Chapter 16: Is Mouri Dead?
Mouri Detective Agency. Evening.
The last rays of the setting sun slanted through the office windows. Dust motes danced in the fading light.
Inspector Nakamori Ginzo was practically vibrating with nervous energy, his stern face a mask of controlled confidence. Over thirty officers were positioned around the agency, with snipers on the roof and adjacent buildings.
"Stay sharp, everyone!" Nakamori barked into his radio. "Don't give Kaito Kid a single opening!"
Kogoro Mouri scratched his head, thoroughly annoyed. He hadn't been able to have a proper drink in two days, and his patience was wearing thin. "Hey, Nakamori, is all this really necessary? It was just a calling card."
The Inspector spun around, jabbing a finger at Kogoro's nose. "This isn't just any calling card, Mouri! Kid specifically mentioned a jewel, and you've been seen wearing a strange gem on your chest recently! Kaito Kid always follows through!"
"It's just a... personal collector's item. It's no big deal," Kogoro mumbled.
Ran came into the living room with a tray of tea, looking at her father curiously. "Dad, I didn't know you started collecting gemstones. Is it a present for Mom?"
Kogoro choked on his tea. "COUGH, COUGH... Of course not! What present? Stop making things up!"
Conan sat on the sofa, his sharp eyes scanning the room. He could feel it. He could feel Kid's presence. High above them, nestled in the rafters, Kyubey watched the scene unfold.
[Non-Human Beings Chat Group]
SpongeBob SquarePants: Breaking news! Mr. Mouri's Soul Gem is about to be stolen! Can Kaito Kid really pull it off?!
Tom Cat: [Cat_Thinking_Hard.jpeg]
Kyubey, Giver of Hope: Conan can sense Kid's presence. Does he not find that fact to be a complete contradiction to the science he so fervently believes in?
SpongeBob SquarePants: Hey! I can sense Squidward's presence, too!
Tom Cat: [Cat_Thinking_Even_Harder.jpeg]
Kyubey, Giver of Hope: Here's a little tidbit for you. Conan and Kid are actually cousins. Kid is Conan's younger cousin.
SpongeBob SquarePants: WHAT?! The great phantom thief is this little kid's cousin?! What are they playing at?!
Tom Cat: [Cat_is_Utterly_Shook.jpeg]
As the moon climbed higher, the "night of the fullest moon" from the calling card arrived. Inspector Nakamori looked around, a smug smile on his face. "It's almost time! Everyone, on your toes!"
Haibara and Mitsuhiko were also present, having been called in by Conan for backup. "Do you really think Kid will show up, Conan?" Haibara asked quietly.
Conan nodded. "Kid never breaks a promise. But what I want to know is how he found out about the gem in the first place..."
As they spoke, the police radio crackled to life. "Report! A light signal resembling Kid's insignia has appeared on the Tokyo Tower!"
"Hold your positions!" Nakamori yelled. "It could be a diversion!"
Another voice immediately followed. "Smoke signal spotted near the Police Department, shaped like Kid's logo!"
Ran looked out the window nervously. "Is he really here?"
"Don't you worry!" the Inspector declared. "We're prepared for anything! He won't succeed!"
An hour passed. The time on the calling card had come and gone, and all was quiet. Inspector Nakamori wiped the sweat from his brow and let out a long sigh of relief. "Looks like Kid miscalculated this time! Our defenses were flawless!"
Kogoro relaxed, finally making his way to the liquor cabinet. "See? I told you. As if he'd dare try to steal a gem from the great Kogoro Mouri! Since the crisis is over, let's have a celebratory drink! HAHAHA!"
The police began to withdraw. Ran prepared a late dinner, and Conan, Haibara, and Mitsuhiko gathered around the table. "Well, that was a false alarm," Kogoro said, downing a large glass of whiskey.
At that moment, Conan noticed Kogoro's movements suddenly become sluggish, his eyes growing unfocused.
"Uncle Kogoro?" Conan stood up, alarmed.
Kogoro swayed for a second but then seemed to recover. "I'm fine, probably just tense from all the waiting... Worst case, I can just use magic to fix myself up later." He shrugged it off and didn't give it another thought.
After dinner, Nakamori left a few officers on guard duty and departed. "Since Kid was a no-show, we should head home too," Haibara said.
"It's getting late," Ran agreed.
But Conan felt a nagging unease. "Haibara, Mitsuhiko, don't leave just yet. I feel like... Kid's presence never really left."
"What do you mean?" Mitsuhiko asked. "You're not a magical girl, Conan-kun. How can you sense him?"
"I just have a bad feeling about this."
