Title: Before the Sunset Mansion Author: natt_barn Beta: None. Warnings: None Rating: pg Word Count: 713 Summary: How did Kid know about the Sunset Mansion?
Saguru studied the invitation. It was quite simple, informing him that he was invited to the 'Sunset Mansion' for dinner, and that the check included was to pay for his services as a detective. That was all fine, he'd gotten invitations like it before. It was the signature that interested him.
"Phantom's Child that God abandoned." He read out loud, smirking slightly. "Not up to your usual standards."
Of course, someone who didn't know English would probably have more problems. The rest of the riddle on the other hand, it wasn't very impressive. He'd used about a minute to solve it.
Saguru tapped the edge of the invitation against his lips with a thoughtful look. On the first glance this looked perfectly innocent, on the second and third too actually. Typical Kid, invitation and riddle in one package, with just enough mystery to capture the attention of any detective.
Just a heist note, albeit an unusual one.
However, normally, two small details didn't scream loudly for his attention, demanding it right now.
One, the check. Where had Kuroba gotten that much money? 2 million yen wasn't something a high school student got their hands on easily. And that was only if he was the only one to get an invitation.
Two, Kuroba had most definitely not been acting the way he did when Kid was about to pull something. No falling asleep in classes, no hiding papers from people's sight, no teasing Nakamori-san more than usual.
Saguru was convinced he did that to relive some of the tension before a heist, even if he couldn't understand what was so calming about being chased by a furious Nakamori-san with a weapon.
But, all in all, things didn't quite add up. It was possible it was an imposter, but then there was the question of why? Imposters were usually more interested in the attention a heist got, for whatever the reason. This didn't look like this could get all that much attention.
So, real or fake?
Saguru smirked. There was one way of getting an answer.
¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
School was over for the day, and most of the students had already left. Saguru smiled, and 'accidentally' knocked his bag down from his desk, so that the contents ended up on the floor.
The invitation was very visible among the more colourful books.
"Ohh. Do you need any help, Hakuba-kun?" Aoko asked, having finished packing her own bag, and was now waiting for Kuroba to get his stuff.
"Let him deal with it himself when he's such a klutz." Kuroba muttered, and Aoko glared.
"I would appreciate it." Saguru decided. He didn't like using Aoko, not even for something as minor as this, but he wasn't close enough with either to casually discuss his weekend plans
Aoko nodded, and knelt down to help him gather the books. There were a few more than he strictly needed, but he'd gotten used to bring more so he was guaranteed to have something to do all day.
"You going somewhere?" She lifted the invitation from the heap, and read it. "Phantom's Child that God abandoned? Who's that?"
"I do not know." Saguru watched as Kuroba leaned forward and snatched the invitation from Aoko. "I recieved it yesterday."
"Hey!" Aoko aimed a book at Kuroba, but Hakuba stopped her.
"Please don't use my books to hit him with. I like them in one piece." He put it back in the bag, got to his feet and helped Aoko to hers.
Kuroba was frowning at the paper in his hands, irritation barely visible on his face. So, he'd solved the riddle then. And didn't like what he saw.
"May I have that back?" Saguru held out a hand. Kuroba glanced at him, that handed it to him.
"Looks boring." He said, shrugging. "Just your thing then."
"Kaito." Aoko said, but was ignored as Kuroba stalked out of the room. She sighed, said goodbye, and followed, yelling at her friend.
Saguru felt rather pleased with himself. He was certain now that Kuroba hadn't sent the invitation. Which meant someone else was pretending to be the thief.
Which also meant that now that Kuroba knew about it, Kid would be there to defend his honour.
If Saguru hadn't wanted to go before, he certainly did now.