon, but freaky as all hells.)

"Your friends are probably fine, Miss. would you prefer it if I followed you compliantly, or are you to drag me by my ear, as you would your unfortunate friend?" A mop materialised from thin air and was promptly shoved in his face. A small, flat smile graced his features.

"Now now, I'm here to see your father on an unfortunately urgent matter, not to get pulped by an overly enthusiastic mad-woman." An easy, well practiced, perfectly time flip had him both dodging the weapon and landing inside the room, just as it came crashing down with a heavy crunch.

"Ba. Kai. To......." kid grinned at the low, drawn out feline-like growl of his nickname. A pang of guilt took him by surprise momentarily as he realised just how much his plans were going to hurt her. His best friend. She sighed a weary sigh as she followed the thief back into her room, content in the knowledge that the only nosey neighbour able to see her balcony was in fact the thief currently in her room.

He silently followed as she moved past him and led the way through the hallway, down the stairs and into the room they both knew so well, to where a certain loud mouthed inspector happened to be finishing off a rather late home cooked meal. Kaitou kid was decidedly not looking forward to the upcoming discussion. Kuroba Kaito on the other hand, was. It would be a relief to talk to the man he considered a second father after all. Not that the fine inspector would know this.

Aoko motioned to the gaudily clad thief to stay out of line-of-sight of her father. Probably because he was still eating and she was afraid that the good inspector would go completely ballistic at the mere sight of him and didn't want him doing so with a full mouth and winding up choking. He was on enemy territory after all.

Of course, Kaito being Kaito and Kid being Kid, the hope that he'd stay out of sight for long was a bleak one. It wasn't like Kaito took orders well. If at all. He was already fidgeting as was, not that she'd ever notice, whith all the practice Kaito had had at not getting noticed. She knew anyway, because this was Nakamori Aoko, the girl who'd grown up with him. She knew, in the same way she always knew when kid had been hurt, or when Kaito would be late for something again.

At least Kaitou kid had decided to do the somewhat decent thing and wait for Nakamori-keibu to finish eating his late dinner before appearing before the man and interrupting any semblance of peace the poor guy had.

He didn't exactly fancy having to deal with an irate, over excitable and understandably livid inspector who was choking after all. So the thief waited Impatiently, showing outward restraint and patience as Aoko strode into the room without him. Aoko cleared her throat as her father finished his meal and set his chopsticks down.

"Otou-san. There's a pest to see you." Aoko's voice seemed to be a perfect mix of bored and annoyed, something Kaito had to refrain from snickering at. The young woman closed her eyes as if to brace herself, especially as her father told her to let kaito-kun in, in his usual exasperated tone saved solely for when both teens were being monumentally stupid and/or stubborn.

"I regret to inform you, keibu, but I don't believe I am the Kaito you were expecting." The man at the table started violently as he half rose from his seat at the irritatingly familiar-but-not voice. His face went bright red with rage and no little awe at the intruder's sheer audacity and gall. A white plate arced menacingly through the air towards the thief, only for him to neatly sidestep the projectile with no effort at all, impromptu weapon somehow failing to shatter as it vanished and reappeared in a surprised Aoko's hand.

"Otou-San!" Said girl scolded, her face unreadable. The Mop materialised in her out-stretched hand, an act immediately followed by her slamming her weapon-of-choice Onto the table with enough force the crack the solid hardwood table. Both men wiped their semi-hostile expressions from their faces. How had that mop NOT broken??!

The intent of the mop however, was not lost on either man. It was a clear cut warning, both to behave and to not break anything. (Even minds, in Kaito's case. After all... it was what he did best.) (how many times had Nakamori-keibu broken the crockery out of anger or frustration anyway? Aoko made it seem like a frequent thing, but Kaito didn't believe in Nakamori-Jii's temper half as much as he used to.)

"Now now, there's no need to be so... expressive keibu. I'm not doing any harm." He tried to be placating, he really did.

"Yet." That one word was really not helpful, Aoko! Not helpful at all. Kid almost granted, but only almost. He had an image to uphold after all. The thief chose to drop his usual cheeky-prankster façade for the time being, falling into a calmer mask that was clearly no less irritating to the fine inspector before him.

