Not Quite Right [RL with Kaito (Disguised as Hattori.)]

[aikido_2_dan]

Kazuha was walking home from the police station. Her father was staying late, so she had offered to bring him a bento for dinner. Now she was heading home, not really having any other plans. She did stop in front of the museum though, looking at all the signs.

"What pretty jewels," she murmured, thinking maybe she should see if anyone wanted to go see it.

Comments

[pandorabox]

His sheepish grin brightened, and he quickly placed his hands on Kazuha's shoulders and pushed her forward in the line. "Right, right. Let's just get our tickets and get inside."

Already, his mind was racing for ways to collect information useful for his heist about the exhibit without Kazuha finding out. He didn't want this trip to be a total waste, after all.

Aoko would probably whack him for spending the entire day away and then coming home empty handed.

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

Kazuha frowned, but then they were next and she paid for her ticket, waiting for Hattori before heading inside. "So, what did you need to check out?"

[pandorabox]

Kid quickly bought his ticket and hurried after Kazuha, through the glass doors of the entrance and into the museum.

"One of th' new exhibits. I think the jewel is called th' Tiger's Eye, or something!" A pause as he let this name sink in. "Kinda stupid, if you ask me." And that was an honest comment, though he had stolen gems with weirder names.

"It's been targeted by thieves across th' world during it's tour," he continued. More true information, and he was willing to make bets that these 'thieves' were one of Them. "Dad thinks one might try to steal it while it's here."

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"That's the one on all of the signs. I guess everyone would want it."

"Really? You're dad's that concerned about a theft?" Kazuha asked, heading where the signs were pointing to the new exhibit.

[pandorabox]

"Well, he's not, necessarily," Kid pointed out, "He just heard about it from one of th' other divisions. I overheard him talking about it!"

A pause, before he leaned into whisper into Kazuha's ear. "To tell ya the truth, he doesn't even know I'm investigating."

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"You were at the police station?" Kazuha asked, looking at him curiously.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course he doesn't," she said in a lowered voice. "When do you ever tell him you're investigating something? Especially when you weren't asked to help."

... /spams inbox with edits

[pandorabox]

"Mom wanted me to bring him something," Kid stated glumly.

But that was followed by a grin as the duo weaved their way through the exhibits of the museum and toward the Tiger's Eye. "'Xactly. He might get pretty upset if he found out, anyway."

My inbox hasn't even gotten the first post.

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"Ah. I must have just missed you," Kazuha said.

"Maybe," Kazuha said, sticking close to him as they made their way through the building, glancing at older pieces to see if there was anything she hadn't seen before.

"It's not like he usually deals with just a thief, even for an expensive jewel. Unless they're part of a gang," she said and paused. "Speaking of which...only time I've ever really seen you go for a thief that wasn't a mugger you were chasing down...it was only with Kid, wasn't it?"

Notifs are being weird

[pandorabox]

So she had been at the police department too? He shrugged it off as no big deal, particularly because she didn't seem to think it was one herself. Best move on to the rest of the conversation instead of instilling more suspicion in her.

"That's right!" he admitted as he tugged her up to the Tiger's Eye exhibit. Security was very tight around the perimeter of the class case that held the jewel, complete with security guards and rope to prevent people from getting closer than ten feet. Simple... Kid thought to himself as he scanned the scene, You think they would have put up something more complex...

"That guy's name was tossed around a few times. Seem to think that since the jewel was targeted so much around th' world and no one's managed to steal it yet, Kid'll want to try his hand at the challenge."

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

Kazuha looked at the Tiger's Eye, not paying much attention to the security. "Wow! It's so pretty. No wonder people would want it," she said.

She looked at him. "So you're interested because Kid is interested?"

[pandorabox]

"Kid hasn' sent out a note yet," the thief confirmed, "But if he does, I'll be on the front lines!" He clenched his hand into a fist and nodded firmly at Kazuha. "That guy from overseas can' catch him, so I might as well try my hand at the same thing! First time was a fluke anyway."

He eyed the gem some more. "Second time, he won' be so lucky!"

