AN: Whenever I say "the detective" as Kaito it is always Hakuba unless I say 'small' (Conan) or 'dark' (Hattori) or use some other description word with it.

Chapter 10: Troubled Waters

When I opened my eyes I was staring at a tall white ceiling that I didn't recognize. The sun had lightened the whole room through large windows and there was the sound of someone typing on a keyboard nearby.

My body hurt too much to follow my instincts to jump up, a bit cat-like, and scan the room. I settled on raising myself on one elbow enough to get my feet on the ground and sit up. The memories of last night were still with me, gunfire prominent in my mind.

"You should get more sleep Kid, it's seven in the morning and you've slept little more than four hours." Kudo was standing next to the professor who was doing something on his computer. The old man turned to face me as well.

"I'm not tired." I smiled and stretched the parts of my body that I could. I looked to my left and found Hakuba in an identical bed, sleeping soundly.

"Hakuba-kun should be fine but that injury of yours is serious. You ripped the stitches on your back and just a few on your chest. The professor doesn't have any professional medical supplies so all we could do was clean and bandage it." I looked down to a rather comfortable button up white shirt and saw the clean dressing.

"We would have dressed your head wound but Shinichi-kun said you wouldn't like that" the professor chipped in. Again I felt my head to find it still covered by the blue shirt, and the small cap that I was amazed to find, had stayed on through the night. I could feel the hard crust of blood that sealed the shirt to my scalp.

"I appreciate the help Tantei-kun, Hakase-san." I nodded to them, Kudo giving me serious expression.

"So what happened last night and…" He trailed off, trying to find the right words. "Why would a detective that's made it his goal to catch you suddenly be comfortably standing at your side? And the hair? I couldn't tell it was Hakuba-kun until you spoke to me in the car, elimination and all."

"I'm sorry Tantei-kun but I can only tell you my own secrets, I can't reveal his. If Hakuba-san wants to explain it he may." I'd almost called him Hakuba-kun; I had to get out of that habit. "As for what happened last night, there was a fake noticed sent to the police and I had to rectify it. On my way back we were both caught up in a bad situation with some undesirables."

"What about the fact that the diamond was still stolen by you?"

"I had to take it in order to give it back." I smiled wide "It's just that simple."

Kudo contemplated my statement. I could see him trying to analyze everything that I'd said and see what conclusions he could get out of it.

He looked up "Last night it was reported that Kid had an accomplice for the first time in the public eye" he shot a look at the detective "That wouldn't have happened to be him would it?"

"Now why would the detective trying to catch me want to help me?" I smiled. "Sometimes you're just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Kudo made a little motion that would have been a shudder if he'd allowed himself to. It was my turn to watch him.

"So Tantei-kun, it seems I owe you a bit more than I'd intended, do you need to call in any of my favors?"

"You helped me and Hattori a few months ago during our investigation and that same day when you saved us on the roller coaster, without reasonable cause, so I don't feel you owe me anything."

"I helped myself Tantei-kun, without you I wouldn't have been able to figure out what had been going on and why they were so determined to kill me. It was making my heists more dangerous than they should have been."

"You've helped me plenty of other times as well, including when we went camping recently. You saved me from that fire as well when we were after the egg. If you feel like you owe me a favor, it's your feeling, I don't share it." He crossed him arms and came across just as threatening as my mom.

I shook my head "Fine, do you need something from me? I can offer you almost anything except for information retaining to me."

"No," He started to turn away from me "I don't help people for something in return; I do it because they need the assistance, it's only you that feels you owe me."

I looked down and at Hakuba once more. "Fine Kudo-kun, if you believe that way, can I ask for one more thing?"

He eyed me from behind his glasses before returning to watch the professor work. "I don't know, what is it you want? I'm not even sure picking you up last night and letting you have control of the situation right now is a good."

I grabbed the bag from next to Hakuba where they must have placed it after bringing him in. "Here" I threw the diamond to Kudo after wrapping it in a piece of cloth. It took me a few seconds to find the card but it turned up, I took it between my fingers and threw it to him as well. "The diamond belongs to a woman, any information you need you can get from her. The bank as good as stole it from her and she needs the help. Legal work isn't my thing and I've got my hands tied with something else at the moment so I was hoping you could assist her."

"And why not the police?" he read the card information before handing it to the professor.