"Kai..kai... Kaitou Kiddo!" The man spluttered angrily, face turning an interesting shade of red-blue-purple. A hand was reaching for his hip, though Aoko intercepted with her monstrous mop, narrowly missing her fathers hand. Her scowl was the sort of 'try that again and I'll have you' one that had both men simmering back down in a hurry. He shot a subtle look at Aoko, before bouncing up onto his toes.

"Who else?" Came his cheeky reply, hints of seriousness and last-resort mixed in with a skill seldom seen outside of long-running, seasoned actors. Indigo eyes noted the inspector's state of dress; not in uniform, so no gun, but still dangerous if provoked. Not that Aoko's father was a violent man, far from it in fact, but kaito knew he wasn't above a warning shot or three if he was seriously provoked.

(In fact the good inspector was well known amongst the 'force as a whole for his strict little-to-no-violence policy, going so far as to only shoot a thief in the ankle when said thief turned to impromptu kidnapping.) (considering what Kaito had heard of that particular incident, a certain Chibi-Tantei had been the kidnapped victim, so the magician was actually quite skeptical of how much of the ankle-shot was the inspector's doing. Tantei-kun had a downright vicious kick on him for a brat.)

The semi cheeky mask kid had been wearing slid away, to be replaced by his far more serious and somber expression better suited for the impending discussion. Kaito just knew the inspector (and Aoko) wasn't going to like it one whit. Appreciate the heads up maybe, but certainly not like it. But... he didn't have any other choice, did he? (Tantei-San and Tantei-kun had made that abundantly clear.)

The inspector's co-operation was vital to the plans for his next heist. Kid needed him to know, or at least think he knew, what was going to go down. The thief had far too much riding on the upcoming heist and he needed the man before him to either be on his side, or at least not in his way. Both his and Saguru's life were dependant on the outcome of this little night time visit after all.

"Keibu. As you are well aware, I am not one to make impromptu house calls without prior warning. Not normally. But tonight, I make an exception. I may require your assistance at the next heist, preferably your co-operation in staying as far out of the way as your job allows, so that I may prevent a kidnapping/murder." The inspector's face displayed an extensive and impressive range of emotion before he finally settled on resigned-angry-curious. It didn't stop the man spitting an angry retort that cursed the thief's very existence though.

Aoko's mop came crashing down upon the poor, abused table, deepening the crack she'd placed there earlier with a similarly brutal blow. A furious, feline growl emanated from her in an adorable but utterly terrifying way. It was more than enough incentive for the inspector, who schooled his expression back into a mildly affronted look that caused Kaito to mentally sigh. Aoko clearly hadn't noticed her father's brief indecision on how to react just then.

The mop was gently pushed away from the inspector by the single chopstick (the other had snapped under the brutal mop-blow), a hesitance to his movement causing Kaito to wonder just how explosive Aoko's temper really was, and if she'd ever been so stupid as to hit her own father with that fearsome weapon of hers. He sincerely hoped not. His best friend wasn't that mean. Right?

"We need to talk inspector. Alone." A raised eyebrow from said best friend had Kaito wondering if Keiko-chan had introduced her to the horrifying sets of fanfiction out there pertaining him and her father. He desperately hoped not. Some of that stuff was downright disturbing.

A hiss of air was the last thing Aoko registered before she slumped into unconsciousness, the magician-thief feeling slightly guilty about this, but not enough to wake her. He caught Aoko as she fell, gently lifting her into his arms in a bridal carry. Taking a gamble, Kaito asked a simple question.

"Before we get down to business, Nakamori-keibu, is her room still where it was ten years ago? We wouldn't want the young lady to be uncomfortable now, would we?" The inspector eyed him warily. Kaito got the distinct feeling of De-Ja-Vu, just as the inspector nodded. Creepy.

One (fully dressed) teenage girl tucked into bed later, and Kaito was back facing his father-figure-slash-enemy. He swallowed dryly, having to make a show of it for it to be noticeable, even to a man who hunted down common or garden thieves all the time. (And thus well versed in noticing little tells.)

"I have been informed, keibu, by my little bird in the 'force" He made sure to stress the word little, hoping that Ginzo-Jii would pick up on it and think 'Edogowa Conan', "that both Toichi's boy and his blonde friend Hakuba Saguru... my Tantei-San, have been... noticed, by my less... savoury fans." He began, with no preamble or false niceties.

