Chapter Text
Kaitou KID was a thief. While he had fans and a policy against allowing anyone to be hurt, he still was a thief; which meant that he didn’t have as many opportunities to save the day as he would like. So Suzuki Jirokichi asking for help was a rare chance to prove to Conan that he wasn’t just a thief. He was a good guy also! Kaito beamed at the ‘notice’ the old man had concocted. He was making it easy for him too. Jirokichi was hiring plenty of positions to give KID a chance to infiltrate the mansion.
(It was stupid to think about appearance for this, but the man had just handed him the opportunity to save the day as a cute maid.)
It was obvious that Jirokichi wanted him to get in that safe, the Iron Tanuki, for some reason. So he’d use a day to investigate (make sure that he wasn’t being set up or anything), wait for Conan to show up (because the kid had to come), and then open a safe designed by one of the greatest mechanical engineers of all time (maybe he shouldn’t be so excited about that given how deadly that mansion was). While the new maid was cleaning she planted listening devices, so she could keep track of what was going on.
It didn’t take too much poking around to realize that the old man’s dog wasn’t there. He hadn’t died, right? That would be the worst. But… no… There was something in the safe that Jirokichi couldn’t get. Something important enough for him to ask Kaitou KID for help. And there was a pair of plates missing every meal… Was it possible? Had he really locked Lupin in the safe? And if so, why didn’t he just open it up himself?
She was crawling on the floor using the excuse that she was looking for the dog (and really Jirokichi didn’t need another maid, that floor was immaculate) with a flick of her wrist, she sent the notice spinning through the gap under the door while the system was off, per Jirokichi’s demonstration to Nakamori and Mouri. She didn’t falter or smirk, just kept ‘looking for the doggy’. Around the corner she heard Jirokichi dismiss Mouri since the notice was clearly a fake. “And of course, the so-called natural enemy of his, this little brat here, should also head home.”
Conan! He was sending him home?! Kaito scurried forward and- WHAM!
Ouch.
His hand went automatically up to his face to check his disguise, then he noticed what had hit him. “Ah! I’m so sorry! Are you alright?!” Kaito Seto Mizuki exclaimed, leaning close to Conan.
“Y-yeah.” Conan nodded, lowering his hand from rubbing his new bump.
“I was looking for a doggy!” Mizuki explained, anxiously. “I was looking left and right and didn’t watch where I was going.” She helped Conan up as she clambered to her feet.
“A doggy? If you mean Uncle’s beloved dog Lupin, it was hospitalized due to bad health a few days ago.” Sonoko told her. “At least that’s what he told me.”
“Really?” Mizuki exclaimed dismayed.
“You’re a maid and you didn’t know about it?” Sonoko asked, a bit confused.
“It’s my first day.” Mizuki glanced down. “But it’s such a pity… I heard that there was a cute doggy here and I was looking forward to it… My pet doggy died last month.”
“O-oh, I see.” Ran looked somewhat uncomfortable.
“But I raised that dog from the time it was young and it was already very old.” Mizuki said awkwardly, excusing herself. KID felt Conan’s eyes on him her as she walked hurriedly away. Just moments later Nakamori exploded. Kaitou KID allowed himself the barest hint of a smirk. They’d found his notice.
There was no risk of Conan being sent away now.
KID had to get Jirokichi alone to confirm his suspicions and determine exactly what he wanted him to do. So Mizuki volunteered to bring the old man dinner. She spotted Conan and felt mischievous.
“Hey,” She called. “Have you found Kaitou KID?”
“N- no.” He replied. “Not yet.” Ran and Sonoko intercepted her before she could proceed down the hallway.
“You’d better not use this corridor.” Ran whispered to her.
“Huh? Why?” She asked.
“You’re suspected of being KID.” Sonoko answered, side-eyeing the cluster of police officers judgmentally.
“What?!” KID mentally ran over Mizuki’s past actions. Where had she- Sonoko turned her annoyed gaze on Conan.
“All because this brat talks too much.” Ah, of course. He should have guessed.
“That’s troublesome.” She looked down at the tray of food. “The master said I had to send this food to his room.”
“Uncle did?” KID took the opportunity to update Conan (and the girls) about what he’d learn of Jirokichi’s recent habits. Ideally he’d work out what was going on and they could work together. If not… well, Conan would probably figure out what was going on regardless.
The butler volunteered some more useful information. Then reminded Mizuki of her duties. As she rushed forward she knocked into Mouri and coins went flying everywhere. As she watched them scatter, as if in slow motion, three things flashed through KID’s mind. Mizuki wasn’t wearing gloves. A clumsy maid would help pick up the coins. She needed an excuse to wipe the coins off. As Mizuki dashed to help she knocked a pitcher of water on Mouri and his change. It had to happen in front of Conan.
KID could only hope that Conan would let him do his job once he realized why he was here.
Mizuki apologized profusely as Jirokichi shouted at them. But then had the perfect opportunity to address him.
“Um, can I ask you what you needed my help with?” She interrupted.
“Help?” He glanced at her questioningly.
