Chapter Text
Even though he was more tense than he'd been the whole evening, Kairi managed to sneak in and out of Officer Takagi's office without any interruptions. He'd half-expected Keiichiro and Tsukasa to come running from nowhere, or even be already lying in wait. As much as Kairi would've liked to really believe in the goodwill of the officers in question, it was hard for him to not be paranoid.
He didn't even chance exiting the party through any of the appropriate ways. Kairi had brought his grappling hook for a reason, after all; while the sleeping pills had turned out to be unnecessary, an exit through the window would've been difficult without the hook.
As he took distance from the building, he started feeling like he might've gotten out scot-free, at least for time being. There was no telling if he'd be seeing the police at his front door tomorrow, though. Kairi tried to not imagine Shori's expression if he got dragged away for a life sentence by breaking the law while already on very thin ice thanks to all his past exploits.
Kairi supposed he shouldn't have been too surprised to see Keiichiro waiting for him when he turned the corner. He came to a stop and really hoped he wouldn't have to beat Keiichiro up with his shoulder bag to get past him. Normally, he wouldn't have necessarily minded using any means possible, but he was reluctant to add to his list of crimes in front of any policeman tonight.
Oho? So, it wouldn't matter to you that you're friends?
Of course not. We were shooting at each other just months ago. Kairi thought at Zamigo half-absently, and tensely toyed with his wig while waiting for Keiichiro to do something, anything. After a moment, Keiichiro turned towards him, only to do a double take and cough furiously into his hand.
"K-Kairi-kun---uh---"
"At least I'm more convincing than you were." Kairi said dryly, crossing his arms over his fake boobs. "So, am I being detained?"
"No! And don't remind me! That's not even the point!" Keiichiro shook himself out of his stupor, gave him an annoyed look and started closing the distance. "I want to talk to you."
"About what?"
When Keiichiro got anywhere close to being within grabbing distance, Kairi started backing off, making him stop in his tracks. An uncomfortable silence descended between them as Keiichiro very obviously thought his words through, and Kairi wondered if it wouldn't be easier if he just ran off, like he always had. He'd never made it his business to answer Keiichiro's questions before... but it felt like if he stuck around, he might get answers to some of his own.
"Mostly, I'm curious why you're involved in this." Keiichiro started, frowning in that way he did when he was troubled. Even if it was hard to see the difference sometimes, Kairi had learned to pick the troubled frowns apart from the angry ones.
"Honestly, same." Kairi admitted. "Noel failed to mention you three would know about me being there."
"... Sounds like him." Keiichiro shook his head. "He told us at the last possible moment, too. Right. I tell you what I know, and you tell me what you know?"
"Information for information? Sounds good. But let's get somewhere else, first."
"Alright. Lead the way."
In the end, they arrived at the same spot they'd met in a couple of times before, back before Lupin Red's identity had become public knowledge. Few people used the pathway at this time of the evening, and the traffic beneath provided something of a sound barrier, so it was convenient enough.
Kairi leaned back against the fencing, not particularly caring if his dress got dirty at this point. Keiichiro stood next to him, in the suit that looked so similar to his office suit that Kairi wondered if it was actually the same one. Thankfully for his nerves, Keiichiro didn't require further prodding to start talking.
"... And you were okay with that?" Kairi asked, slightly incredulous. "Color me surprised, Kei-chan. Are you actually coming around to this breaking the law thing?"
"It's nothing like that," Keiichiro insisted, looking away in embarrassment, "I just trust Noel enough in matters like these. If that information will help us take care of Ganglers once and for all, then so be it."
"Oh, so it's more like a noble sacrifice. Your morals for the greater good, or something."
"You don't have to sound so derisive over it... In any case, you promised you'd tell me what you know in return."
Kairi snorted. Some dark, sadistic spot in him really wanted to piss Keiichiro off by running off, but he was past doing those kinds of things... at least, since he got what he wanted.
That's surprisingly fair of you! Zamigo commented.
You don't get to talk to me about fairness after the water Collection Piece bullshit you pulled on me.
"I only know that Noel wants this information, has been trying to get his hands on it for a good long while, and hasn't succeeded. But that's not what you're curious about. You want to know if I'm training to return to being a phantom thief, don't you?"
Keiichiro paused for a beat, before nodding. "You're right."
"Well, I'm not." Kairi answered, shrugging. "Noel just needed someone to do this, and I need a favor from him."
"What kind of a favor?"
"You're really nosy, you know?"
"Kairi-kun..."
He pursed his lips and thought about how much he wanted Keiichiro to know of, before responding. "Fine... I want him to take me to France for a while."
"France?!" Keiichiro exclaimed, and Kairi was really glad about a particularly noisy truck passing by just about then. "What for? You know you can't just leave while on probation---"
"He said he'd arrange for it, and I know he's got his fingers in enough pies that he's capable." Kairi sighed. "Knew you wouldn't like to hear it... I want a change in scenery, alright? I'll come back eventually, and you lot can continue stalking me when I do."
For a moment, Keiichiro floundered for something to say, before letting out a loud, frustrated sigh and leaning back against the fence with enough force to make it rattle. It was pretty impressive, honestly, the integrity considered.
"I know that's not really the full reason why." He half-accused, glancing at Kairi.
"It's not. But I'm not going there to commit any crimes, or prepare to commit any crimes. Isn't that enough? You guys don't need to know every minute detail of my private life."
"I... suppose that's true." Keiichiro didn't look any less troubled, but now there was a hint of worry in his expression, as well. "Sorry, I didn't mean to push too much. It's just that with the Ganglers around, I..."
He paused again, struggling for words. Kairi reached out to pat him on the shoulder. "Hey, I'm fine. I'm pretty sure Noel's going to be around - I doubt they'd just let me not be watched by an officer while abroad. So, don't worry about me, Kei-chan. You've got better things to worry about, anyway."
"That's not... I think you're worth worrying about, Kairi-kun."
Zamigo made such a theatrical gagging sound in the back of his mind that Kairi almost laughed in Keiichiro's face. It would've made even him feel terrible if he did, though, so he closed his eyes and took in a long, deep breath. If he was entirely honest with himself, the words did touch that soft spot he sometimes wished he didn't have, but existed just to spite him regardless.
"I'll never really get why... but thanks. Just don't worry yourself into an early grave, will you?" Kairi snarked, opening his eyes and shoving him lightly.
"Now you just sound like Satoru." Keiichiro muttered, rubbing his shoulder. "I'll survive worrying about you as much as I like to, thank you very much."
While he vaguely recognized the name, Kairi had no idea whether he should take the words as a compliment or as an insult. He shook his head. "Stubborn, hot-headed police officer."
"... Sneak thief."
"Heh. Can't insult me properly when I'm not even a phantom thief anymore, can you?"
"I'll have to think up something new..."
When they parted ways after some more light banter, Kairi reflected back on what he'd learned. So far, everything was pointing towards Noel purposefully shorting him when it came to information. The whole heist was starting to reek of a test... but Kairi had no idea what he was being tested for.
Damn you, Noel. Are we friends or not?!