~Authors note~

~ Hello everybody welcome to "chapter 2" of Valentines Musical Masquerade Mixer. (VM3 for short) Thanks for those who read/reviewed chapter 1! I greatly appreciate the support and hope you continue to enjoy my story as it plays out. Same disclaimer as before: I own none of these characters. Gosho does. That said here is chapter 2!~

~ *Fur Elise*~

It was starting to look like a terribly boring day for one shrunken Shinichi Kudo. Sonoko despite his protests had dragged Ran off to go shopping for dresses with her. Leaving him alone with a half drunk currently asleep Mouri Kogoro. Joy.

Shinichi was only too overjoyed when his cell phone rang with a phone call from his good friend Professor Agasa. He quickly answered the phone with a "What's up doc?" barely flinching as he heard crashing noises in the background. Must be Ai stepped out for a while somewhere. There had been a lot less "accidents" in his house ever since she moved in.

Agasa laughed nervously from the other side of the line. "Hello Shinichi I was just calling to let you know your parents just called. Seems they are planning on coming for a visit some time soon. I thought I should let you know." Agasa knew better than to keep Shinichi's parents visits secret from him after the kidnapping incident. Shinichi had never truly forgiven for his part in that and had been holding it against him ever since. Seemed he had learned the art of blackmail from his father in Hawaii.

Shinichi raised an eyebrow. His parents had been in and out of Japan quite a bit lately. Seemed like they were finally taking the whole "An evil organization is chasing my son and keeps popping up everywhere he goes" thing seriously. Then again when did his parents ever take anything seriously? True it was honestly safer for them to keep out of matters, but if his dads publishers were any indication they were experts at staying under the radar. Well as under the radar as an internationally best selling author and famous actress could be.

Still that brought up a good question... "That is interesting. Do you happen to know why they are taking this time to appear?" Shinichi was generally curious what his parents motivations could be this time around. His mother had been spending a little too much time with their house guest the last few times she visited. Though Agasa had mentioned parents plural which meant his father was most likely coming along for the ride this time as well. Their last meeting had been...interesting to say the least.

Agasa coughed into the phone moving about some things in the background. "Well they did not really mention anything other than that they bumped into an old acquaintance from the Ekoda district. Your mom sounded especially excited about meeting them. I know a person from that district myself though I doubt it is the same person she was referring to." Agasa coughed again.

Shinichi decided to write off that last comment. Though it was interesting to him that his parents had seemingly bumped into someone from so close by on their travels. Small world, or so it would seem. It could have easily been one of his fathers many fans, but that would not account for his mothers excitement at meeting them. It was more likely one of her actress friends. Shinichi shuddered at the thought. After all the last actress "friend" of his mothers turned out to be a real killer knock out. He could not imagine how this new friend could possibly be worse though... he shivered involuntarily. Hopefully he would not have to find out.

Agasa continued to cough into the phone suddenly sounding as if he caught a cold. That would explain why Ai had stepped out then. Although it was a bit strange that a supposed seven year old would be buying medicine for their adult companion, Ai Haibara was certainly no ordinary seven year old. Though it was good that she was getting out of the lab for a while. The Black Organization had been rather quiet lately despite it all. Still... "Hey Professor is Ai out buying medicine all by herself?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Agasa answered. "Yes. Shouldn't she be?" Agasa seemed confused though there was concern in his voice.

Shinichi sighed he knew the professor meant well but he was kind of clueless some times. Ai knew very well how to take care of herself, so it was probably fine that he did not worry too much. That didnt change the fact she was probably alone at this very moment though. "No I am sure she is fine. Though honestly I have nothing better to do at the moment so I think Ill go meet up with her. Ran's out shopping with Sonoko at the moment so she should not be home for quite some time." Shinichi knew better than to stay out too late though. Ran may not threaten him physically in this body, but she knew very well how to yell his ear off.

Agasa continued to cough lightly from the other side of the phone. "Are you sure? She did say she was only going to pick up the medicine and then come right back."

