The Shadow at the Museum

[Kuroba Kaito]

Why did it have to rain? Kaito asked himself, running a hand through his hair. It had been raining earlier in the day to, but it had been just a bit drizzly; but the amount of rain that was falling right now was just preposterous. It looked like the heavens were intent on drowning the island country in the sea.

Kaito ran a hand through his hair again, messing it up for the umpteenth time this evening. It was his typical day- Some idiotic person sending in a fake heist note to the police/media, with the genuine KID having to do the dirty work. He had no other action to do except go there and steal the doublet; the police had believed that the note was real, and when Kaito had seen it, he had to admit that it was an impressive forgery. The lines were smooth and it showed no signs of the trembling and the blotching that would indicate that the pen had been there a bit longer than necessary- he himself would have been fooled if he hadn't had another heist up his sleeve and he knew that the note wasn't written by him.

The note, which he had coaxed from Nakamori when he first got the chance, detailed him stealing a certain gem from this very museum, and Kaito sighed. the gem was in no way associated with Pandora- And therein laid the crux of all irritation Kaito harbored at the moment. He had been stealing random gems to throw off the poilce's scent about him actually searching for a certain gem (Which others thought was absurd- yeah right) and seriously, he had his eye on gem which had a 40% chance of being Pandora.

This wasn't that gem.

Kaito just groaned and shook his head.

He would never know if the gem he had planned was the gem he needed- he could cat burgle it out, maybe, but this was the only day that it would be displayed, and he had to be HERE, conducting this heist. It was a wonderful wonderful day. At least he finished his essay somehow, by squeezing as much he could out of his minds to write that report in the hour and a half he had when he had to change his clothes to his costumes back at home.

Kaito walked around the building, examining it from every angle. The walls were covered in windows- this would make his escape easy. A little bit too easy, Kaito thought uneasily, having a nagging feeling at the back of his head. He would normally follow his instincts and leave the gem alone, but the heist note was already sent, his fate sealed.

So, as much he wanted to just leave this heist alone,no.

Kaito needed to break into the museum, to install his smokebombs and such, so he walked out from the back of the museum and headed for the entrance, intending to go into the bathroom and comeback out as an technician erm, examining the lights.

Nothing could be further from the truth, he thought wryly to himself as he screwed on a light bulb in it's socket again.

[Kudo Yukiko]

After picking up Shinichi and that Haibara child from their friend's house a little while ago, Yukiko had agreed to take them both to the Kaitou Kid heist. While she was surprised that their friends didn't tag along with them, Yukiko was thankful for that at the same time; it gave her the opportunity to spend a little time with Shinichi and Haibara-san.

The seemingly small girl was so strange, and Yukiko was incredibly grateful for her services to Shinichi. It still surprised Yukiko that they hadn't spent much time together, especially when she had entrusted herself and Yuusaku to deliver Shinichi another antidote during his trip to London. Yukiko hoped that while they were only with Shinichi, she might learn a little more about her.

However, as she drove to the Japanese Museum of Antiquities, Yukiko was miffed that it was pouring—on all days! She groaned and briefly pouted behind the wheel as they were stuck in traffic, her patience wearing thin. When the traffic finally started to move and they had arrived at the Museum, Yukiko had parked the car a block away from the Museum.

Opening the door and her umbrella before stepping out, Yukiko moved to where both Shinichi and Haibara-san were sitting to let them take cover after closing her door.

"I can't believe I haven't been to one of these since Yuusaku was still chasing Kaitou Kid! You were so tiny then too, Shin-chan!" Yukiko said enthusiastically, smiling gleefully before turning towards Shinichi as she bent down and teasingly embraced him. "Say Shin-chan, have they changed at all?"

[Vermouth]

Outside of the Japanese Museum of Antiquities, Vermouth's yellow De Tomaso Pantera sat parked in the back of the museum hidden from immediate view. Her accomplices Gin and Vodka were already inside the museum as they arrived before her to survey the area and locate their recruit.