Just as they were about to leave, Kogoro excused himself and went to the restroom. A moment later, they heard a heavy thud.
"Dad?" Ran knocked on the door. No response.
Conan rushed to the door and forced it open. Kogoro Mouri was lying on the floor, his face as white as a sheet.
"Uncle Kogoro!" Conan yelled, quickly checking his vitals.
Ran screamed, rushing to her father's side. "Dad! Dad, what's wrong?!"
Haibara followed them in and immediately saw the problem. "His gem is gone!"
"What gem?" Ran asked, confused.
"The brown one he's always wearing!" Haibara didn't have time to explain.
Conan instantly grasped the gravity of the situation. That idiot must have let his guard down and someone swiped the gem! If the distance is too great, he can't control his body, which means... he's effectively 'dead'!
"Kid stole the Soul Gem!" he yelled. "We have to get it back!"
Ran clutched her father, tears streaming down her face. "Dad... why... Did Kid poison him to get the jewel?"
Conan's mind was racing. "Haibara, Mitsuhiko, go after Kid! He can't have gotten far! I'll stay here and look after Uncle Kogoro and Ran!"
Haibara and Mitsuhiko sprinted out of the agency. The moment they were outside, Haibara sensed something. "On the roof!"
"Transform!"
They pulled out their Soul Gems, blue and silver light engulfing them.
Inside, Ran sobbed over her father's lifeless body. "Dad... please don't leave me..."
A familiar white figure appeared at the window. "Kyubey!" Conan recognized the creature instantly.
Kyubey padded toward the weeping Ran. "Ran, it looks like you need—"
Conan, realizing Kyubey's intent, activated his power-kick shoes and launched a soccer ball straight at the creature. "GET OUT OF HERE!"
Kyubey was knocked out the window.
"Conan-kun, what was that?" Ran looked up, her eyes red and puffy. "What do I need?"
"N-Nothing! I meant, Uncle Kogoro just needs some rest! He's just sleeping! He does this all the time, right?"
Ran looked at her father's pale face and touched his neck. Her voice broke. "Conan-kun... I know you're trying to make me feel better... but Dad isn't breathing... and he doesn't have a heartbeat..."
A pang of guilt hit Conan. He couldn't tell her the truth without dragging her into this dangerous magical world. All he could do was pray Haibara and Mitsuhiko could get the gem back in time.
On the rooftop, the two magical kids faced the phantom thief. In the moonlight, Kaito Kid's monocle glinted. "Well, well. What do we have here?" he said, genuinely surprised by the two strangely dressed children.
"Kid!" Mitsuhiko shouted. "Give Mr. Mouri back his Soul Gem!"
Kid casually tossed the gem in his hand. "So this is the 'jewel that pulses with magic'? It's certainly interesting, but it doesn't seem to be Pandora..."
"You don't understand how important that is!" Haibara said, her voice cold. "Mr. Mouri will die without it!"
Kid raised an eyebrow. "Die? Don't be ridiculous. How can a simple gemstone be tied to a person's life?"
[Non-Human Beings Chat Group]
SpongeBob SquarePants: Kyubey! Kyubey! Is Mr. Mouri really going to die?!
Kyubey, Giver of Hope: No. They are merely exploiting the gap in their knowledge to mislead Kid. Mouri's body can be reconstructed, but it would require a massive amount of energy. It is far more efficient to simply retrieve the existing body. Wasting energy on reconstruction would be illogical.
Tom Cat: [I_see.jpeg]
SpongeBob SquarePants: Oh, good! Phew!
Before Kid could react, Mitsuhiko attacked. He dissolved into a stream of blue particles and reappeared behind the thief.
"What?!" Kid yelped, narrowly dodging.
Haibara raised her hand, reconfiguring the molecules in the air to form a solid silver wall, blocking Kid's escape route. Mitsuhiko teleported again, this time appearing directly above him. "Give it back!"
Kid dodged again, but Haibara's molecular manipulation had boxed him in. "Just who are you people?" he asked, a look of intense curiosity in his eyes.
Just then, a new voice echoed across the rooftop. "Well, well, Kid. Looks like you've gotten yourself into a bit of trouble."
A girl in a lavish, dark purple and gold outfit, holding a scythe-like weapon, appeared on an adjacent rooftop. It was Akako Koizumi, her long, dark hair flowing in the moonlight.
"Akako? What are you doing here?" Kid asked, surprised.
Akako tilted her chin up haughtily. "I sensed a powerful surge of magic... and it seems I've found its source."
Haibara stared at the newcomer, her senses on high alert. "Another magical girl?"