“Eh? Didn’t you say something when you called for dinner?” She asked, appearing confused. “Didn’t you say ‘Come and give me a hand’ or something?”
Jirokichi immediately brightened, though he seemed a bit flustered given their surroundings. “A-ah! That’s what I said, that’s what I said.” His eyes darted but to his credit he didn’t give anything away. Clearing his throat, he turned. “Anyway! Let’s go to my room first!” He turned and led her away.
“Yes sir!”
Jirokichi sighed in relief as he closed the door, then he glared at Mizuki as she began uncovering the dinner trays. “Did you have to be a young maid?” He growled. “People might get the wrong idea.” KID smirked as he turned to him, his posture straightening as he allowed his confidence to flow through his frame.
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry. You have a good reputation among your staff.” He assured him in his usual smooth cadence. “They were quite quick to assure me that” KID slipped into Mizuki’s voice. “I had nothing to worry about around you. Besides,” He dropped the voice as his smirk grew. “I doubt they’ll think anything of it once I’ve broken into the safe for you.” Jirokichi huffed.
“Fine.” He looked away. “I should thank you for coming.”
“Ah, yes.” KID leaned back and smiled. “A strange request to be sure.” He cupped his chin in his hand. “I have a few suspicions about what, or should I say, who is trapped in the safe since your faithful companion is absent.” Jirokichi clenched his teeth and looked away. KID frowned. “What I don’t get is why you need me to open the safe.”
The old man sighed. “…The Iron Tanuki is very complex.” He admitted. “I got it a while ago to keep some keepsakes.” KID resisted to urge to roll his eyes without the brim of his top hat to hide them. Only a Suzuki would use a safe like the Iron Tanuki for keepsakes. “But I don’t have to open it very often. So I kept the diagram to open it in Lupin’s collar.” KID winced. “I never wanted to risk opening the safe without it!” Jirokichi defended. “There are all kinds of deadly traps built into the safe.” KID thought back to the deadly mansion.
“I see…” He murmured. KID was familiar with Samizu Kichiemon’s work. It would be a challenge but he could probably get the safe open and rescue the dog. “Alright.” He straightened. “I’m going to need some extended time with the safe to crack it. I’ll need your help to lead the police away.”
“Hm, and what about your natural enemy? That boy, Edogawa Conan?” Jirokichi asked. “How are we going to fool him?” KID’s smile widened.
“We’re not.” He answered, giddy with excitement. “He’s going to be our accomplice.” Jirokichi blinked. Conan would figure it out, and when he did, he’d help them. Afterall, they were trying to rescue a pooch. Conan would help them if it was the right thing to do. Just like he’d let him escape Samizu Kichiemon’s mansion.
KID began to explain his plan.
. ___
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. ^_O~
Jirokichi wasn’t a half bad actor. KID thought to himself. It made sense. The old man was as much a showman as KID was. Their rivalry was borne of Jirokichi’s grudge over publicity. Incidentally, he made an excellent accomplice himself. If he was ever able to move past his jealousy, KID wouldn’t mind working with him again.
Of course, it was Conan who truly shone. He revealed the possibility and ‘evidence’ that Jirokichi was ‘actually Kaitou KID’ at the perfect time, when the old man had enough of a head start to lead them on a merry chase, but not so far that they would suspect that he was a distraction. (And Inspector Chiaki’s arrive coincided with it perfectly. It had been Jirokichi’s idea for KID to call him down with the voice of Nakamori’s subordinate. KID admired the verbal slight of hand enough of allow it.) KID Mizuki made her grand entrance, revealing that ‘Jirokichi’ was tied up in his room (the new butler, poor fellow). Nakamori looked inside the room and saw the notice that Jirokichi had placed on the safe for KID and moments later, the entire mansion had emptied itself of police, chasing down the old man.
KID slipped into the room. He smirked as he pulled on his gloves. “You must like it.” KID froze at the dry voice. “Disguising as a girl.” The door clicked shut behind the boy and KID relaxed. There was no telltale click of the watch or whine of the shoes charging up. As he’d suspected.
“Well, it’s much more cute this way.” KID said in his normal voice, looking back at his unimpressed soulmate. “When did you get it?” He taped a bit of paper on the safe to keep track.
“When Jirokichi said to hurry up and bring dinner. You resumed the role of clumsy maid and rushed forward, knocking into Kogoro-occhan with the cart in the process.” KID leaned close to the safe, listening carefully as he twisted one of the dials. Conan explaining his deductions was soothing background noise and he took note of each click. “You didn’t expect Kogoro-occhan to drop his wallet and scatter coins everywhere.” That click was different. KID noted it on the paper. “You weren’t about to be careless by picking them up and leave your fingerprints on the coins. That said, it also would have been unnatural to stand there and do nothing.” KID connected a few lines, quietly impressed by his soulmate’s ability to so accurately delve into his mental process by observing such simple actions. “That’s why you spilled the water, right? So you had an excuse to wipe off the wet change before you gave it back to Kogoro-occhan.”
“Oh? You discovered I was KID just from that?” KID fiddled with another knob, remembering this information for next time. Perhaps he should coat his fingertips with glue or clear nail polish in the future, if Conan could so easily determine his identity from him hiding his fingerprints.
