All right everybody. There will only be three more chapters of this story, including this one. I hope everyone is getting the emails about updates, because I don't know why it seems like Fanfic is on the fritz lately. I hope it fixes itself.

Conan had sat down at the kitchen table and had finished about half the fish when KID came back in, hauling in a briefcase.

"You think you want this Tantei-kun?"

Conan swallowed the bite he had been chewing on.

"What is it?"

KID placed it on the table, opening it to show stacks of ten thousand yen bills. Oh, so the money they had stolen.

"Found it in the closet in there."

Conan nodded.

"Yeah, that's fine. Just leave it here. I will get the police to pick it up later."

KID placed it on the ground, and picked up his instant ramen from the counter and sat gingerly across the table from Conan. The detective narrowed his eyes as he noticed KID eating his ramen without looking at him. Had he done something wrong? No it wasn't him. The reaction to opening the fridge, the way he had walked out of the room when he said he was having fish to eat, the way he had stayed away until just now, and now his distinct need to not stare at his food. What had the detective boys said about 'Shinichi nii-san' on the island when they spent time with him?

Kaito was really trying to act normal. It was easier considering it was half eaten and well, not flopping, but gosh those eyes seemed to stare into the depths of his soul. Best to just avoid eye contact in general. Suddenly, he could hear the smirk crease Conan's face, and that was never a good sound. No, he couldn't have. He looked up to see Conan staring at him, triumphant grin on his face.

"Are you afraid of fish by any chance?"

Kaito flinched at the f word, but other than that remained perfectly still. Oh crap. He was screwed.

"No, what makes you say that?"

God even he could hear the strain in his voice. Conan leisurely took another bite.

"Multiple reasons, but the main one being that the detective boys seemed to mention that 'Shinichi' didn't like fish."

Kaito tsked. Those little brats had ratted him out. Gosh darn it. Conan leaned forward, taking another bite.

"Let's make a deal KID."

Kaito was willing to sell his soul to the conniving detective if it meant that he wouldn't use his fear against him during his heists. That's all he asked. Was that too much? He had loved that he had Tantei-kun's weakness, which was of course either dressing as him, or Ran, or flirting with the girl. Now though, they were on even ground. He had suitable blackmail material. This sucked so badly. Conan grinned.

"I won't start bringing these to heists, if you promise to never flirt with Ran again."

"Done and done."

Kaito answered instantly. He wasn't planning on doing that anyway. Conan raised an eyebrow at his cooperation.

"Really?"

Kaito stuck his hand across the table. Conan stared at it for a second before reaching forward, shaking it slightly, before drawing back, looking skeptical. Conan stood, taking the fish to the trash and dumped it in. He didn't miss how the thief visibly relaxed.

"It's really surprising, the great Kaitou KID, is actually afraid of fish."

Kaito grumbled.

"Yeah well, sorry but despite the name, I am not a phantom but human. Thanks for not laughing at least. That's a first."

Because while Conan had smiled, it was his smug figured-you-out smirk, not a mocking or laughing smirk, and that made Kaito appreciate Conan even more. Everyone had laughed at his fear. Conan sat back down with his instant ramen.

"A fear is a fear. It's unexpected, but I won't use it against you unless you do something I really don't like."

Conan frowned.

"Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask you. What happened between you and Ran on the airship?"

Kaito choked on a mouthful of noodles. Ah crap. He was dead. He was going to get kicked out of the house and then hit multiple times with a finny thing. The look Conan was giving him was serious, and it made him want to be anywhere on the planet other than in this room. He swallowed.

"You have to let me explain before you kill me."

Conan raised an eyebrow and folded his arms firmly across his chest.

"Depending on your answer I might dig my lunch out of the trash."

Kaito gulped.

"Ok look, she figured out my disguise, and you know how she is. If I had tried to escape she would have punched my face in. She was going to turn me in; I mean Nakamori Keibu was right there. I had to do something."

Conan sighed, already knowing where this was going.

"So you pretended to be me."

Kaito grinned sheepishly and shrugged.

"It took some convincing. She didn't want to believe you had turned phantom thief."

Conan sighed, letting more frustration leak into his tone.

"And? What happened on the sky deck?"

Kaito licked his lips nervously.

"Well I was about to escape when she cornered me again and begged me to turn myself in, and she just looked so happy to see you again. So I tried to kiss her."

Conan was now looking furious as he twiddled with his shoes absentmindedly, but it did catch Kaito's attention. Kaito held up a hand to pacify the fuming boy.

"Relax; I made sure she knew I wasn't you before we did. It never happened."

Conan gave a deadpan look.

"How did you accomplish that?"

Kaito gave a roguish wink.

