Floral Delights Ch.2

At approximately 15 minutes to ten in the evening, a young boy could be seen alone, by anyone who cared to look, on an office building skyscraper. Conan Edogawa sat on the top of the mini building that housed the stairwell and doorway to the roof entrance, swinging his legs over the edge of it, as he watched and waited, with a look of intent and excitement on his face. Three buildings over from his position lay the brightly lit Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, one of several luxury hotels that could be found in the Nihonbashi area.

Tonight the hotel was playing host to a French diplomat, a Mr. Lambert, who had decided that he wanted to throw a party before he left the country to return to France. His wife, of course, had felt the need to advertise that she would be wearing the Sancy diamond, on leave from the Louvre.

Apparently Kaitou Kid had decided at the last minute, really only hours after the revealing of the Sancy diamond had been announced, that he wanted to 'borrow' the diamond from the lady. Mrs. Lambert had unexpectedly been happy at the news that Kaitou Kid would be at the party. The last Conan had seen of her, she'd been giggly with delight at having a chance to meet the thief, bragging about how close she would be to him. Which he found somewhat creepy, seeing as the woman had to be in her fifties and the diamond was set in a pin she had attached to her breast. He felt a large dose of sympathy for Kid, though not enough to let him get away with the theft of the diamond, even if the actual theft might be punishment enough.

Conan had difficulties in being able to understand the fascination people, especially women of all ages, had for the thief. Sure, he understood the delight of the chase and the chance to match wits with someone of such a high intellect. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. The chance to stand toe to toe with the thief had become one of his reasons for so desperately wanting his own body back. How much closer would he be able to get to the thief if he was his proper age? It was a question that late at night, when he was drifting in that in between world where dreams and reality mixed, he asked himself.

But the romantic fascination some ladies had for him, like Sonoko did, completely baffled him. Did they not see that the man was still a criminal, beneath the white tux and flirtatious charm?

Regardless, the last minute announcement of Kid's intentions had made the heist this time around incredibly simple to deduce. Too simple in Conan's opinion, though it seemed the police, with all their people and a whole task force dedicated to just this work, had not been able to completely figure it out quite yet. That or they thought they could honestly catch Kid by hanging around the Sancy diamond. They never learned it seemed.

Tilting his head in thought, he looked up towards the sky. He knew by glancing at the watch on his wrist that there was still five minutes before he needed to start seriously watching out for Kid. He'd simply decided to arrive early at the spot he'd pinpointed as being Kid's escape route. There was always the small chance that Kid would be running early and he didn't want to risk missing the thief because he hadn't thought ahead.  

After tonight he needed to get back to doing some serious scouting for the Black Organization though. He'd promised himself one night of fun, before he would put his all into finding them. He was especially worried after what Haibara had told him last night. As fast as the frown flitted across his face it disappeared. It was ten now, which meant the hotel would quickly be descending into absolute chaos.

The hotel itself was something that was inconsequential to him though. Narrowing his eyes, he kept them trained carefully on the 35th floor of the building. If he was right then that was where Kid would be making his escape from.

Holding his breath, he activated his glasses so that he could hear what was happening. Smirking with triumph as the sound of Kid announcing his entrance rang through his ears, he gave himself a mental pat on the back for having thought ahead, and planting the bugs throughout the party room. Being a child was useful at times, Conan grudgingly admitted to himself, especially when he needed a handy excuse to explain why he was places he shouldn't be. He'd never admit it out loud though.

With all his senses stretched to the max, prepared for when Kid would make his most likely grand exit and head his way, he easily heard the clunk of boots on steps, even through the doorway and walls of the building.

Confused and wary, Conan took his attention off the hotel windows, which showed nothing as the room had been filled with neon green smoke. As the door handle started to shake as someone tried to open the door, only to find it locked, Conan quickly pulled his feet up and lied on his belly, inching away from the edge and hiding himself in some shadows caused by the ventilation system that was also on the top. Curses started to filter through the doorway as the door refused to give.

Conan started to relax, figuring whoever had been trying to get up here, most likely for a smoke, had given up at the locked door. Feeling grateful he'd thought to lock the door, even if it had mostly been to slow Kid down if he tried to go through there, he froze again as he heard the clinking sounds of someone picking a lock.

Whoever was trying to get through was determined it seemed, and Conan seriously doubted they had come up here just to smoke, as he'd first thought. Holding very still and quieting his breathing, so as to be nearly inaudible, Conan waited as an audible click of a lock opening was heard.

The door opened with only the slightest of creaks, before being quickly shut and relocked. He watched as a black fedora hat came into view, the man striding forward without preamble towards the edge of the roof. In his hand he carried a plain, black leather guitar case.

