“Well, we got given the nickname moonlight duo. Not very original but there’s press for you”
“Yeah, they do tend to just use whatever they know will grab the public eyes… I guess that’s not a bad thing, most of the time. Magician under the moonlight, moonlight duo… I think they like how it sounds. Do you guys go after big jewels too?”
Lift it up. Roll back a bit onto hands. Steady. Steady.
Kaito swayed as he tried to find his balance. He had almost fallen over, was still in danger of falling over, but he had managed to get into a handstand. “Lead the way.”
…Yep. Gotta say, it’s a strange sight seeing anyone walking on their hands with tentacles on the top, much less himself… Sigh. His, or their, life. So weird…
“Right… It’s just a couple of streets away, but hopefully not too hard to make it to like that.” Kaito went to pick up the tub, trying not to spill any water out, just in case. And then he nodded to this other self and started to make his way back to the bathhouse.
“Ah yes, we work together in our heists back home~” Guess the kid was right, Phantom felt a bit defensive but he seems ok really.
Hmm… that was a lot different than when he spoke with his other selves. That Kid would have a costumed accomplice… Well, assuming Phantom wasn’t lying, but Kaito didn’t get that from what the other said.
“Hmm… Kid’s never had a partner here… Does that mean you do magic as well? I bet the police would be complaining a lot more about headaches if they have to deal with more than just one white thief~”
“Well, that’s good. I think this is much better than the more common alternative, but I’d still rather have my legs back.” A pause. “I understand if you don’t want to look at me right now.”
Kaito tried to get a better feel for how to move everything that had replaced his legs so that he would be able to keep his balance better when he decided to move to deeper water. Which would be soon. A twitch here, a wiggle there. It was still weird, but he was getting used to it.
“No, I think I’ll be fine right now…”
He does watch a little as the other started testing the tentacles. Really, it’d be better to get used to them now, in case his double needed help getting more situated later. …Just not going to get too close.
“I’d say less dark version more we stand out well together” Phantom said though didn’t get why people kept calling him evil. Sure he was in black and all but doesn’t the bright red make him stand out too much to be some secret guy?
“Hmm… I guess you would… But I can still say ‘dark’ version. Black is darker than white… But if you say that you stand out well with him, does that mean you do already?”
He never said evil, Phantom. Just talking about the colour scheme. And he’s dealt with enough other selves to be open to thinking this guy isn’t exactly from his world. Kaito’s fairly sure he would have noticed yet another person who wears that outfit before now.
…Though he does look familiar in a different way… Hmm…
“Acknowledged. … But then. I am not human? No. Incorrect. I am human.” Faulty logic. Robo is still broken. “Information is conflicting. Humans cannot repair at this speed. Yet I did. But I am human.”
Kaito’s question let Robo pull away his processing power from the dilemma and to a more pressing matter: the identity of his repairer. “Unknown. That information is locked down.” The android crouched down again so they could be eye-to-eye. Or, optic. Speaking of, at least Robo’s gaze wasn’t as terrifyingly cold as it had been in the past.
To his credit, the magician didn’t back up this time. Still not completely comfortable having the other close in the slightest, but not having him looming overhead did help. Somewhat. The robot not acting quite like it had the last time they met made it easier, too.
“Locked down? As in… You don’t know, or it’s literally not something you can access?“
He’s not even going to go into the whole robot-human debate. That was the biggest problem leading to what happened last time… If the other wants to think he’s human, fine. Just so long as it’s not replacing him and killing people.
“Lucky,” he grumbled and crossed his arms tightly over his chest, resisting the urge to pinch at his face again — revenge for all those times he thought it would be funny to disguise as him.
“I’m surprised you’re not using this to your advantage. I’m sure your female fans would be all over a smaller version,” because goodness knows the attention given to him by girls his age had doubled since being shrunk. Most of the time he didn’t mind it, especially when the pretty ones hugged onto him.
“That does sound like a plan~ Though, they wouldn’t really be thinking I’m myself… Wouldn’t entirely make a difference if they were really my fans or not, they’d just be giving a cute kid attention. Which is fine by me~”
Kaito moved his arms behind his head as he gave the detective a wide grin.
“Hmm… More than the fans, though… I wonder how people would act if I did show up to a heist like this. At the very least, even if I got caught, the police wouldn’t be able to completely arrest me, now would they? After all…” The grin fell into a cheerful smile, and a slight tilt of the head and more childish voice… oh so innocent, “I’m just a little ‘Kid’ right now~”
There were still 15 minutes until the bus showed up, so maybe it was a good idea to continue talking to Kuro for now.
“Is it okay if I follow you to the park? I wouldn’t mind meeting your friends!” Okay, maybe she was curious about Kuro as well. The boy had seemed lost at first, but suddenly had to meet with friends? This was a bit odd.
No, it wasn’t okay… But Kaito already suspected she’d join him, since she’d seemed interested in what he was up to. Oh, well, he’s got a plan. Not sure how well it might work, but… guess he’ll see.
“Ah… Well, I don’t mind… But are you sure, oneesan? Wouldn’t it be bad if you missed your bus?”
“Ya think imma le’ a lil’ kid walk home by themselves this late a’ nigh’?” Hattori raised an eyebrow. “An’ wha’ if ya go’ kidnapped, hmmm? Do ya think if ya wen’ missin’ I’d be able ta live with myself?” Hattori shook his head. “I’ll walk ya home an’ make sure ya ge’ there safely, alrigh’?”
He did have to hesitate… but the other just escorted him, that should be fine…
“Umm… Sure.” Kaito rolled up his pants as well he could before standing. The sleeves he just pulled back enough to use his hands to reach down for the hat and monocle, grinning. “Though, for all I know, you might be someone who does that yourself.”
Not entirely serious, since the man just seemed worried about him, but it’s not as though his guard is completely down either. Maneuvering might be difficult right now, but he does still have all of his gear with him.
“There a reason you’re out walking around right now?”
Moonlight Archive 