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Kaito slumps in the back seat of Jii’s car, adrenaline from tonight’s heist still pumping through his veins. He’d just barely been able to escape after a technical malfunction with his glider had left him stranded and surrounded on the museum’s rooftop. If it hadn’t been for a quick diversion from Jii and Kaito’s own (steadily growing) skill at stealthily scaling the side of buildings, tonight may have been Kaitou Kid’s final show.
But now it’s over. He’s safe and the gem he’d stolen tonight is sitting pretty in the little hidden pocket sewn inside of his jacket. With a relieved sigh, he reaches in with the intent to pull it out and test it in the moonlight streaming in from the car windows. Only, when his fingertips brush against it, he feels something else tucked in along with it.
He takes the necklace out, sparing only a passing glance to the clear blue diamond glittering in the pale light. That can wait, he decides, as his eye catches the small cream envelope that had followed it out of his pocket.
“ KID” is spelled out in stark, familiar characters on the front of it. Kaito lets out a tired laugh.
Another one.
This would be the sixth one, now.
The first had been hidden away in his outer breast pocket after a heist. A small envelope, just like this one. Inside had been a single piece of pale blue cardstock embossed with a single line of silver: “May we meet again under the moonlight, beloved.”
That would have been…six months ago, now that Kaito thinks about it. Since then, he’d received four more, each more elaborate than the last. A few lines of poetry, a declaration of affection, or desire.
At first he’d thought it a prank, or perhaps a particularly odd intimidation tactic from the organization trying to kill him. Now, though, he thinks it is likely the work of a particularly dedicated and skilled admirer.
Still, up until now, it had only been paper. Just little notes left for him to read after his heists. This envelope, however, seems to have something else inside.
Kaito runs his fingers over it, trying to feel out whatever it might be. Up to this point these little gifts haven’t been dangerous, but he really can’t be too careful.
When it doesn’t explode in his face, he tentatively tears open the envelope. Inside, wrapped in a thin layer of royal blue tissue paper, is a tiny origami bird…of some kind. It's clearly made of metal - but Kaito's not sure what kind. For all his thieving of precious jewelry, in reality he wouldn't be able to tell simple aluminum from silver. It does look…expensive, in its make. It's clearly intricate, and handmade. Not a simple mass produced metalcast someone could buy anywhere on the internet. There is a small loop at the top that makes it seem as though it is meant to be a charm of some sort.
Perhaps his admirer wants him to wear a sign of their affections.
As he turns it over in his hands, he realizes there is still a small card accompanying it. He pulls it out, the dark ink-black of the card shimmering under the passing streetlights.
In elegant characters, the card reads:
"For the one who steals not only jewels, but hearts as well. Wear this symbol of my admiration close, and know that somewhere out there, a heart beats in time with yours. Until our paths cross again, my dear thief." Kaito can't help but let out a quiet laugh. Whoever this secret admirer is, they certainly had a flair for dramatics. This is an escalation from simply slipping paper into his suit jacket, and Kaito finds himself both curious and eager to unravel the mystery at hand.
He thinks for a moment back to tonight’s heist, trying to recall everyone who had been in close enough proximity to him to possibly slip this into his jacket.
Nakamouri, of course. The museum security guard he’d knocked out so he could take his clothes. One of the new recruits from a smaller local police station. Maybe one or two of Nakamouri’s men.
And…Hakuba Saguru.
If he cross-referenced everyone who'd attended heists in the past, when he'd received these gifts before…
The only suspect Kaito can realistically imagine being both dedicated and skilled enough to pull this off would be Hakuba. Though, Kaito supposes, he shouldn't really rule out any of the nameless deputies in Nakamouri’s squad - perhaps this is simply a tactic to throw him off his game, to unsettle him.
Still. Wouldn’t it be fun if it was Hakuba?
Kaito chuckles to himself as he considers the possibility. The elegant and composed detective, known for his sharp intellect and unwavering pursuit of justice, engaging in such a clandestine and romantic gesture with the thief he himself has sworn to catch? Seems highly unlikely. But it wouldn’t be the first time he’s caught Kaito unaware, would it? Nor would it likely be the last.
With a mischievous grin playing on his lips, Kaito considers the possibility of buying a long, delicate chain for his newly acquired bird charm and wearing it during his next heist. It would, of course, be a heist that Hakuba would be attending. With how easily it seems to shine, even in the low light at night, Kaito imagines it would be dazzling on full display, under the bright searchlights as he steals away another gem. If it was Hakuba that had given it to him, what would he do? Would he recognize it immediately? Would he corner him on another rooftop and demand an answer from him, a sign of returned affections? Or would he reveal it had all been a ruse? A game he’d been playing to test him?
The anticipation of Hakuba’s reaction adds a layer of thrill to Kaito’s already exhilarating plans for his next heist. He can’t wait to pull the thread that will unravel this mystery.
Folding the origami bird back into its protective tissue paper, he carefully tucks it back into his pocket.
Perhaps he’ll even take it upon himself to write a note of his own, a little personal treat and challenge for his favorite detective.