"I'd prefer it if you saw to it personally, I promised the woman my help and if I can't follow through, I'd like her to have someone more promising who'd be able to accomplish it."

"I'm not big in this area either but I know someone who is, and you already knew that didn't you?"

I laughed to myself and shook my head.

"No Tantei-kun, I knew but I wasn't thinking about it with everything else that's been on my mind. Eri-obasan should be able to handle it."

I was trying to do some mental math to figure out what time it was. It was around two-thirty when we were picked up and Tantei-kun said that I'd gotten more than four hours which would put it around close to seven in the morning. Wait, he'd already told me it was seven.

Oh Kami, I forgot about mom.

Kudo raised his eyebrows and watched me when he saw the sudden change in my demeanor. I looked over at Hakuba and made my way to his bed.

I felt lightheaded for a moment before I could trust my footing and knelt near his blanket, searching his pockets. I had been sure that I'd returned his phone last night after I borrowed it.

Sure enough I came across it. The phone just had to be in the pocket furtheraway from me. I use my good arm to lower myself and lean on the detective with my side while I retrieved it. Kudo must have found it quite amusing.

My eyes were closing after I'd gotten the phone. I was still tired, even if I could lie to Kudo I couldn't lie to own body. I wanted desperately to get under the covers and go back to sleep. I sighed as I thought about everything I still had to do. A yawn and shiver ran through my body because of the early morning chill the house had.

"Why didn't you just ask for my phone?" Kudo questioned me when I returned to my own temporary bed. I had a very good reason for using Hakuba's; the detective wouldn't trace the call back to my mom as proof for the police, where as Kudo easily could with a clean conscience.

"I like his, you have to admit it's a design is flawless." The lie escaped me easily but it was unlikely to fool him. Kudo had known me for a while now and knew I didn't do things without purpose… most of the time. For Hakuba's part, he did have a cool phone. It was a flip with a golden shined case and the buttons also lit up yellow, which suited him perfectly.

I dialed mom's number and was surprised when no one picked up. I hung up and tried again when Jii's tired voice cut in.

"Young master, what happened?" The old man's worry came across clear.

"Nothing," I tried to reassure him, my own voice taking on the slowness of sleep "we were" a glance at Kudo reminded me to mask my words "detained by a few unwanted interventions. Both of us are fine but we may not be back for a while."

"Are you hurt? Where are you now?" I laughed and blinked my eyes open.

"I'm not that much more hurt than I already was, though I think Hakuba-kun may need some stitches. As for where I am, I'm visiting another detective who has been kind enough to let me stay the night."

"You're with another detective?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it for now. Nothing's going to happen this time."

"Young master you really need to get some new acquaintances" again the exasperation was heard in his voice. "You insist on hanging out with the Inspector and his daughter, recently you haven't let the young detective leave your side, and now there's another one who you're with? You can't let an old man rest can you?"

"Putting it that way makes me sound like some kind of idiot."

Kudo smiled his sentiments to Jii over the phone and I rolled my eyes at the both of them. "I like my friends." He went silent.

"Is that how you think of them?"

I couldn't answer him right away. Of all the people I've lie to Jii was the only one I could confess anything. Hakuba and Kudo had always been rivals, and it was fun playing with them but that didn't mean that was where I cut them off. I looked at Kudo and he met my eyes with a puzzled glance. Hakuba couldn't look back at me so I watched him the longest. I had to phrase the question differently to myself in order to answer it, 'If I wasn't a thief would I help either of them?'

"Of course."

"Young master, you shouldn't trust them so quickly. Detectives make it their job to not only discover things but to deceive. They could betray you."

I frowned at the phone, "Where would I be if I came to believe the whole world was against me? I wouldn't be alive now if I thought the way you did."

Jii's tone was significantly happier when he spoke again. "I'm glad you see it that way young master, you've never had many friends and what kind of guardian would I be if I didn't commend you for it. Just try and keep the next ones on your side."

"They are on my side" I couldn't fight with him on the matter though, since I didn't believe either of them was on my side. They were just there because I had helped them and I was hurt. Detectives have some weird habit of trying to help anything that moves, even if the recipient doesn't want it.

"I hope so. You have always been a good judge of character so I'll stop interfering. Your mother is sleeping at the moment but she'll want to see you when you return."

"I know, I'll see you then." I hung up just as Hakuba began to stir. I didn't want to wake the detective. One night's good sleep was not enough to make up for what he'd been through so I made sure to close the phone slowly so it wouldn't snap and wake him anymore. Kudo seemed to catch onto my behavior and kept to himself.