“The real telling moment was when you said, Jirokichi-ojisan asked you to ‘lend me a hand’.” Conan continued at his prompting. KID focused on the safe as he worked. One ear on his detective (who had figured it all out, just as KID had known he would), the other on the clicks. Ah, that was it. He tuned Conan out for a moment. This part was tricky.
The boy trailed off. KID glanced at the knob and drew another notation. “That looks complicated.” Conan said hesitantly. “Need my help?” KID moved the knob a few digits. Then he looked back at Conan.
“On that door back there.” He said, Conan glanced back. “There are a number of indentations, as if something had hit it, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That probably means, if this dial isn’t turned right…” KID’s heart nearly stopped as a projectile erupted from the dial. His head whipped around at Conan’s shout, but the boy had hit the deck just in time, allow KID to maintain his impeccable poker face. “That will happen.” He smiled slightly and hopefully reassuringly at Conan. “Well, leave it to a pro.” This was also a bit of a chance to show off, even if he had to focus more on the safe then on Conan.
KID returned his attention to his notes, finger moving between two of the three. Maybe they had to move in combination with each other? KID put his hand on the upper dial. “Hey, this tile over here. isn’t it oddly new?” Conan asked beside him. KID looked down. “Look, that one.” Conan pointed taking a few steps forward. KID’s hand slipped as he bent for a better look.
Oh. That was a bad sound.
KID grabbed Conan by the collar and yanked him back as the axe descended on him. Shattered tile erupted at their feet. “As expected, a truly great safe by the master of traps Kichiemon.” KID said breathlessly. Both of them staring wide-eyed at the axe. KID and Conan stiffened as the safe whirred. But instead of another trap, it was a doll, mocking him. “This guy’s really too much.” KID muttered as Conan lightly laughed.
“I guess you already know why I’m here.” KID said, placing Conan safely to the side of the safe before he returned to his work. “Since you helped lead the police away.” It was oddly satisfying to know that Conan had helped him.
“Yeah, because of Jirokichi-ojisan’s odd behavior.” Conan began to explain again. KID relaxed somewhat as the boy explained his deductions, though he remained focused on the safe. Conan’s voice was somewhat calming when he wasn’t mocking him or tearing apart his tricks.
There was a click of things coming into place and KID and Conan smiled in unison. “All for the one swallowed by the Iron Tanuki…” They were greeted by a wagging tail and excited panting. “This little guy.” Lupin the dog stepped forward, surrounded by the plates Jirokichi had pushed through to feed him since he’d been locked in the belly of the beast, and barked.
An instant later he had jumped on to Conan, knocking him to the ground and licking his face. Giving all of the credit to the wrong person. Though KID didn’t mind. Conan was laughing and wrestling with the pooch, KID committed the scene to memory. The sloppy licks the boy was getting would have ruined his disguise (and subsequent reveal) anyway.
“Hey, come on!” Conan protested through his laughter. KID knelt and undid the tie around Lupin’s neck, curious to see how much he’d gotten right.
“As the old guy said,” He explained. “Underneath his bandana,” KID pulled it free and ran his eyes over it. “Is the guide to opening the Iron Tanuki. He had to use this to open it every time.” He looked at Conan and was treated to an adorable image of the dog cuddling up to his small soulmate.
“Then, that was why…” Conan said with a smile.
“Yeah, he only realized his beloved Lupin wasn’t with him when he’d already closed the safe.” KID returned the bandana to around the dog’s neck. “That’s why he had to come to me crying for help.” He straightened. “Because the only one who can open such a masterful safe in such a short time…” KID pulled his cape free and released a puff of smoke. “Would be the one and only Kaitou KID.” He said, decked in his white garb, face free of any disguise, save his monocle and hat.
Conan rolled his eyes. KID moved to the balcony, hopping on the rail. He could hear the sirens now. “Looks like they’ve figured out the old guy was the real deal and are on their way back.” He observed.
“But this was a real risk, you know.” Conan commented, walking out on to the balcony after him. “This could have all been a trap.”
“Yeah, I considered that at first too, but after visiting in secret and seeing the reason I decided to help.” He made his way up to the roof and looked down at Conan. “Afterall, I’m a big fan of the real ‘gentleman thief’.” He turned, trying to look cool. “To see Lupin shut away in that dark cage, I couldn’t just stand by, could I?” KID dove off the roof and opened his hang-glider. He stuck in the headphone attached to the listening device just in time to catch Conan say. “Don’t get too friendly.” Followed by a bark and thud as Lupin presumably tackled him again. Conan laughed again. “Hey! Hey! You don’t get to friendly either! By names we’re meant to be enemies.” KID chuckled as he flew towards the moon. Conan didn’t seem to understand that they couldn’t help it. True gentlemen thieves had a soft spot for their best pursuers. The same one magicians had for their critics.
KID really owed Jirokichi and Lupin thanks for the relaxed interaction he’d had with his soulmate. Not that it would protect them from his pranks should Jirokichi challenge him again.