He felt a trickle of fear slide down his spine at the sight of that case. Why would a supposed musician be carrying pick locks around, and breaking his way rooftops?

Taking in the broad shoulders, dressed in a black tuxedo, and the sheer bulk of the man, Conan felt completely outmatched. Even if he tried the stun watch, would there be enough of the drug to knock this man out?

After an accidental meeting with someone from the Organization, who had been at least somewhat immune to the watch, Conan had been feeling very nervous about using it on strangers. He'd only lucked out that time it failed. It seemed the man had done something to anger the Organization, and the man had been killed later that same night. Conan was still unsure if anyone had realized, he was the one to put the man in a semi-drugged state and that he had helped to ensure the man's death by doing that.

The feelings of guilt and fear were still there, brewing under the surface, waiting to bubble out and consume him. He'd kept them pushed down until now, using the sudden heist as a distraction from the turmoil inside him, but the feelings were starting to surface. This man shouldn't be here, was the message his instincts were screaming at him.

Glancing down he noted, with a clinical mind, that his hands were shaking like leaves caught in a gale. The soft thump and clink of the man setting his case down and flicking the latches open drew his attention back up.

Conan's already pale skin became milk white at what he saw.

Inside the case was not a guitar, something he'd already suspected, but instead was a sniper rifle. The lighting wasn't the best for proper identification, but if he made a guess he'd say it was either an M-16 or something similar.

He jolted slightly, as suddenly chuckles came through clearly on his headset. Conan's eyes darted immediately to the dangerous man who was assembling the rifle. Judging by the lack of response, the man hadn't been alerted to his presence by the light sound of his hand sliding on loose rock.

"Really tantei-kun, if you wanted to listen to me talking, you could have simply shown up." More chuckling followed this comment.

Conan allowed the wave of irritation to wash over him, to help erase the feeling of inadequacy. Here was an opponent he had always been able to do something about. The feeling only lasted until the pieces all fell into place seconds later though. Kid talking to him meant he was exiting now. He would be flying towards him, right in plain sight of the man who by now had fully assembled the rifle and was loading it with the cartridges.

Panic overwhelmed him and he could hear himself start to hyperventilate. Apparently the man had heard as well.

Turning his head sharply, glancing in the corners of the building, the man's sharp eyes made quick movements across the roof. Conan forced himself to hold still, knowing that moving even the slightest would alert the man to where he was. He could only hope that he'd shifted enough into the shadows earlier.

The chuckling in his ear had disappeared, and he felt a vague pang in his chest at the lost. No matter how irritating the thief was, at least it had been a distraction from the fear coursing through his veins right then.

The man set the rifle down carefully, before standing up and reaching into his jacket. When he pulled his hand back out to reveal a pistol, Conan felt the cold logic of his mind slip to the front, pushing all his doubts and fears away for the moment. They'd be back later, he knew that, but he was willing to take momentary clarity and use it to his full advantage.

Steadying his breathing, Conan very carefully maneuvered his right hand forward towards his belt. He'd get only one shot, but that was all he'd need. If the man was disorientated the sleeping drug in his watch dart would be enough to knock him out. At the very least, he'd be slowed down enough that Conan would have a chance to get into a more advantageous position. All he needed was time for Kid to get there.

Much as he didn't wish to rely on a thief, or owe him a debt, he wasn't so prideful he'd risk getting killed. He'd made that mistake once, and now he was in the body of a child. He wasn't going to play with Lady Luck again. Odds were he'd end up dead the next time he did.

The man continued moving, the gun held out in front of him as he started a careful sweep of the rooftop. Conan waited until the moment was right, and as the man started to turn he quickly released the soccer ball while his left hand activated the shoe. The man startled and was in the middle of twisting towards him when Conan slammed the ball with his foot.

The man slipped though, hitting the floor as the soccer ball flew right where his head would have been. Cursing under his breath, Conan ducked behind the ventilation system as the man raised the gun to fire. The shot pinged off the metal as he tried to decide what to do now. If Kid wasn't on his way over with his task force after him, Conan was going to become the victim this time around.

Two more shots were fired, each causing the metal to ring with the force of bullets from such a close range. After the next shot hit, he quickly ran, managing to slide over the opposite edge of the mini roof just as the man fired a few more times in the new direction.

Rolling as he hit the floor to prevent any serious injuries, he still gasped as his ankle gave out on him slightly. Pushing through the pain that was suddenly in his right ankle, he moved towards the side of the building with the crosshairs on his watch up and ready. The man had stopped firing, and he could hear him moving closer. The man wasn't used to stealth at close range it seemed. The weapon choice and style of dress was similar to theirs though. Was this man somehow involved with them, or was he just some random crazy with a vendetta against men in white suits?

