Thank you all for the support of this story! I hope you enjoy the finale!

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

Chapter 7. Europe's Finest

Late the following morning, Claudine is discharged from the hospital with orders for plenty of rest and taking a few pills a day for pain.

Maya calls them a taxi and helps Claudine into it before they take off back to their hotel. Claudine can't sit comfortably certain ways, and it's a bit difficult for her to stand up on her own, so Maya gets her car door for her when they arrive and helps her up, too. She holds her by the arm, looping their elbows together to escort her at Claudine's own pace.

They take the elevator up to their room, and Maya guides her slowly down the hall, to which Claudine snaps that she isn't an old decrepit lady and that she can walk perfectly fine on her own. But she never actually pulls away from Maya.

When they're back in their room, it's hard to believe yesterday's events had occurred. All of their files and papers are left just as they'd been when the robbery had started, and their chairs are still pushed out from when they'd stood up so quickly at the sounds of shooting.

Maya takes her to the bed, wanting Claudine to be as comfortable as possible as they continue their research. Maya sits beside her there, and together they begin discussing the Phantom Thief again.

Claudine reminds Maya of her running theories that the Thief is stealing gems in rainbow order, and Maya agrees. She pulls out her laptop, and together they watch grainy videos of the Phantom Thief, listen to witness interviews, and scour blurry images.

They investigate for hours, and other than the fact that they're doing so on a hotel bed, they're finally working like actual partners on a case together. They only pause to eat and shower, and for Maya to redress Claudine's wound and force her to take her medicine.

It's after Maya has finished her shower and is just stepping out of the bathroom with a towel padding her hair when she finds Claudine mulling over yet another video. Maya quietly makes her way over and peers over her shoulder.

"I know that look. What are you thinking?"

Claudine makes a pensive expression.

"Something's always bothered me about his voice. I could never tell what it was, but I think I can hear it a bit better in this video. Here."

She plays the blurry clip of their Thief again, and Maya listens as he spouts out some cheesy line:

"You've all been quite lovely! Thank you once again for your gems, Paris! But they just aren't good enough! I'll have to try again soon! Please look forward to my next visit!"

Maya tilts her head a little.

"You're right. He sounds almost-"

"Warped." Claudine nods, crossing her arms. "I think Phantom Thief Starlight has been using a device to warp his voice. And his speech is awfully strange for a man. So what if-"

"-The Phantom Thief is a woman?"

Claudine smirks.

"I think so."

"Let's call the Chief right away."

For the remainder of the evening, Claudine and Maya scour through evidence, more and more of which confirms the Phantom Thief is likely female. When Chief Daiba and Chief Hoshimi both agree, Maya and Claudine are ecstatic in knowing they're one step closer to knowing more about their suspect.

They work well into the night, until Claudine's medication begins making her drowsy. When Maya insists they go to sleep, Claudine protests weakly, but she's already half-asleep.

"We're on a roll with this…" she mumbles.

"We are," Maya agrees. "But we can keep going tomorrow. We'll catch our Thief yet."

Maya cleans everything up, then helps Claudine lie down onto her good side.

And though she has her own bed, Maya never goes to it. She lies down beside Claudine now, looping her arms around Claudine's shoulders and kissing her nose.

They sleep soundly together all through the night.

The following day is spent with more investigating.

Claudine sticks to her theory of finding a gem of the next color of the rainbow, and Maya researches every museum and shop with such jewels on display. Based on the Phantom's most-recent activity, they believe they've narrowed down her next likely target. They call Chief Daiba again and have her set up extra security at that particular museum, and at that particular display.

Claudine is ready to be sent to the location as well to apprehend her crook in-person with her own two hands, but Nana refuses to let her go, on account of her injury. Maya stays with her at the hotel to help nurse Claudine's wounded pride, more than her actual wound.

However, Nana does allow them access to the live body camera feed and audio of one of the officers at the scene.

Based off Maya's and Claudine's in-depth analysis of the Thief's tendencies, the active officers are able to anticipate exactly where and how the Phantom Thief will appear.

And for the first time ever, the police catch the elusive Thief off-guard instead of the other way around.

Starlight appears exactly how and where Maya and Claudine had anticipated she would, and the officers present manage to apprehend her without incident.

The two investigators watch from their hotel room as their criminal is caught, and Claudine is so thrilled she throws her arms around Maya and kisses her full on the lips in her excitement.

The Phantom Thief is unmasked, and is revealed to indeed be a young woman.

"Aww…" she sighs as they put her in handcuffs. "You guys finally got me. Well, I knew it'd happen sometime! My name is Karen Aijou, and I've been going around to check out all of Europe's best gems cuz I'm gonna propose to my girlfriend soon! Her name is Hikari-chan! I just wanted to check out all my options and give her the best ring ever made from the best gem ever! But I never stole any of them no matter how great they were, cuz nothing could ever be good enough for Hikari-chan!" She's still blabbering as they load her into the police car.

Claudine and Maya watch from their bed, nestled in each other's arms.

"That's actually sort of sweet," Claudine says.

"Well," Maya comments. "She never did kept anything she stole. So technically she never actually stole anything. She just… trespassed and moved stuff around. So her sentence shouldn't be that severe."

"Let's hope her girlfriend doesn't dump her after all this. It was quite romantic." Claudine smiles. "Would you ever steal precious gems for me, Tendo Maya?"