The inspector nodded for him to continue, and Kaito had the chilling feeling that this was not the first time Nakamori Ginzo had spoken/listened to kaitou Kid. The first time for kaito. But not kid. It was eerie.

"Noticed, as in 'ones a nosey detective who probably know too much' and noticed as in 'looks like someone we though we'd offed and has the skills to be a Kid counterpart.' And yes, Toichi's boy is almost my Equal in terms of skill, keibu. Don't deny it. Both of them are in grave danger. I can get both of them out of harms way and into hiding, but.. well, I thought I should warn you. The next heist is likely to get a bit... messy." Kaito kept his voice cordial, but inside he was feeling a confusing mix of glee and remorse.

Glee that he'd be pulling off a mission impossible style heist soon, and remorse that it'd mean going underground so completely Kuroba Kaito may as well be dead. Temporarily of course.

"You suspect the same group that has been taking potshots at you for years, don't you Kudo Shin'ichi-kun?" Kaito actually spluttered in surprise and no little amusement. Tantei-kun? As Kaitou-kid? Preposterous. An astonishing bit of deduction on the inspector part, which led Kaito to wondering if others had made that particular connection, but oh so hilariously wrong.

"Don't act so surprised, kudo-kun. I've suspected it was you for a few years now. Finally figured it out a few months ago at a heist, when Edogow-kun outed you as kid. The brat seemed convinced that Civilian you had to be kid. You and Kaito-kun look worryingly like twins too. It would explain how Kaito-kun sometimes doesn't remember visiting me at work. You could easily take his place without a mask." Kaito sensibly kept his mouth shut. He'd deal with the fallout of Tantei-kun finding out about this later. Because the Chibi-tantei would find out. The not-child was super creepy like that.

"Even with the heads up about Kaito-kun and Hakuba-kun, I can't do much without earning attention from the higher ups, and putting the boy at further risk. Someone has been stonewalling my attempts to investigate the snipers after all. Damn it all. this is Toichi-kun all over again!" Kaito allowed himself the luxury of paling significantly, the implications hitting him like so many tonnes of bricks.

Nakamori-keibu had known. He'd known about the price on Oyaji's head, and been unable to do anything. Oh, Kaito had known Oyaji had approached Nakamori-keibu once or twice for help, but... not to warn him. The implications hit him far too hard. Oyaji had known. Had known, or at least suspected that they'd come after his civilian self. He'd even warned the fine inspector. It was almost too much for him to handle, but he wasn't The Kaitou Kid for nothing, and he managed to remain somewhat calm. He could freak out later.

"Ne, kid-San?" Kaito flinched at the curious-innocent tone, whereas Nakamori-keibu outright jumped. Hadn't she been unconscious in her room mere moments ago? "You should really check people when you knock them out kid-San, I only inhaled a tiny bit of gas. I mostly held my breath." Kaito mirrored the inspector in raising a single eyebrow, both of the probably thinking the same thing. Just how much had she overheard?

"I've only just walked into the room, if that's what you were wondering, Otou-San. I'm not even going to ask what you meant by 'Toichi-kun all over again.' It would probably give me a headache and I can wring it out of BaKaito later anyway." She paused, smiling wanly at them.

"Also, I'm not stupid. I haven't seen Kaito or Hakuba-kun for days. Something is going on, they're both in danger, that much is clear. And they know it. Kaito's an idiot sometimes, but he's not stupid. He wouldn't be top of the class grade wise if he was." She shot a downright filthy look at her father, then turned it on him. "I despise criminals. Especially ones who take up so much of my Otou-san's time. But... I know you don't hurt people. You never have. Which raises the question as to why you haven't spirited both my friends away already."

Aoko geared up slightly, but stared defiantly at him regardless, her teary face almost compelling enough to make him spill the beans, so to speak. Kaito wasn't entirely sure if this was just good acting or if it was in fact genuine tears. It could be either way with her.

"Because it would raise too much suspicion, Milady. This isn't the first time Kaitou Kid has paid your esteemed father a visit. Though I cannot say with any certainty why my predecessor was inclined to do so. He's as much a mystery to me as he was to his wife, the phantom lady. Which say more than you would think." Kaito noted that the inspector was nodding along in the right places. So he had known about the connection the two jewel thieves had. Nice to know.