"I tried, emphasis on tried, to touch her butt. You know to bring her closer in. She caught me before I could though, saying that's not something you would do. I managed to keep your girlfriend from cheating on you, and proved your innocence in the same move; even though I am pretty sure it looked really bad from where you were standing."

Conan sighed. Ok, he still wasn't exactly happy with the thief; he had tried to kiss Ran after all, although it seemed like a necessary evil. KID was just trying protect himself, and then he was fixing his mistake. Otherwise, Kudo Shinichi would still be branded as the Kaitou KID, and that wasn't exactly a good image to have. His thoughts were interrupted by KID, asking smoothly.

"How is that going by the way? Are you two an item yet?"

Now it was Conan's turn to choke on his food. He chugged his water and then asked indignantly, red blush apparent on his cheeks.

"What the heck made you ask that?"

Kaito shrugged.

"Wouldn't anyone be curious about a seven year old who is lying about his age and a teenage girl in a relationship? Doesn't she question your disappearance at all?"

Conan sighed.

"I call her, using the bowtie to talk in my voice, and text her a lot, but other than that, I don't do anything as Kudo Shinichi. As Conan I try to distract her from my disappearance as much as possible."

Kaito hummed in response.

"So, have you confessed yet?"

He didn't need the verbal one as the physical one of Conan's face turning blood red and him averting his eyes did all the talking for him.

"Oh, in this body? Or over the phone? That's not very cool Tantei-kun."

Conan glared at him.

"It was in my normal body thank you and in person. I can switch back from time to time with a little help, so I used the opportunity one-time to—"

He paused, trailing off, fiddling with his fingers. Kaito smiled genuinely. He could totally picture any teenage boy in Conan's seat, awkward and embarrassed. It just gave him a small comfort, that wherever Ran was concerned, the Meitantei of the East got flustered, when he could face down terrorists, murderers, bombers, kidnappers, organizations, and any other criminal without batting an eye.

Not to mention, he had seen the way both of them had looked at each other. Conan at Ran, and Ran at him whenever he had disguised as him; it was a look of love and care that he rarely saw in other people. If anyone deserved to be together, it would be these two.

"Well good, I am glad. Even if you all aren't together now, in the future you will right?"

Conan gave him a hard look.

"You aren't going to use this to disguise as me are you?"

Kaito shook his head.

"No, didn't I just promise two minutes ago that I wouldn't flirt with your girlfriend?"

Conan relaxed as he sighed, sipping more water.

"It's hard though, really hard. She misses me, and I can't do anything to help her, when she cries herself to sleep some nights, and I know it is all my fault. All I can do is just distract her and call her from time to time. Being so close, but unable to tell her anything when she thinks I am far away, it's horrible, but necessary."

Kaito frowned, chewing thoughtfully on his ramen.

"Why don't you tell her though? She can take care of herself, and will probably help both of you without her worrying."

Conan shrugged.

"It's not like that. Ran is the type of person that would worry about other people's problems. I can't tell her, she would worry regardless, even moreso if she knows the danger I am in. She just thinks I am on a case right now, and that's all she needs to know."

Kaito noticed the touch of melancholy that had settled over Conan. He sighed, thinking of Aoko as he swirled his chopsticks in his bowl of ramen.

"Well, it could be worse. At least you know she loves you back."

Conan leapt up, banging his hands against the table as he looked at KID with surprise.

"KID, you have a girl?"

Kaito blinked. Ah crap, he did it again. He waved dismissively.

"No I was just stating a fact. Think about it, would I try to seduce every lady I came across if I did?"

Conan shook his head, grinning.

"No it wasn't, you were speaking from experience. I am guessing you like someone but aren't in a relationship yet. You have a crush?"

Kaito just gave him a deadpan look.

"So much for trying not to find anything out about my identity, detective."

Conan sat back down, on the edge of his seat in interest.

"I won't if you don't mention names."

Kaito sighed. Well, this wasn't how he wanted this conversation to go.

"Well, it is complicated."

"Try me. Can't be more complicated than my dilemma."

Kaito paused, wondering how he should explain.

"She kind of hates me."

Conan froze, frown falling over his face.

"I'm sorry. That sucks."

Kaito smiled ruefully.

"No, let me rephrase that. She hates Kaitou KID. I'm pretty sure she likes civilian me, at least a little bit. At least that's the vibe I was getting from her. But she can't like one half of me and hate the other. That's why it is complicated."

Yes, Aoko was probably the only person on earth that truly hated Kaitou KID, because of course he stole her father away from her. Not to mention she had almost found out multiple times. The Buddha heist took a whole lot of lies, luck, and weeks with Jii doing the heists to throw her off the scent. He continued.

"She is like Ran-chan; not afraid to give a good beating if I need it. If I ever do tell her the truth, you really will have to investigate my murder. I would rather just love her at a distance then have her hate me. I couldn't do that to her. I can't confess either, not while I am Kaitou KID, and definitely not with an evil organization on my tail. Too many risks. I am sure you understand."