"Would you mind putting the gun down Snake? It's just not safe walking around with things like that out."

The smooth voice of Kaitou Kid rang out across the tense rooftop, effectively stopping Conan's heart for a second.

Glancing around the corner he could make out Kid, standing on the railing just above the abandoned gun, acting for all the world like this was an everyday occurrence. Then again, maybe this was somewhat normal for the thief.

"This is the end of you now Kaitou Kid!" screamed the strange, black clad man that he now knew to be called Snake.

Conan felt his heart stop as the man jerked the gun to face Kid, and pulled the trigger.

Click.

All three men, or boy in Conan's case, stared at the gun. Conan in shock, Snake in horror and Kid with amusement.

Lightly stepping off the railing to touch down on the rooftop with all the grace of a cat, Kid snapped his fingers as the rifle was suddenly covered in a haze of pink smoke. As it cleared away, the only thing left was a long stemmed rose.

Smirking at Snake, Kid kept his eyes carefully averted from Conan, drawing all the man's attention to himself. Conan took the hint and raised his arm, aiming the watch at the back of the man's exposed nape. Tuning out their voices, he inched closer to them to get a better shot. Taking a few more steps, he set up the shot and pressed.

The faint sound of the release was quickly drowned out as the man started to stumble, eyes rapidly blinking. Right before he collapsed, a disturbing smile spread across his face. Whispering something that Conan wasn't able to catch, but brought a confused look to Kid's face, the man finally blanked out as he hit the ground with a loud thump.

Shoving his hands into his pockets so as not to alarm Kid too much, he walked past the man's fallen body without a glance. Striding within a few feet of Kid, he stopped and looked up, carefully masking the pain his ankle was bringing him.

Taking a breath to steady his voice, Conan spoke. "Thanks. What did he say before he collapsed though Kid?"

Holding his gaze, Kaitou Kid looked down at the serious young boy before him. Purple eyes, sharp in their intensity, raked down his body. Conan shivered slightly as the action left him feeling vulnerable, like he'd been stripped of everything and left exposed for all of the world to see his secrets.

"Let's take care of that sprain first Tantei-kun." Glancing over at the man lying on the ground he continued, "Well, right after we make sure our dear friend doesn't wake up anytime soon."

Walking past him, Kid knelt next to the man and moved quickly with his cape concealing his actions. Moments later he stood up, revealing Snake tied up in thin chains with his hands cuffed rather uncomfortably behind his back. Over his mouth was a black handkerchief that looked slightly damp when the light hit it. Chloroform was the most likely liquid, but Conan wasn't going to argue against drugging the man.

Focusing on the man that had shot at him and been planning to knock Kid out of the sky, Conan failed to notice Kid striding back towards him with a frown on his face. He was made aware of the thief again when he was lifted into a pair of arms. Instinctively he put his arms around Kid's neck at the sudden change in elevation.

"What are you doing?!"

Walking towards the edge of the roof again Kid ignored his weak struggles. The night was catching up to him, the adrenaline starting to wear off and all his pent up emotions were ready to burst. The struggle to hold it back was leaving him too exhausted to put up more than a cursory effort against being held by the thief.

"Aren't you worried about me seeing your face so close?"

Kaitou Kid laughed at that, the chuckles reverberating in his chest and through Conan. Blushing at that, for he wasn't used to being so close to someone, he looked down at the ground. Kid was watching his face, smirking at his reaction.

"It'd be a bit hard for you to identify me Tantei-kun, considering you've been doing your level best to avoid looking at my face this whole time."  

As Conan raised his head up to retort to that, he paled as he felt them both suddenly jump upwards. With dread in his heart he looked back to the ground out of the corner of his eye, and all the color drained out of his face at what he saw. The ground, instead of being a few feet away, was now several hundred meters below as Kid had jumped up onto the railing again.

Ignoring the tightness in his throat and the dryness of his mouth, Conan managed to squeak out, "What do you think you're doing?"

"You're ankle's sprained so I have to carry you myself, unless you want to wreck Tantei-kun." Rearranging Conan in his arms slightly to gain a better grip on the boy he continued. "And we need to talk about tonight it seems. Even for a detective you took Snakes appearance a little too well. Almost like you've seen him before. I'd be delighted to hear why."

Without giving Conan a chance to reply, he leaped.

As the air around them rushed past while they hurtled to the ground, Conan tried to control the urge to lose the contents of his stomach. When the hang glider finally formed and instead of rushing down they were swinging up into the air, Conan gave up his pride and turned his face into the thief's neck. Being at the mercy of someone else while a couple hundred meters above the ground was better than a splash of cold water to the face to get him truly awake.