Pulling out her umbrella, Vermouth stepped out of her vehicle and closed and locked her car door. Much to her annoyance, she had been dressed in a mask-less disguise for the occasion: she had her face covered in realistic-looking makeup and she was wearing a short, black-haired wig.

Silver Bullet-kun, if you're here… Vermouth thought to herself as she walked towards the entrance of the museum, pushing and shoving through the crowd outside of the museum in order to blend in. Ever since the White Dove started reappearing, Vermouth had kept her own tabs on him; the continuous failure of the Mythos division had proven useful, especially with Silver Bullet's interference.

When she had entered the museum, Vermouth was thankful that she was able to evade many of the police officers doing their routine mask check for the White Dove outside.

However, when she saw a ladder, Vermouth looked up and said in English accented Japanese, "Isn't it a bit late for you to be working on those lights, technician?"

[Nakamori Aoko]

Stupid Kaito! Where did you run off too? Aoko fumed, stomping her foot slightly. The motion did not begin to cover how mad she was though—stupid Kaito suddenly said he had something to do and just left her there in the pouring rain!

It wasn’t raining so hard earlier during the day, but at least that stupid idiot could have left her an umbrella! Kaito should at least learn something from Hakuba-kun, Aoko decided. Their British classmate was always so gentlemanly, unlike that idiotic moron.

Aoko squinted through the wetness pouring down, and spotted the museum she was at with Kaito earlier today. Dad would be in there, even if that moronic thief would be around too. She was reluctant about watching one of the idiot thief’s heists, but maybe it would be worthwhile, especially when her father finally catches him. Deciding quickly, she ran towards the building to slip inside.

The stupid idiot is probably in there, she thought with annoyance. Stupid Kaito always went on and on about how great that stupid thief was, so Aoko knew that the reason why he had something to do was probably to see the idiotic heist. Just wait for it, Kaito. Dad will capture Kaitou Kid for sure!

[Kuroba Kaito]

One, two, wire it and screw the lightbulb in.

Just how many lightbulbs had he sabotaged? Kaito halfheartedly regretted coming up with this plan in the first place, he hadn’t thought there would be so much lightbulbs to wire. But this museum curator was the type who used the heists to draw the crowds in- and therefore the jem was on display, proud and shining, under the many lights of the room that Kaito was currently ‘fixing’.

Particularly impressive, though, had been the trap set in the jewel case; it had looked expensive and it had been by remote control, so he hadn't known what it had meant to trigger. He had determined that it would be connected to the power source, however, since it had no batteries- he deemed it would be cut off when he cut off the power source in the museum so he left it at that, not wanting to look suspicious for rooting around in the jewel case for so long.

Ah there, done. Just in time too. Kaito checked his watch as he finished, clicking his tongue in satisfaction when he found he had plenty time left. Swell of anticipation. He couldn’t help but let a smile spread on his face at the thought of yet another show in the spotlight.

Kaito loved his spotlights.

He heard a voice from below as he started scaling down the ladder, and he nearly missed the next step, surprise easily coloring his face as he looked down at the woman who had addressed him. Kaito quirked a grin and stepped wearily off the last step, rolling his shoulders back in an attempt to work out the kinks as he did so.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” Kaito said, smiling. “But the museum wants everything to be spic and span.”

Kaito waved a hand at the jewel in the display, smiling tiredly. He winced as he tilted his neck around, stretching it.

“Are you looking forward to the heist?”

He asked, as he spied a wet Aoko storm through the door.

[Vermouth]

Vermouth watched as he slid down the ladder, inwardly smirking.

"I'd hate to be you," the actress said. "Working in the middle of all of this. I'm surprised that you haven't been trampled by fans."

The actress merely shrugged at his question as she looked towards the display. "Mixed feelings, mostly—these heists have a predictable outcome with that thief winning. I'm only here for a friend. What about you? Seems like you've got front row seats by working on those lights."