Shinichi paused briefly for a few moments as he weighed his options. He had learned that with his lower immune system that it was not really a good idea to go to see someone who had been around a sick person all day. Of course Ai was in the same boat as he which was probably another reason why she stepped out. Still just as he said to the professor, really anything was better than be stuck at home with the "great sleeping Kogoro." Well that clinched it then. "Its fine professor. I am sure she wont mind if I tag along for her for a while." Shinichi chuckled a bit nervously to himself. In truth he did not believe that for a second, but at the moment he would rather be at the end of the evil eyed yawny girl's glares than be stuck here.

There was silence on the other line before Agasa answered. "If you say so Shinichi. I am sure you will have no problem locating her." Agasa gave one last cough before saying his goodbye.

Shinichi repeated his own goodbye before closing the phone and grabbing his handy tracking glasses. He quick scrawled a note that he was off to visit Professor Agasa just in case Kogoro managed to wake up and find him missing. He doubted that the old man would care either way, but nonetheless it could not hurt to be too careful.

Now to find out where Ai had gone off to. He quickly switched on his tracking glasses staring at the blips on the radar. Ai carried her detective boy badge around like a security blanket, though she was loath to admit it. If she was in the area as Agasa said she should be easy enough to track down. He already had a pretty general idea of where she was headed to. "Aha! Found you!" Shinichi beamed happily. Now all that was left to do was meet up with her. He quickly rushed out of the Detective Agency after the blinking dot that was on his glasses. That was easy.

~ * Voices of Spring Waltz*~

Meanwhile on the other side of town in the shopping district near several stores that sold gowns and other fashionable items...

"Ugh why does this have to be so hard?" Kaito groaned inwardly to himself. At some point between the time where Aoko and Keiko left him and the time it took to pick up his casual disguise material, the two girls had disappeared into the thick mass of crowds. He had been tracking them via Aoko's cell phone, a bug that he had placed in the charm he gave her, but somehow he had managed to lose track of the signal. "Which means they are out of range somewhere, or in an area with heavy interference." he cursed to himself earning some odd looks from the people around him.

Ignoring the looks he ran his hand through his messy brown locks somehow smoothing them down in the process. He then put on his black baseball cap and continued down the sidewalk, hands in his navy jean pockets looking to all like a casual teenager out for a stroll. This worked to his advantage somewhat as this was supposed to be a stealth mission. Granted he had somehow managed to lose his targets, but at the very least he would probably not be recognized off hand.

At least so he thought...as for some reason he continued to get stares from the people around him. Was there something on his face? He overheard some of them whispering things to each other saying "Is that who I think it is?" and nodding or shaking their heads in affirmative or negative response. Kaito suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable, still he held a steady poker face. Was it possible people had figured out his alter ego? No...if that were the case he would of been found out a long time ago. So what was it then?

Deciding to go into extra stealth mode he began snaking into the crowd popping in and out at random intervals to check for Aoko and Keiko. There was still a high chance of running into them if he moved fast enough. Though he had discarded the idea of checking the transmitter once more thinking that might be a bit too dangerous at this point.

Suddenly he spotted someone who looked an awful lot like Aoko from behind. "Bingo!" he said silently to himself as he carefully maneuvered his way around the crowd, waltzing between people along the way. He glided gracefully towards the figure only to pull back suddenly as he took in the face of his target. He knew that face. The large protruding piece of hair sticking up like a unicorns horn on her head gave her away instantly. Ran Mouri.

Kaito felt his heart quickly drop in his chest. He quickly glanced around searching for signs of the little boy and thorn in his side that often accompanied her. There seemed to be no sign of him. There was always the possibility he had wandered off else where...Kaito panicked internally at the thought as he tried his best to stay calm glancing anxiously around himself. He turned back to face Ran who had yet to notice his presence at the current moment. She was just standing there conversing with someone.

Hiding behind a nearby tree he was able to get a better look at the face of the person Ran was talking to. Ah...he recognized her instantly as well. Sonoko Suzuki. That made sense. His "self proclaimed" number one fan-girl was also Ran Mouri's best friend and confidant. He had seen them together enough times and even dressed up as them a couple of times to know this to be the case. Still what were they doing out here now of all times?

