Heist Night
By Grace Musica

---
"You know, this family's little idiosyncrasies would drive most people up the wall."
---

Kid heists always give everyone a little thrill.  Sure, the policemen stand at attention, hardly speaking; and Nakamori storms around like he's possessed, turning the air blue; and we detectives quietly stand to the side, surveying everything like lords.  Deep down, though, everyone has that little tickle at the bottom of their stomach, that awareness of adrenaline thrumming though their veins.

Once, Aoko-kun asked me to describe heist work to her.  I told her it was like riding a roller coaster:  you're nervous as you wait in line, trembling slightly as you climb into the car and slowly start moving forward, the 'click-click-click' echoing in your ears, consuming your entire being.

Then, there's that one brief second where time stops completely, the car slowly cresting over the top before gravity pulls at you, forcing you down and zooming around at top-speed.

After the first fall, the whole exercise is fun, the enjoyment of the mindless pleasure of adrenaline, the wind in your face...  The thrill of near-flight, of defying gravity.  While you're riding it seems to take forever, but when the car slowly comes to a stop, the only thing you want to do is rush over to the next line to do it all over again.

Of course, between rides for the heist department, we're flooded with paperwork.  Hazard of the trade, I guess.

One could say my family is a family of adrenaline addicts.  When we're on the job, there's always the possiblity that at least one of us could end up in jail--or worse.  With those Black Bastards after the four of us--especially my twin cousins--every mintue could be our last.

However, when you're related to the infamous Kaitou Kid, your life definately isn't a normal one.

Thinking about Kaito and Shin'ichi once again makes me grimace.  I've always been a control freak, I have no problem admitting that.  Expanding my family by three cousins--not to mention their adopted families--has done little to help me keep my grasp on things.  Not to mention Kaito thoughly ENJOYS throwing me off, the wanker.  Adding in the Black Ops just made things worse, and I keep finding control slipping through my fingers, like water though a strainer.

I like control because so much of my life has been out of it.  Genetics makes me too big in Japan, too small in Britian; I stand out in Tokyo because of my blonde hair and hazel eyes, but in London my almond-shaped eyes, although not as narrow as my cousins, make me a rarity.  Mixed blood makes everyone in my family uneasy, too--wouldn't you know it, my parents are the unconventional ones in two families who respect tradition.  I'm fluent in six languages--Japanese, French, English, Spanish, German and Italian--and have been since the age of ten, have one of the highest IQs in both of my high schools, and am known across countries as a--God willing--good detective...  But I somehow manage to make everyone in my family uneasy.  What little I can control, I do, with an iron fist.

A faint crackle in my ear makes me unconciously jerk my head to the right.  Just another reminder of what little is really in my control.

Thick Osaka-accented Japanese invaded my ear, and it took a brief second for my brain to translate it into English.  "No Black-assed Morons tonight, guys."

A sigh of relief escapes my mouth, and an audio sigh sounds in my ear.  Shin'ichi is probably more relieved than I am--after all, he is the big brother, while I'm just the cousin.

"It seems to me that a celebration is in order later tonight, then," I murmur, reaching up as if to scratch the back of my head, barely moving my lips, and I hear Heiji snickering in my ear.

"Sounds like a plan, cuz."

"Hakuba-kun!"  Nakamori's voice booms from across the room.  "It's almost time!"

I smile to myself as I tug my deerstalker down over my eyes.  Time to get to work.

---
"This family doesn't have idiosyncrasies, big brother.  We have full-blown complexes."
---

Sticking out makes Saguru uneasy.  I've never cared either way.  The eternal suntanned-boy in a world full of porcelin--how could I not stand out?

Kazuha doesn't care what I look like, nor does any of my family.

Why should I?

'Sides, it makes me memorable.  Takes some of the spotlight from Shin'ichi...  Which drives him crazy.  He's so fun to jack with sometimes.

I take my place under the east emergency exit, the red glowing light faintly illuminating the darkened room.  They always turn out the lights now, how stupid is that?  Kid knows we're here, but he can move as quietly as the wind.  Besides, he has better eyes than I do, and I can easily see the brass pieces of the officer's uniforms reflecting back in both the moonlight and what can only be described as 'evil glowing destruction button' red.

Hiests used to drive me bonkers; now, however, they're more of a game.  Not that I don't try to catch the Kid now that I know he's my cousin Kaito too.  Quite the opposite--I have my whole heart in it now.  We're all playing for highter stakes now, too...  Bragging rights, family, freedom...  Higher stakes give all of us a thrill.

We're such adrenaline junkies, honestly.

Although everyone else has higher bids on the table than I, but I've got all the cards.  Everyone always thinks they can tell me their secrets, but who am I to confide in?