[Kuroba Kaito]

Kaito laughed.

"Not really. I'm actually a fan myself. And it's better to be inside here than wait outside in the rain- And trust me, some of these people have been waiting since 4 hours ago."

He waved a hand toward said people, and looked up at the step ladder-

"But yes. There were a few moments where I was scared the ladder would fall because of them. It's a stupid idea, since it's a sturdy step ladder and all, but I was wishing that the curator wouldn't let any fans in the area. It's dangerous, over anything. For both the fans and me."

He said, wincing. He faced the woman again when she said she had mixed feelings- and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, so you don't have much confidence in the police force?"

He asked, before smiling.

"Ah, yes, it's much different than it's on TV,"

He said, nodding.

" It's interesting, to say the least."

[Vermouth]

"Oh, I believe you—it's the same thing for some concerts. Kaitou Kid seems to be that popular." The actress chuckled, smiling.

"If I was into this kind of stuff I'd rather watch it on my television than from here. Besides, it's not like that theif'll let you get too close to him unless he chooses to disguise as you." She said, her arms crossed over one another in a snug fit. "It's rather odd that the curator would want you working at this time. It seems they have no regard for their employee's safety."

"It's difficult to keep one's confidence in the police when they've failed for the past eighteen years." The actress responded, shaking her head disappointedly. "Truthfully I wish they would capture the thief, and then this fiasco would be over with. I think they should consider hiring Kudo Yuusaku-san to see if he'd have another go at it, because it looks like he's the only one who's ever come close. Now they're relying on children—isn't that pathetic?"

But then what fun would you have, Silver Bullet-kun? Vermouth inwardly chuckled at the thought.

"Anyway, I should let you get back to your job. Be careful when the crowd starts coming in, won't you?" The actress said, walking off to the area where the jewel was. She pulled out her cellphone and texted Gin.

[Edogawa Conan]

To say that Conan wasn't excited for this heist would be a lie.

While he had only ever been to one heist that he could remember as Kudo Shinichi, the constant Kid heists he went to as Edogawa Conan gave him something to do and think about that actually didn't have to do with deaths or murders or the Black Organization. No one died at Kid heists (well, except for that one time with the artist and his four 'masterpieces'...but still), and everyone generally had a good time.

Except Nakamori-keibu, but, well. Even the inspector would have to get used to this crazy thief's antics by now.

He smiled up at his mother as she came into view, but that smile very quickly turned into a frown as she embraced him in a hug. Conan wasn't very fond of physical contact; it was just annoying in this small body, and even worse that literally everyone could take advantage of him. "Stop, mom," he muttered, pushing her face away. "And I wouldn't know; I don't really remember anything about his heists before the clock tower one a while back."

And even if he did remember, there wouldn't be much to remember anyway -- he sure as hell hadn't been able to go running around as an actual child. Conan, on the other hand, could talk his way in due to his reputation. Young Shinichi didn't have anything going for him other than being the son of famous parents.

But Kid heists really were different from what he was used to, and he enjoyed the challenge. It was the one thing he could count on that wouldn't end in disaster.

[Kuroba Kaito]

"Not so," Kaito said, sucking his lips in with a sigh and shaking his head. "All the other employees got trampled over once or twice in a KID heist; most of the jewel owners like getting their lights and power checked before everything."

Kaito snorted, barely holding in a disgusted expression.

"It's like a 'badge of honor' or something." Kaito said, putting air quotes around the statement. "We're the ones who get yelled at after the police don't do their jobs right. Wealth before lives, I suppose. But KID still puts on a good show and I haven't been trampled over yet nor have I been yelled at, so I still consider myself a fan."

He shrugged.

"That might change after this one."

He nodded at the mention of Kudo Yuusaku- he had seen his father's files and honestly, he was half eager and half afraid to go up against him; He hoped that when he did, it was on a heist where he didn't have his life on the line.