-- yes. That sounded enough like Hattori's enthusiasm for the thief's taste. Man I am good at this.

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

Kazuha blinked. She looked around and leaned in close. "But isn't he an ally against those guys? I mean, if he had sent a note, it's one thing, but to be this fired up for just an opportunity..." She whispered so only he could hear.

[pandorabox]

-- hold on. Back up. If Kid hadn't been so good at keeping his poker face in tact, he might have recoiled in surprised at her words. Was she talking about...

... how did she know?

"Them?"

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"Them is them," Kazuha said in a lowered voice. "You said Kid 'helped out' with 'Them' when you explained it."

[pandorabox]

He blinked at her for a few moments, expression suddenly solemn. "Right... Them..." His gaze shifted downward, and evident frown on his features. "We haven' heard from them in a while. Supposedly they're layin' low." A pause. "Do you remember everythin' I told you 'bout them?"

He needed to get a clearer picture of the knowledge Kazuha held.

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"Of course I do. You think I could forget anything you said then?" Kazuha asked. She paused.

"So if they're laying low...they aren't involved, right?"

[pandorabox]

"I dunno, 'Zhua," Kid responded, expression thoughtful, "'S been a while since we talked about them too, right?"

He was treading on fragile ground; working with information he didn't have about Heiji before he had disguised at him. It would either get him found out, or he would be lucky enough to step in all of the right places. Either way... he was still prodding for more information from her.

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"Yeah...over a year now, actually," Kazuha murmured. She reached over and took his hand. "Just remember you can tell me anything, all right? I'm here to support you no matter what."

[pandorabox]

Over a year... it hadn't been nearly that long since his last encounter with Them, but things on their front had quieted down over the past year. No wonder Hattori didn't' seem to talk about it with Kazuha much.

There was no way Kid was able to hide his blush when her fingers grazed his palm gently. His gaze flickered from her expression to their conjoined hands, and he had to gulp and remind himself (once again) that these two were dating. Of course she'd want to take his hand.

"R-right." His embarrassed stutter wasn't completely fake, and his own hand curled into her own in response. "I know that, 'Zhua." A pause. "It's been a while since I mentioned them to ya. Mind... refreshin' my memory on what I said about them?"

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"It was only when you really told me everything. When you needed to get rid of all that stress," Kazuha said, thinking a few moments. "We really didn't talk about them in detail afterwards," she said.

"Though, I guess that was the time Eris was messing with your head, so it might be hard to remember."

[pandorabox]

No detail... "So I didn' talk about them that much, huh?" His sheepish grin returned. "I guess I was just tired from what Eris put me through. Prob'ly blocked most of it from my mind."

He glanced over at the Tiger's Eye again, gaze studying it carefully as he thought about what to say next.

"I don' think 'They' are gonna be involved with this case," he finally said, "So this'll just be me 'n Kid, if he does send out a heist note. Facin' off like two rivals should be."

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"Not after that first time, no. It was everything then except why Kid helps, though you probably wouldn't know anyway, and about that person from them," Kazuha said quietly, looking at him curiously.

She looked at the Tiger's Eyes. "If he comes, you mean. You said he didn't send a note."

[pandorabox]

Kid glanced back over at her and frowned. "Everythin'? Includin' the people affected by them?" Does this mean she knew about Kudo, as well?

-- still, even if she did... Hattori seemed to have left him out of the equation. It relieved him some to know that his detective friend from across the country was still keeping his secrets.

"Right. If he comes." He was staring at the Tiger's Eye again. "I just have a feelin' he will."

[aikido-2-dan.livejournal.com]

"It's why Kudo is gone. And why you were having such a hard time," she said, looking at him with a touch of worry and rested her head on his shoulder. "But you've been doing a lot better lately. I was worried for a while."

"You sound really certain. Especially with him stealing on other worlds."

[pandorabox]

Urk. More physical closeness meant more blushing and internal flailing on Kid's part. When Hattori finds out about this he is going to kill me.

Nevertheless, pulling away meant compromising his identity, so he didn't. "Must be doni' better because 's been quiet," he said with a nod.

"And 'm not certain. Just... just a hunch."