Maya smiles, tilting Claudine's chin up to kiss.

"Nothing in the world could ever be good enough for you, Ma Claudine."

"There is one thing."

"Oh?" Maya raises an eyebrow. "Do tell."

Claudine places both hands on either side of Maya's face and kisses her again.

"You."

At long last, they savor their sweet victory, and spend one more night together.

In the following days, Claudine returns to her department with Maya. People congratulate them left and right, singing praises of Europe's most skilled police partnership.

The Thief - Karen Aijou - was found guilty on several counts of trespassing and attempted robbery, but considering she'd never actually stolen anything or hurt anyone, her only price turned out to be a few months of community service.

Her girlfriend Hikari Kagura, whom she'd done all of this for, was said to have been shocked but touched by all of Karen's efforts to find her the perfect gem to make a ring from. She'd scolded her harshly, but stuck by Karen's side, and now plans to propose to her with a proper, legally-purchased ring once Karen's community service hours are over.

May and Claudine are both glad for the favorable news.

And yet, they both know this mission was only temporary, and that Maya was only here until the Thief was caught. And now that she had been…

Presently, the two of them have been summoned to Chief Daiba's office. Maya has already packed her things in preparation to return to London later today. As they enter the office, Nana stands up to greet them.

"Lieutenant. Head Inspector," she says, dipping her head to each of them. "I'm sure you must be sick of it by now, but I must congratulate you both again on a job well done. Those were some fine investigation skills. The best of the best."

"Thank you, Chief," Claudine says humbly.

"We were only doing our job, ma'am."

"Please, Inspector, no more need to call me 'ma'am.'"

Puzzled, Claudine and Maya look to one another.

"No 'more' need?" Maya parrots. "What do you mean?"

Nana stands from her desk and turns around her laptop so it faces them both. On-screen, is a video call with a familiar person.

"Chief Hoshimi!" Maya blurts out. "What is this about?"

London's Chief of police smiles back from the video call.

"It is about the fact that you no longer need to be calling me 'Chief', Head Inspector."

Both Maya and Claudine look to each other again, equally confused.

"I'm sorry," Claudine says. "I still don't follow."

"Neither do I."

Both of their Chiefs sigh.

"Y'know, Junna," Nana chuckles. "I'd thought these two were our smartest. I can't believe they haven't figured it out yet."

"Figured what out?" Claudine looks like she's about to start ripping her hair out. Maya puts a hand on her shoulder to hold her back, though she herself is also starting to feel a little antsy.

Chief Hoshimi shakes her head and smiles.

"I guess I'll just have to spell it out for them, Nana." She looks directly to Maya now. "Head Inspector, I am calling you to officially inform you of your transfer out of the London PD. You will now be reassigned and working under Chief Daiba in Paris. Effective immediately."

"Eh?!"

"I'm- what?"

Claudine and Maya both blurt out incredulously, eyes wide as they look to their Chiefs, then to one another, and back again. Nana smiles.

"You heard Chief Hoshimi. Head Inspector Tendo, you're working for me now. Together with my dearest Lieutenant Saijou, of course."

That's what finally makes it click for them both. Maya and Claudine can't maintain their formalities any longer. They both squeal in joy and throw their arms around each other.

"This means-!" Claudine says breathlessly. "You get to stay in Paris!"

"It does!" Maya squeezes her back gently. After a moment, they part to face their superiors. Maya bows to her old Chief.
"Thank you, ma'am. I won't disappoint you." She then looks up to her new chief. "Nor you, Chief Daiba."

"We know you won't," Junna replies.

"Ah-!" Claudine's little gasp gains everyone's attention. She looks down at the floor and shuffles her feet. "But then... doesn't this mean-?"

"Oh, yes yes," Nana says. "But don't worry about that. Normally, intimate relationships between officers in the same department is strictly prohibited, but Chief Hoshimi and I managed to pull a few strings. Since you're both coming from different departments, and your relationship began before Tendo's transfer, you won't be made to terminate said relationship. Now, this is rather frowned-upon either way, but so long as you keep it to yourselves during work hours, we shouldn't have any issues. It is clear to both Chief Hoshimi, myself, and all the rest of Europe that you two work best together and will do great things in order to make the world a safer place for all."

Junna nods.

"We know you won't disappoint us."

Maya and Claudine face their superiors together and bow deeply.

"Yes, Chief!"

And so it comes full circle, that the two best candidates back at the Police Academy find their way to each other once again.

They will go on to solve convoluted crimes, apprehend the smartest of villains, and promote the values of trust and partnership among their follow officers.

Head Inspector Tendo Maya and Lieutenant Saijou Claudine - also known as Europe's Finest - quickly and easily become the most influential power couple in all of the continent, sharing a partnership - both professional and romantic - like no other.

A/N: Finished! Unfortunately I couldn't let Claudine and Maya actually be there to apprehend the Thief themselves, but I think letting them sit back and cuddle up in bed while other people do the work for a change was nice, especially after the convenience store incident. In spite of the title, this story was clearly less about actually catching the thief, and more about the events transpiring between the two of them as they are put on this mission together.

I wish I had the stamina to keep writing this story for 30 more chapters, but alas this is the end! I've got plenty of other stories coming very soon! Thank you all for reading!

Please review!