Conan nodded in agreement. The organizations they dealt with had no qualms with using loved ones against them. To keep them at a distance was to keep them safe. At least he and KID had that in common. Kaito sighed heavily.

"So you see, you all aren't the worse relationship around. Still better than me. Double lives suck, am I right?"

Conan sat still for several seconds pondering. Another thing he never thought KID had to deal with: women problems. From what he could see KID was a gentleman through and through, flirtatious in that womanizing endearing way that would have women falling over themselves for him. The size of his fan club proved that. He was so cool and suave, he could have any woman he wanted, but maybe all of them just wasn't the one he was truly wanting. He could kind of understand KID's predicament. Ran had basically promised to kick his butt when he came home, and once she found out about Conan…all hell would break loose. They were so darn similar. Conan swallowed before stating slowly.

"Ran will probably do the same when she finds out about Conan. She will be angry, probably use karate to give my face a makeover, and not talk to me for a long time. I am prepared for that, because I know that what I am doing now is essential. I plan on explaining everything especially that I am doing what I am doing because I want to keep her safe. After all that, and she still is angry, that's fine. I won't give up on her though; she is way too important to me for that. I will fight to keep her love because it is worth it. Eventually, I think she will forgive me, at least I hope."

He gave KID a cool stare.

"I don't know if this girl is like Ran, but I think if you are as close as I think you might be, than I think she will forgive you too, but you will have to explain it, no lying and no hiding behind anything. You have to tell the whole truth. You are a thief for a reason; you wouldn't risk your life otherwise by going out with the slight chance that you could get shot. You have to be doing it for a really good reason. I'm sure that she will hate your guts for a while, but as long as you keep trying, I think you can get there."

Kaito stared at him for a few seconds. He had been struggling with this dilemma ever since he became Kaitou KID, and now he was being told the simplest answer, the one he needed to hear. He bowed his head, smirking, before laughing loudly. Conan blinked in confusion.

"What is it?"

Kaito just shook his head.

"Just the fact that a womanizer like me is getting relationship advice from a seven year old. Isn't that hilarious?"

Conan smirked.

"You learn a lot when you have Sonoko as a friend."

Kaito sighed.

"Ah yes. That explains it. Although, why would Ran beat you up?"

Conan winced.

"I have tricked her so many times. I mean she has almost figured me out several times, and I had to jump through hoops to make sure she didn't find me out. Not to mention…"

Conan trailed off. Kaito noticed that the boy seemed to think the table top was the most interesting thing in the world, and his ears had turned a nice shade of crimson. Kaito blinked once, and then a teasing grin curled upwards on his lips as his brain made the connections.

"You saw her naked, didn't you?"

Conan twitched, staring up at Kaito with horrified eyes. His mouth opened and shut several times, but no sound came out. Kaito snickered as he leaned forward clapping Conan on the back.

"Wow, look at you, a little kid and you have already seen your love interest naked. You are more man then I thought. How ironic, the youngest and you already got that far."

Conan protested wildly, sputtering.

"No it was an accident I didn't mean to see it the towel just—"

Kaito elbowed him gleefully.

"But you liked it didn't you? I bet you had a nosebleed."

Conan averted his eyes and Kaito cackled. He could imagine it now. The fact that Conan got flustered around her whenever she did something even remotely romantic, and just the fact seeing her caused him to go all googoo eyed, he couldn't even imagine how the kid would have reacted with a fully nude Ran. He would have had a stroke, and Kaito could just imagine the overly genius brain short circuiting and coming to a complete stop. It would have been a masterpiece. Man he wished he caught that on video.

"This is too good. I bet she wanted to bathe with you too. Stupid little kids don't know how to bathe themselves after all. I bet you let your good Ran-neechan wash your back."

Conan covered his mouth as the fleeting memory crossed through his mind. God this was mortifying. He almost had a nosebleed at the meer mention of it. Kaito finally calmed down, although he mimed wiping invisible tears. He hadn't laughed that hard in a long time.

"All right, point taken. We will both know what happened to the other if the other's dead body shows up on the news."

Conan relaxed once he realized the boy laughing at his expense was finally done.

"Cause we have crazy girlfriends who know how to beat the crap out of people?"

Kaito winked.

"Exactly that."

Both boys finished their ramen around the same time in comfortable silence. They tossed them in the trashcan. Kaito stretched one arm up.

"So how far are we away from Beika Tantei-kun?"

Conan flicked on his glasses and visibly relaxed.

"Only about two more miles. Is that all right?"

Kaito grinned.

"Let's be off then. The sooner the better right?"

They both walked out of the house, and Conan couldn't help but chuckle when he saw the pink hair, glitter, and streamers covering the still unconscious robbers.