Hmm, come to think of it didn't these two go to Teitan High school? Things suddenly started to click in Kaito's mind as he moved silently down the street behind them. Their school was also set to participate in this dance. That meant most likely these two were also out shopping for dresses. That meant they had probably left the little detective at home. He sniggered at the thought. His little Tantei-kun stuck alone with that dead weight detective Kogoro Mouri. He almost felt bad for him. Almost. He shook his head and slipped back into the crowd keeping his eyes on the two chatting girls.

Hey maybe if he was lucky he could pick up some information from the two while he was here. Eh, who was he kidding? He was the great Kaitou Kid! Even if right now he was more closer to his civilian persona. Luck followed him around everywhere he went. Kaito grinned to himself, maybe he would not have to do research on that silly "Cupids Crown" after all. The source of information was right there in front of him. Knowing her she was bound to let some information slip. So with that Kaito decided to tail the two following at a close enough distance to hear their conversations.

Ran glanced up from where she was standing alongside a small corner shopping outlet. Her friend Sonoko had decided to take her to several smaller shopping centers to look for an appropriate outfit for the occasion. Everywhere they went there were red and pink decorations galore. Despite appearances Ran was actually rather fond of the color pink. Sonoko seemed to agree with the sentiment and as such she had tried on several frilly pink gowns along the way.

Still something was bothering her. It felt as if she and Sonoko were being watched. Probably due to her training in karate, as well all the time she spent with Shinichi and his relative Conan, she had developed a sort of sixth sense for dangers. Still despite that this felt somehow...familiar. There was no malice in the gaze she felt, but rather a strange sort of nostalgic warmth. Several times she had turned back to face the lingering presence but had found nothing out of the ordinary. It was probably just nerves and thoughts of Shinichi that were driving her to think this way.

Sonoko noticed her friends distraction and waved a hand in front of her face. "Earth to Ran. Are you there Ran?" she stepped in front of her friend glancing backwards towards the place she seemed to be so fixed on. She sensed that Ran seemed to suddenly be on edge and this worried her.

Ran slowly snapped out of her thoughts turning to face Sonoko once more noticing the concerned look on her friends face. "Oh...sorry Sonoko. I was just...distracted by something..." she could not shake the feeling in the back of her mind. She knew this feeling...this presence. She turned scanning the crowd once more, but once again was disappointed to find no one.

Sonoko shook her head. "Honestly Ran you worry me some times. Come on lets keep going. We need to find you the perfect dress just in case that husband of yours does decide to show up at the dance." Sonoko watched for her friends reaction to that last statement, but was surprised to find That Ran had just ignored her and was staring off into the distance again.

She was even more surprised when Ran suddenly took off in a sprint in the opposite direction they had been heading. "Ran?!" Sonoko called after her friend pushing her own way through the crowd of confused onlookers. Just what had gotten into her friend?

Ran inclined her gaze briefly back towards her friend as she ran after the figure whom she had finally managed to spot. "I cant talk now Sonoko, I might lose track of him again!" she continued to run forward after the slippery figure in the distance.

Sonoko followed after her friend still lost as to what was going on. "Him?" had Ran spotted someone she knew in the crowd...it could not be... "Wait for me Ran!" she called as she raced after her. There was only one person in this world Ran would be so quick to chase after. "Heh. I should of known he would be lurking around like this!" Sonoko was suddenly filled with a new vigor as she continued her pursuit now only a few paces behind her friend. She could not help but admire her friends tenacity and was inwardly cheering her on between breathes. If she had to liken it to something it would probably be her own drive to meet a certain Phantom thief.

Little did Sonoko know that said Phantom thief was the one currently on the run from Ran's hot pursuit. It had all happened so fast. If not for his natural instinct and practice evading opponents of a similar caliber he would not of made it this far. Something in him had reacted instantly upon seeing the fire in Ran's eyes as she hurtled towards him through the crowds. He had not got a good look in his haste to escape, but it seemed like something akin to recognition had been on the girls face when she unfortunately spotted him.

