Chapter 3: Fallen Hard

Hinami started open her eyes before closing it again from the blinding light.

She shifted slightly and felt very sore. She turned to left and saw her shoulder patched up neatly. She looked down at her shirt and realized the person patched her up perfectly despite the fact that her clothes was in the way.

"Who are you?"

Hinami blinked. "Excuse me?" That was not what she expected to hear when she woke up.

Kaito took a deep breath and glared with serious eyes, "I said...who are you?"

"Yaksokura Hinami." The girl answered simply. "I thought we are through this already. Oh, that reminds me, where am I?"

"That's not what I was talking about..." He growled.

Hinami scoffed in irritation and breathed some air deeply. Yep, she was good and alive. Then she froze, and stared into the boy's two purple orbs. "You—" Then she stopped herself, a knowing grin plastered on her face.

"What?"

"Nothing. Well, I have to get going," Hinami announced coolly and began to sit up. Before Kaito could stop her, she clutched her shoulder and hissed in pain.

"You were shot! Rest a bit, will you?"

"I'll be alright! And so are you!" She snapped at the boy.

"W-what?" Kaito's poker face slipped before clicking back again. "What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend. Your right shoulder seems stiffer than the other. It only grazed it probably but you should rest too." Hinami frowned and said, "Now I have to hurry..."

"You ran away from home, didn't you?"

Hinami paused and felt her eyes widen. "What?"

"The contents inside the bag are all the proof that I need," Kaito said as he tossed her black backpack.

Hinami smirked. "Well, you could say that..." She sighed and stood up. "Where's the phone? I need to tell my parents something."

"Going home?" Kaito asked, raising his eyebrows. "Hmm" was the only reply. "The phone is downstairs. You'll see it right away."

"Thanks."

"Hey, Yaksokura-san?"

Hinami turned to Kaito. "Call me Hinami. We look about the same age..."

"Hinami-san...why were you with Aoko today?"

Hinami paused and stared straight into his eyes before looking away. "You want know the truth?" Kaito nodded in determination. "Because that sniper was targeting your girlfriend ever since she stood under the roof of the subway. That's why." Kaito thought he heard a growl when she said "girlfriend".

"She's not my girlfriend!" Hinami gave him the "whatever" look. Kaito ignored that look and continued, "Hinami-san, before you leave, make sure you see Aoko. She was really scared today."

Hinami smiled. "Of course."

She made her way to the phone and Kaito trailed behind her, his sharp eyes eyeing her carefully. When he saw her tense, he looked away. Hinami was very sensitive of somebody following her, Kaito noticed. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her relax and press some numbers.

"Hello, Okaa-" Hinami paused, and held the phone away from her ears and Kaito thought he heard the woman screaming something he couldn't quite catch.

"I know. I am... So Haibara told you already?... Uh, I don't know?... Okaa-san!" Hinami's face was red with embarrassment and Kaito wondered what her mother was saying to make the composed teen so flushed. "Whatever... But I have this place in mind... You think you can... Oh, really? Thanks, Okaa-san. So when?... Okay. I'll stay in our house until then. Bye, say hi to Tou-san for me..." A soft chuckle was let out. Soon after, she hung up.

"Is everything all right?" Kaito asked Hinami.

She nodded and broke a small grin. "Kuroba Kaito, right?" Kaito blinked and just nodded. "So where's Aoko-san?" Kaito silently pointed to the room Aoko was in. She couldn't handle the sight of blood.

"See you soon," Hinami smirked. And for some reason, Kaito felt a shiver down his back.

...

"Aoko-san..."

Aoko turned in surprise. "Hinami-san, you should be resting!"

"I'm alright! You have a good friend, Aoko-san."

"What, that BaKaito? No way." Aoko huffed, crossing her arms.

"Hmm... But he has your friend and been your friend for how long?"

Aoko's face softened. "Almost 10 years now..."

"See? If you are still friends with him, then at least you'd think he isn't that bad?"

Aoko just giggled. "Maybe..."

"Well, see you soon, Aoko-san! Thanks for today!"

"Huh? Hinami-san?" But the girl was already out the door.

"See you soon?" Aoko repeated.

~.~.~.~

"Hello, Mouri Residence," a young woman answered the call.

"Ah, this is Megure."

"Ah, Megure-keibu! Gomenasai about Conan-kun!"

"Huh? what do you mean, Ran-kun?" Megure said in a confused voice."

Ran frowned and asked, "You didn't get the news from Takagi-keiji? Conan went home with his mother after the tragic accident of his father..."

"A-ah! Right... No worries, I'm glad he is safe. And I just called to check on you, that's all."

"Oh, okay..."

...

Kaito sighed as he put down his phone. Tantei-kun went home? But why? Unless he's back to his own self again! Kaito grinned happily of the thought of Shinichi returning to his own now-18-self.

Now... For the homecoming...

~.~.~.~

Hinami-or should I dare say Shinichi-sighed as he unlocked his house that has been empty for months ever since Okiya moved to his family house in Kagoshima.

She-but actually a he-slumped on the couch and flinched when he landed on the wrong side and touched the bullet wound.

His heart pounded when he remembered today's event. Kuroba Kaito is Kaitou Kid! Well, there was no hard evidence but he didn't want to really prove his identity to the police but just to see him outside of the heist without anything to hide him. How he knew that the boy, Kuroba was kid was that first he looked remarkably like himself—Kudo Shinichi—and the second was the smell. He would never forget that scent; smell of flowers mingled with a hint of soap in perfect harmony.

He tried desperately to calm down his pounding heart and closed his eyes in attempt to sleep. But failed miserably so.

Kid held him! He put treated his wound! Shinichi blinked and groaned in annoyance.

He had fallen for the thief. HARD.