"Children? I'm supposing you're talking about Edogawa Conan?"

Kaito asked, faux surprised; trying to recall if his mother had mentioned children other than Tantei-kun on the news- even if the kid liked to stay under the radar and never really showed up on the TV to take credit for his near-catches, even if he popped up in newspapers quite a bit. He wondered why, he seemed like the type to like the spotlight, if his deductions at the mansion that day were anything to go by. Red Herring. He had enjoyed it there, even if he had been frustrated with himself for not being able to stop the murders.

Anyhow, he couldn't catch his heists live on TV, so he watched recordings of it online when he could, but 'when he could' was now quickly becoming a synonym for "almost never" compared to the past's "every other second".

And no, he did not preen when he did watch one.

He did not.

And really, he had to stop masquerading as a fan, it was so much easier to disguise as a hater, since he didn't have to know what a normal fan knew and what they didn't.

He nodded and smiled in thanks as the woman moved away, watching her pull out her phone and tap away. He frowned before he licked his lips and looked up at the ceiling- mechanics done, 30 seconds before heist time- Time to get this show on the road.

He picked up his ladder with faked weariness and strode to the general direction to where he knew a "Staff only" door was, fingering a button in his pocket and the digital watch he had on his wrist that was counting down. The faked heist note had been exact to the second and he intended to keep to it; Phantom thieves were never, ever fashionably late, it was a crime.

He paced his steps.

10.

Kaito reached the the door.

9.

He leaned the ladder against the wall next to it and slipped in the door. Empty. Probably for the simple reason because he had locked the door earlier, and it had an " Out of Order" sign he put there. Also, he had been sure to lead actual employees away from the door.

8.

He took off his jacket to reverse it into the white suit everyone knew so well, the blue shirt and tie already underneath, just hidden by the collar of the suit.

7.

Shoes off.

6.

Reversed pants.

5.

His cape, monocle and top hat was stuffed in the technician's bag, he put them on now.

6.

He stuffed the screwdriver and the tools he had used into his inner pockets.

5.

Shoes in the bag also- the pair he was wearing had been borrowed from a employee's locker, poor soul went home in uncomfortable shoes.

4.

He folded the now empty bag up into a compact square...

3.

...and put it in another one of his absurdly spacious pockets- no evidence left.

2.

Recheck, scan the room. Oh right, gloves.

1.

Kaito grinned. Put on sunglasses.

0.

Press of a button- the place was plunged into darkness.

12:43:12 AM, February 12th.

He waited a bit, listening to the shouts of the police, listening to everybody stumbling around, some heading towards thumps on the windows and the faux Kaito Kid dummy he had deployed. God, would they stop falling for that trick? Jii had the fireworks covered and the spectacle that would be going on outside.

The orders became less frantic as people got used to the darkness- some had deployed night vision- and that's when Kaito made his move-

He opened the door and the place was flooded with blindingly bright lights. God, he loved those lightbulbs.

He blended in well with the almost-white space the lights threw the area in, and flounced to Jewel and just plucked it out of the glass case. Alarms offline- he had made sure of that as the technician. He was at the door way in a matter of seconds and past it running down the hallway with a wicked grin, knowing he had that few seconds for the lights to dim and for everybody to get the spots out of their eyes.

The note he had left behind: "Such a blindingly beautiful gem must only be treated in the same respect, don't you agree?"

With his signature caricature- He bounded in glee thinking about the frustration it would cause, then he saw something black fall- What? His momentum carried him, on however, and he tripped- shit, he didn't know what it was, he hoped it didn't trigger anything- but he caught himself just in time to keep the mirage of disappearing and ran out of the room.

Nothing had happened, so he assumed he was okay. He couldn't see anything even if he looked back- the light was still too bright even with his sunglasses on.

It was nothing, he supposed.

And let the chase begin.