Disclaimer--I do not own DC. Gosho Aoyama does. >>" HOWEVER I do own this story/storyline. Even though with all the DC fics out there, it can't be completely origonal.. -shrug- ah well.

Shinichi sat on the floor, his face a bit matured. In front of him were two little kids, a little girl that looked like Ran, and a little boy who looked like Shinichi. Shinichi looked around and whispered to them, "Are you two ready for the story?" Both of them looked excited, espically the one who resembled Ran. "Yeah yeah, tell us!" they whispered back.

Shinichi glanced around again. "Well, when I was about seventeen, I was known as the best detective around. The Sherlock Holmes of the 21st century. Everyone knew the name of the great high school detective, Shinichi Kudou. In fact, they even called me in on cases, but there was one criminal who always eluded capture. His name was Kaitou 1412. He was a world-renound thief, and would always announce when, where, and what he would steal."
"Well, if he told them, why were they never there to catch him?" little-Shinichi said.
"Obviously because he told them in riddles or something, Conan," little-Ran replied. "Right, dad?"

Shinichi nodded. "Yeah. Your mom's dad was the clumsiest excuse for a detective, and I-"

"I HEARD THAT, SHINICHI!" Shinichi froze at the sound of a door closing. Shinichi turned around slowly. "R-Ran. You're back early. I thought you went shopping."
"I did. Conan, Kari, would you like mommy to show you a new karate move?"
"Yes," Conan replied enthusiastically.
"I'd rather keep listening to dad's story," Kari said, not very interested.

Conan's face fell a bit when Ran said she would show them one later, after Shinichi set up a punching bag or something similar to one. "Oh, wow, look at the time! 22:00 already! (10 pm) You two should get to bed. After all, we don't want mom mad at dad for failing to put you two to bed." Both of them kept up that they wanted to stay up, but in the end, Shinichi wound up putting them to sleep. He went in the Kitchen and stood beside Ran, putting a hand on her shoulder as she took a sip of tea."

"You don't want me telling them when I was shrunk, do you?"
"... Not particularly. They both have friends you know, and it will most probably get out. Not that you were 'back from the case overseas.' Speaking of which, you never told me how you got the principal and teachers to accept that..."
"Ah.. That's a secret best kept for a good story later on. In the meantime, Ran, why do you really not want them to know?"
"Shinichi, listening to you ramble on about your cases.. What if one of them wants to become a detective as well? And not just in any jurisdiction, but the jurisdiction of homicide and violent crimes? It's dangerous."

Shinichi looked up at the ceiling and smiled. "Yeah, but only if you don't know what you're doing. I get the feeling that Conan is going to end up more like you, and Kari is going to wind up more like me. Except for them, it might pull them apart.." His smile faded at the last part. Both of them hung around different kids. Kari was only friends with Uireru, and Conan with five other kids, Ryusake, Hiinta, Eriku, Tsuase, and Minata. At least, he thought that's what they were..

"Oh, Shinichi, mom and dad are living in the same apartment again," Ran said, snapping Shinichi out of his thoughts. Shinichi laughed a little. "That's good. She's the only one who can put up and take care of that-er..."
"Even as an adult, Shinichi... I swear, for as much as you dislike him, you're like him in ways more than one."

Shinichi was about to reply to that when the phone rang. "Eh?" Shinichi walked over to the phone and picked it up, "Kudou private detective, Kudou speaking. Oh, Inspector Takagi, hey! How's Meguire? Did he ever move up to being chief? Eh? You're calling me over for a threat-letter? WHAT! I'll be over in a second." Shinichi hung up and threw on his jacket.

He kissed Ran on the cheek and started to run out. He stopped at the door. "Ran, don't answer unless you're positive it's me. Make sure the kids' windows are shut and locked. In fact, wake them up and have them sleep on the couch. The threat letter was faxed to the police office... Threatening us." Ran's was suprised and did immediately what she was told.

Shinichi arrived at the police office. "Hey, Meguire. Congratulations on becoming chief," Shinichi said as he quickly passed him. He rounded the corner and bounded into Takagi's office. "Inspector Takagi! Where is it?" Takagi sat at the inspector's desk and pulled out a piece of paper from the drawers. It was a typed letter. Shinichi looked at it and was shocked.

"To the ace of hearts in the deck..

Kudos to you for outwitting us.
Answers seem to be your forte. but...
Remember, what goes around comes around.
It will be too late by the time you read this.

Oh, by the way...
Respect the cards.

Come closer to setting us on death row and keep those which are yours.
Or don't, but lose one or two.
No one gets everything.
Aces are no exception.
Now, let's see if you can find your way, Ace of hearts.

The King of Spades"

Shinichi broke out in a cold sweat. "Shit! I'll explain it later," Shinichi shouted as he started sprinting back to his house, the note clutched in his hand tightly. The minute he got to the house, he groaned inwardly. 'Damnit,' he thought, panicked, 'The door had been forced inwards by.. a dent of some sort.. Bombs! Why did I leave them..? Damnit, they better not be hurt..' Shinichi approached the door, or what was left of it."RAN! RAN!" Shinichi ran in and found Ran knocked out and bound to a chair. "Ran," he shook her gently, but urgently. "Ran, where's Conan and Kari!"

'No good. She's out cold... But they're not here!'

xx Uguwaaahh...
I'm debating whether having the story told through the point of view from Shinichi or Kari now.. What cha'll (chuu and ya'll) think? -stretch- I couldn't resist writing this fic... xP and now my fingers hurt.