"And I'm not stupid, Aoko. I know this isn't the Kaitou Kid I started chasing over a decade ago. Nobody vanishes for eight years only to resurface looking not a day older. I'm just surprised no-one else has noticed yet." The inspector blinked, seemingly realising something as he spoke. Aoko looked a little disappointed and a lot worried as he spoke. Kaito had a feeling she knew better than her father ever would how much danger he and Saguru were in.

"But how long have you known who the person behind the monocle was, keibu? I think your lovely daughter missed that little tidbit." Kaito prompted, knowing Aoko would be interested and entertained by her father's outlandish and not-quite correct theories. (He was however, correct on one thing. A tiny detail that Kaito himself wasn't aware of, and wouldn't be until much, much later.)

"Long enough to know that I have absolutely no hope in pinning your crimes on you without making a total mockery of my career. You are a smart young man, Kudo-kun." Aoko's Sharp intake of breath at this sounded more like suppressed laughter than shock, but her father didn't notice. "There is no way you'd be so sloppy as to leave concrete evidence lying around, though I do applaud your creativity in leading me down the wrong path with your likeness to my neighbour, Kaito-kun. That boy is insanely lucky, considering every time I've suspected him, he's had an alibi."

Kaito bit back a shocked sound, carefully reinforcing his pokerface. So Aoko had covered for him. Far more so than he'd originally though, if he was to take the slight blush and implications thereof as proof. She deserved better than his meagre friendship, she really did.

"Nice to see you're far sharper than meitantei gives you credit for, keibu. And here I was thinking I'd completely fooled you with Toichi's boy's finger prints. It does help that he looks so much like yours truly, doesn't it?" Aoko tilted her head, apparently going along with what the magician and her father was saying, but Kaito knew differently. He was in for one heck of a tow when she finally cornered him.

Kaito took a deep, steadying breath. The enormity of what he was about to say wasn't lost on him. Nor would it be lost on the other two present. "There is someone high up enough in the 'force to stonewall any and all attempts at an investigation into my... more enthusiastic fans. I don't know how much you can aid me, keibu, without drawing their attention, but you haven't lasted this long as my chief pursuer without learning a few things on subtlety. I'd say be careful, but you already are, aren't you, keibu?" Kaito trailed off, feeling rather old and world-wearyall of a sudden.

It was he who was supposed to drive the police insane, not the other way around! He took another deep breath, rallying his nerves as best he could. "If you need me for anything keibu, your daughter knows which of Toichi's boy's doves are actually my own. Al isn't quite one to blend in with the flock after all. Goodnight and farewell, both of you." And with those parting words, Kaito detonated a small smoke pellet and vanished in a cloud of blue and lilac, leaving no trace of himself but a heist note and a faint scent of lavender.

💎⚽️💎⚽️💎⚽️💎⚽️💎⚽️💎

Ai sat at her computer desk in the Agasa Household's basement, her eyes glaring accusingly at the piece of paper before her, as if it were a bomb rather than the sheet of data it was. The results printed upon it might have been less offensive to her scientific nature had it been a bomb recipe however. The words and data staring back at her seemed to taunt her, mocking her for her profession.

Impossible. These results were utterly impossible. It went against nearly everything she'd ever learnt, against everything she'd ever been taught. So much so, in fact, that it bordered on science fiction. It didn't make any sense.

...Much like a certain detective who,d survived a body destroying poison and wound up with the ability to not only sprout wings, but fly as well, despite being too heavy for the laws physics to explain said flight. She'd even seen her favourite Guinea-pig change into a strange sort of hybrid-bird, for heavens' sakes! But... she was a scientist, and the results didn't lie.

Results that were 98% conclusive, as concrete as evidence could get in her field really. Short of using a live test subject, she was as sure as she could be that the results were true, despite being so far into science fiction now that it wasn't funny at all.

Ai blinked. Since when had her life become some kind of screwed up fantasy-sci-fi-comedy-horror anyway? And... what in the name of all things mighty had possessed kudo-kun to cook up such an insane theory to begin with?