They glided through the air, past skyscrapers and over the crowded roads. After some time that he hadn't kept track of past, Kid finally landed them on the ground in an empty construction zone. As the glider broke back down into his cape he strode over to a table, clearing some of the tools left laying on it with one hand, before setting Conan down on top of it.

Kid knelt down in the dirt, reaching into one of his many hidden pockets and revealing some basic first aid. He watched as the thief reached out to him, untying his shoe and pulling the sock off, before activating one of the cooling packs. Taking a handkerchief from his sleeve, a green one adorned with white top hats, he used it to secure the cooling pack to his ankle in an effort to reduce the now obvious swelling.

Once he had that set he straightened up, only to set his hands on either side of Conan's hips and lean forward over him.

"Now Tantei-kun, mind explaining?"

"I was up there to catch you. He broke open the door, pulled out the gun. I tried to stop him. You showed up. We both stopped him. You took me away before we could inform the police of his location. Now we're both here. End of story."

"That doesn't explain why you weren't surprised to see him Tantei-kun. And don't worry about apprehending him. I made his location quite clear for anyone caring to look for me."

Feeling a smile try to tug its way onto his face at the thought of what he might have done to grab the police's attention, he deliberately focused on the pain in his ankle to stop the smile.

"Let's just say, I've dealt with people similar to him before. Very similar. Now what did he say before he collapsed, Kid."

The thief straightened up at that, his face odd as if it couldn't decide between exasperation or amusement at him.

"He only said one word. Vermouth."

The thief knelt down again as he spoke, reaching forward to remove the icepack and check on the state of the swelling. Consequently, he missed the flash of fear that appeared on Conan's face and the subsequent look of dread. As Kid busied himself with wrapping his ankle tightly in gauze, Conan was flipping through his memory to collect all the clues, before piecing it all together in his mind.

Kaitou Kid returned what he stole, so he either saw it as a game or he was looking for something specific. Considering that he apparently had snipers after him, and on a regular basis seeing as he knew the snipers codename, that ruled out the game scenario. So Kid was after something and strange people in black didn't want him to find it.

These same strange people worked with Vermouth, who was a member of the Black Organization. The Black Organization was after a way to get immortality. He'd originally thought they were sticking with science, such as the apotoxin, and using crimes to fund the research. But what if they weren't limiting themselves to science? Obviously they weren't completely mentally stable, so what if they thought some gem could get them what they wanted. If Kid were to get it, then it'd most likely be lost to them.

A thought hit him then. The man had said Vermouth's name for a reason. What if she were to going after Kid next? Most likely others would show up as well, since Kid would most likely be blamed for getting one of their operatives caught. Even if they managed to kill the man in jail, they'd be after Kid.

"Do you think you can get someone to come get you?"

Blinking, disorientated at all the thoughts running through his head, Conan looked down at the thief with something of a dumbfounded gaze before nodding his head.

"That's taken care of then. Now try to avoid running into anyone unsavory Tantei-kun. I'd be sad if one of my best critics wasn't showing up anymore."

In a puff of smoke, once again green, the magician disappeared.

Reaching into his pocket and pulling out his cell, Conan placed a call to Agasa asking him to pick him up. Relating the name of the place from a sign placed near the entrance, he hung up right after Agasa said he'd be there in about fifteen minutes. Thumbing through his phone book, he then placed a call to Jodie-sensei.

"Moshi, moshi cool guy. What'd you need this late?" was the answering voice, chipper despite the late hour.

"I've got a lead."

The sweet tone was immediately replaced with a far more serious voice.

"I'm ready."

And Conan related everything that had happened that night, giving his theories as well and the time estimate he thought they had until the next heist. Once he'd finished Jodie said she'd let him know once they were ready to move and they bid each other good night.

Shortly after, Agasa arrived in his little car with a worried look on his face. Waving away inquires about his ankle, he seated himself in the car. Upon arriving at the professor's house, where Ran believed he'd been the whole night, he immediately made his way into one of the guest rooms. Foregoing any of his usual nightly rituals, he undressed before reaching out to pull on his pajamas. It was then he finally noticed what Kid had done. Threaded throughout the gauze wrap was the handkerchief, standing out against the white of his skin and the wrapping.

Deciding he was too tired to remove the thief's handiwork, he resigned himself to sleeping with it on. He could simply get it off in the morning, and no one would be the wiser.

Finally crawling into the bed, he fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was going to need all the rest he could get with them being so close to the Organization.

Just a few more days, I just need to hold on for a few more days.