Kaito paused as he ducked into a nearby alley way. This was not good... "Did she really recognize me?" he thought to himself as he searched around him for more possible escape routes. He noted a nearby fire escape. "Chance!" he said to himself as in an impressive acrobatic maneuver he parkoured his way onto the escape. Just in time as well, as Ran took that time to arrive Sonoko trailing slowly behind her both breathing heavily.

Ran cursed lightly as she arrived at the now "empty" alley way glancing around searching for signs of the boy she had been chasing. "Shinichi!" she called out aimlessly but only silence answered her.

Sonoko came up behind her friend heavily out of breath from the run. "Ran..." was all she managed to say as she worked to try and catch her breath. Gulping deeply and continuing to pant she stared around at the alley way where they now stood.

Kaito watched from above, hidden in the shadows of the alley way as Rans shoulders suddenly slumped. "Shinichi..." she repeated looking defeated. He could see from his vantage point tears starting to form in the edge of her eyes. In his heart he felt a pang as he stared down at the girl who so resembled Aoko. He watched as Sonoko came up behind her friend giving her a light hug.

Ran shook her head her voice coming out strained and her words muffled somewhat by sobbs "He was there Sonoko...I saw him...he was following us around. Then when I caught sight of him he just...why would he run away like that?" she frowned tears slowly streaming down her face.

Sonoko frowned back at her friend continuing to take in their surroundings. It was true while she was following Ran she had spotted what looked like Shinichi running away towards the alley way...still it could easily of been someone else who just looked like Shinichi. She vaguely recalled a time just after the "Black Star" incident where someone had appeared like that. Come to think of it she could recall once or twice since then where she had seen such a person. "Ran are you sure it was Shinichi?" Sonoko asked softly. After all it could just be a coincidence... Sonoko trailed off wondering why that person would run though upon Ran spotting them.

Kaito was not sure why but he shivered lightly at the name "Shinichi" it felt familiar somehow. Had Ran really mistaken him for someone else? That was a bit bizarre to be sure. After all he was pretty used to getting compared to his alter ego, but some random guy off the street? Let alone one that seemed to be intimately familiar with his famous critics guardian... that was a pretty big coincidence.

Ran shook her head vehemently "I am sure of it Sonoko. There is no one else it could be. His aura..."she shook her head again this time lightly. "It was him." she stated resolutely. The tears had stopped falling from her eyes at this point replaced by something akin to anger. "That jerk...goes without calling for weeks and then shows up out of nowhere only to run off to who knows where and disappear again!" Ran punched her hand against the side of the wall creating a deep crack in the side and shaking the fire escape where Kaito hid.

Sonoko flinched somewhat as she watched her friends anger heat up. In truth she was pretty peeved herself. That idiot Shinichi had been stringing Ran along for who knows how long. Appearing whenever it suited him and then disappearing without so much as a "see you later." He was an impossible man. "That detective geek just doesnt know when to give up does he?" she frowned at her friend.

Kaito whom had been clinging to the fire escape leaned over a bit after hearing the word "detective" Huh...so the one she was after was also a detective huh? There was a sudden spark of recognition in the back of his mind. He had heard that name before. He shifted uncomfortably remembering the incident in question.

The heist at the clock-tower not long after he had originally taken up his fathers mantle. He had only heard the name briefly over the radio headset with Nakamori. Still that voice had resonated pretty strongly with him. After all it was nearly identical to his own... He had not put much research into it at the time, because after the incident in question the detective had never shown his face around his heists again. He did not really care about someone who had no actual interest in capturing him.

Suddenly he heard a horrible creaking sound and felt the fire escape lurch. Apparently the blow earlier had messed with the fire escapes structural integrity. He yelped as he felt himself slip falling directly in front of the two surprised girls clonking himself hard on the head. Looked like his luck had finally run out.

~Post note~

~And on that tiny cliffhanger we come to the end of chapter 2! This was kind of a fun one to write. I think it is funny how in canon these three never "meet up" outside of heists. Ill go more into it next chapter but I feel like he should really get mistaken for Shinichi more often with how close the two really are in appearance/voice. That said once again I hope you all enjoyed. See you next chapter ;)~