Chapter Text
KID heists had been different for some time now. No longer was it about chasing a thief through the night, setting elaborate traps, outwitting his long time rival.
No, tonight Nakamori Ginzo was on high alert, gun attached to his belt. He’d had to use it before, and he prayed he’d never have to again.
It was a damn cliche really, stalking out the outside of a rich old fuck’s mansion because he’d flaunted his wealth and been surprised to find his vault robbed within the week.
He couldn’t even assure the family he’d be able to return what KID had stolen. KID didn’t return gems as often as he used to. Kaito didn’t return gems as often as he used to. That still stung. The boy he’d watched grow up alongside his daughter-
Well, he’d always been Toichi’s boy.
Nakamori leaned up against a tree, fishing his lighter out along with a cigarette-
“So I assume you’re wondering what else we found.” A sugary voice spoke from above him.
In other days, better days, Nakamori may have been startled, but he was resigned as he looked up in the tree.
Bandaged arms and legs, a mask covering much of his face. Clearly inspired by the Phantom Lady of older times. Dyed hair or a wig, Nakamori never cared enough to check. The branch must be pretty sturdy to support his weight.
“Nothing I can use in court, that’s for certain.” Nakamori crossed his arms.
“But it’s a start.” The Phantom flicked up a flash drive. “You know, I always found him…upsetting, back when I was in those circles, but I never had anything I could settle on investigating. It’s almost validating.”
The Phantom passed the drive down to Nakamori.
“And what about this gem? It the right one?”
The Phantom let out a huffy little laugh. “Of course not. It never is.”
“Then why do it, Hakuba?”
The atmosphere turned icy despite the summer night. Nakamori gripped the drive as tightly as he could without breaking it.
It had started out small. KID escaping when he logically shouldn’t have. Then there was the missing evidence. Information KID had no way of knowing.
Unmasking Kaito, and when push came to shove, Hakuba had turned a gun on Nakamori.
And now he sat up here in a tree, just a much a phantom, a criminal like Kaitou KID. Two boys Nakamori lost in an instant.
“...I guess because sometimes the law isn’t always ‘the good’ and sometimes you have to be bad to get results.” The Phantom half-stood, and both could hear the branch finally crack under his weight. “Well, I best bid you farewell, inspector.”
Nakamori didn’t bother trying to stop him. He’d get away anyways.
He just lit his cigarette and clutched the thumb drive even tighter.