'Neechan knows, but won't tell Shin'ichi.

Aoko-kun knows, but won't tell Kaito.

Kazuha can't know, or else she'll be in danger.  I'd rather die than do that.

That just leaves Saguru...  But I can't break my promises to 'Neechan and Aoko-kun.

A glowing green LED light from across the room breaks my train of thought.  "He's late," Nakamori grumbles, his face awash in the alien light from his watch.

I snicker to myself.  The only thing better than 'Conan' living with 'Neechan was Aoko's father after Kaito's alter ego.  Talk about problems with the in-laws.  "M'be his watch is runnin' behind," I innocently suggest, glad the shadow of my hat covers my smile.

"That's stupid," Nakamori snaps back, red in the face.  The man's gonna to pop an artery if he doesn't calm down.

"It is."  Even from across the room, I can see Saguru's arm up, 'adjusting' his deerstalker.  "His watch battery has been dying for about a week.  He's a good five minutes behind the rest of the world by now."

The older twin scoffed in my ear.  "Moron.  I told him so three days ago, but no, I didn't know what I was talking about."

I snickered again.  "Aw, come now big bro, he can care for himself."

"No, he can't."  The growl was playful, but concern was evident in his voice.

"Okay you two, here's a wager between us three--if the Kid gets away, I pay for after.  Whatever the three of you want."

"Whatever-whatever?"  It was hard for me to remember to keep my voice down.  A few nearby guards glanced at me.  Great, now people were going to think I was talking to the voices in my head.  The thought made me snicker again.

"Whatever-whatever, Heiji."

A beam of light suddenly cut through the darkened room, catching dust mites and making everyone shield their eyes from the harsh interruptance.

"He's here!"

---
"I wonder if Freud could blame this on our mothers..."
---

Kogoro and Ran began running towards the Kid.

I started running away from him.

No one ever, ever pays any attention to a child.  I'm going to be sure to listen to my kids.  If I ever manage to reverse this drug in my blood, that is.  And if Ran ever forgives me.  And if Kogoro doesn't kill me.  I can outrun the old man, but Ran I'm not so sure about.

"You're late, Kid!" Nakamori grouches, and my younger brother tips his hat, perched like a bird on a rafter.

"My apologies, Inspector.  I'll try not to let it happen again."

"Oi!  Kid!"

Violet eyes lock onto my blue ones.  I give him a feral grin, pulling a slingshot out of my back pocket.  "Go FISH!"

His eyes widen as my attack launches towards him.  Leaning back to avoid my ammunition--fish-shaped crackers--he lost his balance and I watch him tumble towards the floor.  He quickly recovered mid-flight, turning and landing in a crouch.  Before eight policemen...  and Kogoro, I realize and sweatdrop...  dogpile him, the bastard still has time to blow me a kiss.

"Annoying brat."

"Who's the brat?"

I freeze as my twin's voice wispers in my ear.  The adrenaline speeds though my blood, making me twitch slightly.

"You three are cheating," he mutters as he pulls the microphone out of my ear.  "That's not in the rules, big brother."

"We were checking for Black Ops," I casually reply as Nakamori begins cursing at the white rose Kaito left under the officers.  "There aren't any tonight."

"Turn the lights on!"

"Thanks guys," Kid mutters, ruffling my hair and placing a brotherly kiss on my cheek.  "I'll see you in a bit, big bro."

I'm slightly surprised that he lets me off without being taken out of the game, but then again he always gives me special treatment.  I look around, vainly looking for a flash of white, but no luck.

"He's disguised himsef!" Saguru shouts.  "Anyone who doesn't look familiar, cuff 'im!"

Something 'clicked' in the back of my mind, but I ignored it, rushing around and looking from face to face.  No matter what form my twin is in, I can recognize him.  After all, we did share a womb for nine months.  Our different birthdays are the days we were adopted.  Holmes was given to the writter, Lupin to the thief.  Dad actually knew Kuroba Tochi, back from college.  My parents and Kaito's stayed friends afterwards, and our mothers still write and visit each other.  They'd never let us play together as children--they hadn't known Saguru and Heiji didn't look like us, but two children the same age who look a lot like each other was bound to raise eyebrows.  And make us an easier target.

Aunty was kind.  She would answer any question we ever brought her to the best of her ability.  It was nice to have people I could be Shin'ichi around, not the farce of Conan.

I skidded to a stop in front of Heiji and looked up into his dark eyes.  It clicked in his mind too.

"DETECTIVE HAKUBA IS THE KID!"

