Showcase 3: The Thief and the New Alliance

"You were going to say something about the 'private stuff' you were thinking, so I am all ears," Kaito says after school, as he and Rei walk on the streets. "Okay, Kuroba-kun." Rei says, inhaling a deep breath, "I am going to tell you something about me that you will have to, emphasis on the 'have to', keep it a secret."

"Okay..."

"And also, I will keep your secret."

"What's that about?"

"You cannot fool me on your identity, Kaitou Kid."

"Wha-How-Not you too! I am not Kid!"

"No, I can see it, the memories and thoughts. And through that came the truth." Her right eye starts to glow pale into golden white. "That is a secret one. The one that I was thinking was secret two. That my part-time job is a PSB and I have to infiltrate with the I-cannot-say-that-to-protect-your-life stuff, and that is all I can talk to you about. I do not want you to get involved in this, or you have great consequences."

"Okay..."

"And also, I will make a proposition with you, about the organisation you're facing. They want to Pandora? Well, I know where it is."

"You do?"

"Yes, in fact, it is right beside you."

"What? Where?" Kaito looks at her with disbelief.

"Don't believe me? The Pandora is the stone of life, right? It says that it will glow red under the moon and the drops of water will come down from that gem being held under the moonlight under a certain amount of time is immortal liquid?"

"Yeah, so?"

"What I mean is, The Gem that you are finding might actually exist, but that f**king organisation wouldn't have it because it is in good hands."

"What do you-"

"They are able to find it, only if they are capable of defeating the person that has it, who is my mentors."

"And who is that person?"

"I will tell them to help to fight against them."

"Um... Then what should I do?"

"I'll help."

"But how?"

"There are powers beyond that. I have the ability, my friend has it. Actually, my cousins and my friend's sisters all have them. We'll help you with this quest. My mentors have the powers, too. They taught us about controlling their kind of magic."

"Then that's why-"

"Yes, that is why Nide is not affected by the charm spell that scarlet witch did. That f**king spell doesn't even worth a sh**."

"Um... Thanks?"

"You're welcome. Sorry for the swearing." She adds, "I can't stop myself, as I detest the organisation you are after. We are on the same boat."

"Wait, so that means..."

Rei walks away rapidly. Kaito has no choice but to follow.

She is such a weird, busty but sharp girl. I would say she is more intelligent than that small detective. Kaito thought as he trots forward to catch up to Rei, his mind with a picture of Conan.

"Well, since you know who I am, why don't you come to my headquarters? I was actually planning on a heist in Paris! Did you see the news about the large gem in Paris?"

"You mean that one in the Louver museum?"

"Yeah."

"And you are preparing for the heist then? That is the truth of your trip?"

"Actually, my mom says that that stone might contain Pandora, as it is enormous. So she basically forces me to organise this trip, with a 'no ifs, no buts and no ands.' way, cutting off the face time."

"Oh, I see. My cousin has a similar mom. Though she passed away with her husband, leaving her daughter, my cousin, in an orphanage."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Wait, you have a cousin?"

"Yeah, in fact, there are two. I am the Hiro family, the one I just mentioned beforehand is in the Atsuko family, and there is another one, currently in New York, is in the family of Yajirushi."

"Oh, that's a big family you have."

They go in silence after that. It is hard for Kaito to go and do another heist again, he knows that himself, after what had happened in Singapore. He needs to stay alert and be on his guard all the time. Then Rei stops.

"What's wrong, Rei-chan?"

She turns around.

"What's wrong?" Kaito repeats.

"You need assistance in the heist, do you? After what happened in Singapore, you need help more than ever. Chiharu-chan's father told me to be carefree, but also to ask for help when you need it. Don't worry. If something's wrong, I'll get reinforcements."

"What if you ended up getting hurt?"

"Like I said before, don't worry. I will be fine, even if that meant that I got shot for you, you need to fulfil your mission. If it is not for you, then at least, for your father's sake."

"Um...Thanks?"

"You're welcome. Thank you for inviting Nide and me on the trip."

"You're welcome."

"See you tomorrow, Kuroba-kun!"

"See you, Rei-chan."

"By the way, please call me Rei."

"Why? I thought it was cute!"

"Because we are partners from now on, comrades."

"Oh, okay." Kaito looks surprised.

She runs away to an ugly, white apartment. Kaito watches her, crossing roads until her figure walks into that building. He sighs, what a girl, already mature when she is in high school. He walks home the rest of the way in silence. Then, as he puts his bag and gets everything settled, he suddenly remembers something.

"I forgot! I am going to brainstorm ideas with Jii-chan! I need to get there in time!" He thought for a second after the panic. I probably send an email to Rei just in case if I need help. She is now an allay after all. He thought as he types on his computer briefly before rushing down the stairs, almost tripping himself as he did so, and races down the streets to a pub named "Blue Parrot".

"Kaito-botchama, everything is prepared for your next heist." An old man around his sixties says.

"Thank you, Jii-chan!" Kaito chirps, but he starts to get worried after seeing all that stuff, "That is a lot of things to carry. I am sure if I carry that all around with my friends, they will get suspicious."

"But that seems to be the only way," Jii replies with a tone of worry.

Suddenly the door bursts open, a girl with silver hair appears huffing and puffing. "Am I late?"

"No, just in time."

"Great. You suddenly just sent me a message, and I just happened to see it, so you were lucky. My dad is out in a bar tonight, so he will probably come home by three." Rei says, catching her breath.

"Three p.m.?" Kaito asks.

"Are you dumb? Three a.m.! I hate him when he is drunk."

"Um... Botchama..." Jii says frowning.

"Don't worry, Jii-chan. She is going to be our partner today and so on. She promises to keep my identity a secret as long as I keep hers."

"But I do not want anyone to get other people involved in some dangerous situations," Jii says, referring to the incident in Singapore.

"Are you the 'Jii-chan' he mentioned in his letter?" Rei asks.

"Yeah, Konosuke Jii."

"Then nice to meet you, Jii-san."

"Nice to meet you, too."

"Anyways, are you trying to take all that stuff to Paris? That's insane if you decide to put it in a suitcase." Rei peers on to the snooker table, where all of the items are prepared, "I'll think of something, though, don't worry."

"You sure you can think of something?" Kaito asks.

"Actually, I just thought of someone I can ask to help."

"Please don't let too many people involved," Jii says.

"Don't worry. It would be all on me if something went wrong. I will probably make up some tale to explain some miracle of yours."

"O...Okay." Kaito says, then looks at Rei as she dials a number on the contact list of hers, written Ryoko Mischief. Oh, I see, Kaito thought, that's obvious enough.

Then there is this English conversation, along with some weird language in between that sounds a bit like Japanese, a bit Greek, a bit Latin and a bit Chinese. After that, Rei stops the call and gives them a reply.

"Ryoko-chan has it."

"What?" Kaito asks.

"An idea on that. Wanna hear it?"

"Sure!"

-----

Yes, people, a cliffhanger, and I will never mention the trick until it has been solved by others.

Enjoy the worst moments of your life trying to figure it out, whether it's that trick, whoever the person Ryoko is (Which is actually quite easy, if you think carefully), or what that language is (Which you will never think of).

Thank you, guys, for following along the story and patiently waiting for new updates.

Happy Boxing Day!

Silence as Deduction/Sweet Silent Death