---
"Nah, I think he'd blame it on genetics."
---

I surpress a snicker as I try my best 'confused Saguru' look.  Trust my twin to figure it out, although Sherringford was bound to be pissed at me when he woke up.  He's such an easy target, though.

Too bad he's a few inches taller than me.  That's an easy giveaway.

Nakamori raises a suspicious eyebrow, reaching behind his back for his cuffs.  "I'm Hakuba, honest!" I protest, putting my hands up.

Heiji is at my elbow in a flash, a metal bracelet around my wrist.  "The real Hakuba would tell us to cuff him as proof."

Shit.

I reach over and pull my cousin's cap down over his face, pushing him away from me.  His hand comes loose from the cuff before he has a chance to hook it onto something, and I whip off the inverness coat and throw it over Nakamori's face.  I leave the wig, mask and deerstalker on, however, giving the allusion of Saguru dressed as the Kid.  The thought makes me giggle to myself.  There is never a camera around when I want one.

And then there it is, in my hand as I stand on the pedastal it rested on.  The jade stone Jii and I have been researching for months.  The first Chinese royals passed this down through generations, and used it as an engagement stone.  Princess and queens wore this jewel.  The enormity of history that I hold in my hand hits me and almost takes my breath away.

"GET!  HIM!" Nakamori screeches, jolting me out of my reverie.  I pull the rest of my disguise off, the clover charm on my monicle dangling, catching a bit of light.  I tip my hat again at the rushing police and jump up into the rafters again.

"The roof, the roof!" Heiji yells.  I glance down to see Shin'ichi untying Hakuba, having found him tied up behind a Ming vase in the far corner.  The police are scrambling to get out the doors to head me off at the roof, and Nakamori is inventing new curses.  All in all, a good night.

I carefully rush down the rafter towards a window facing north.  The heist tucked safely in my breast pocket, I open the window slowly, carefully checking for police on the ground.  Just your standard police perimeter meets me, and I smile.  My cape snaps into hanglider mode and I sail away, calling out to Nakamori in a taunt.  "Good night, tantei-san!"

"Kid, you... bastard!" meets my ears and I laugh out loud.  He's so mad, he can't think up a good curse.  By then, however, I'm out of both gun and earshot, and I concentrate on finding a place to land.

The night air ruffles my hair as I make a slight adjustment, the point above me dipping down slightly.  A roof on a construction site is a good spot to put down, I can always disguise myself as a construction worker working late.  For now, however, I simply enjoy flight, the defiance of gravity, the thrill of getting away with a heist.  It feels the same way when I get away with stealing a kiss from Aoko.  The knowlege that I shouldn't be doing it, but doing it anyway and getting away with it.

My feet touch ground.  Back on Earth.  Time to pack Kid away for a time.  Gloved fingers absently stray to my breast pocket.

Maybe pack him away forever, and let my father's ghost rest.

---
*laughter*  "I dunno.  Can genetics predispose people to be adrenaline junkies?"
---

"Oh wow, you're so good at using chopsticks!"

Saguru rolled his eyes as the bubbly, bleach-blonde waitress moved to her next table.  "Everyone always thinks I'm a tourist.

Across from him, Kaito snickered madly behind one hand.  "You told me yesterday you were just touring the psycho ward."

"You win."

"So, is this it?"

The family--two brothers and two cousins--fell silent at Shin'ichi's inquiry.

"I haven't looked yet," Kaito admits.  "I'm a little scared."

"That it isn't?" Heiji asked.

"That it is."

Violet eyes looked at the three sharing his booth.  "Where else am I going to get my kicks with my family?"

"Become a detective," the other three immediately replied, making the thief laugh.

"A detective?"

"Yeah, it'll be a kinda 'look into the mind of a criminal' thing," Heiji told him.  "You'd prob'ly be better than all of us, seein' as you'd have an advantage over us."

Kaito turned thoughtful.  "A detective..."

A flick of his wrist and the heist was in his hand.  Slowly, trembling slightly, Kaito held it up to the window.

The full moon was covered with a slow-moving cloud, and the four unconciously held their breath.  Seconds, a mintue, two, passed, with the table's occupants barely breathing.  Finally, the cloud passed.

The jade stayed white and opaque.

It wasn't Pandora.

The four let out a collective breath, looking at each other.

Then they burst out laughing.

Kaito quickly dropped the jewel into the water glass to wash off fingerprints as the waitress moved back to their table.

"Can I get you anything else?"

"Yeah, the check."  Hakuba sighed.  "I'm paying."

---
"If it can, our kids are screwed."
---

A/N:
The dialogue between the story goes:  Shin'ichi, Kaito, Hakuba, Heiji, Kaito, Shin'ichi.  Just something that struck me.

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