Keeping still and quite with nothing to focus on was difficult. I was still very tired and the beds temptation didn't hang over me for long before I gave in, not bothering to put the covers over me. It was cold but I didn't feel like hurting myself to get warmer.

…

I woke up little more than an hour later. Hakase-san and Tantei-kun weren't in the room so I took the time to take stock of my injuries. I had to do something about my head because the shirt pulled on the dried on blood whenever I moved. I found the professor's bathroom in the back and the bandages were under the sink.

"Of course the guy would need bandages," I muttered to myself as I got them out. There was also some rubbing alcohol that I found in the back as well.

I made sure the door was locked before taking off the cap, even I had no idea how it managed to stay on even while I was sleeping not only when they brought me in but when I clumsily slept the second time with no thoughts of it. I'm so good I scare myself.

The shirt wasn't as easy to remove. The blood had dried the cloth onto my hair like superglue and I wasn't going to be cutting my hair. I did cut the shirt a bit so that I could wash my head under the sink to try and loosen up the rest.

The water hurt and I had to grab the counter top and grit my teeth to stop myself from turning it off. After a while of rinsing, the shirt came away and I was able to put some cloth on the long cut. It reached from just above my right eye and in front of my hairline to end about three inches further in, just above the tip my ear. It was already bleeding again when I'd finished.

Kudo's bandaging on the rest of my body looked good so I put away the rest of the unused bandages and the alcohol. I didn't use the alcohol because my head hurt enough as it was without burning it. I grabbed some pain relievers out of the medicine cabinet and swallowed them with water I got from cupping in my hands under the sink.

I brought the bag in and debated about a change of clothes. I was in Kudo's white shirt which fit me great but the grey pants didn't match too well. I sighed and forgot about appearances for a moment as I looked at my self in the mirror.

There was no hiding who I was. Kudo had gotten a good look at my face even with the cap and because of the bleeding he knew how my body looked and where my wounds would be. If he wanted, the detective could find me.

The thought was sobering and I could only trust that he wouldn't have need or want to search me out. Ha, fat chance.

Hakuba was gone when I came back and I hoped I wasn't the one who woke him. Neither of us had slept long enough and it didn't look like that would be changing anytime soon.

Everyone was standing over Professor Agasa in another room, watching as he meddled with something that looked fruitlike; it even had something resembling juice coming out the sides, where two holes had been drilled into it. The bulbous red thing pulsed, making me back up. It must not have been made out of plastic like it looked or it couldn't have moved in that manner.

"Its motion isn't fluid; in the end you'll waste the produce if you can't level out the rigidity to match the product." Hakuba's criticisms went over my head as the professor opened the not-so-plastic-fruit-like-thingy to reveal a half squished lemon.

"I know but if I change it now it won't have enough power for the carrots." The professor scratched his head.

"I see how you wanted to use it on towels too but it makes it too difficult for the machine." Hakuba lifted the lid and looked at a bunch of moving pistons.

"But just think of it! You're washing dishes or cleaning the counter and your towel gets soaked! Well you can use this machine not only as a juicer but to squeeze the water out of your wet towels as well!"

"I know the idea isn't that bad but it'll be difficult to get it to work." The detective took a screwdriver and adjusted something on a few of the pistons. I made my way behind him to watch what he was doing.

He must not have seen me because when he straightened up, he jumped.

"Kuroba-kun, are you trying to scare the hell out of me!" The minute the words left his mouth I saw his face whiten. I stiffened but tried to get myself to relax.

"It's fine." It most certainly wasn't fine. I could see Kudo watching me from a bar stool. I couldn't get my body to ease up and I told myself over and over that he would have figured it out anyway.

Hakuba was still looking at me remorsefully. He looked over at the other two before returning his gaze to me. "I didn't mean to."

"It doesn't matter." I smiled. If things continued like they were, I figured there was worse that could happen.

"So you have a name" Kudo smiled but not in the way he usually did. "It's a good thing I never worried about who you were or I'd be tempted to use it. The only thing I care about is stopping something bad from happening, especially in front of me."

"Thanks Tantei-kun. I'll make sure that nothing bad happens around you when I'm there then."

He blew me off "You try but it's not like you can stop everything. I would like it if you didn't act on instinct like Hakuba-kun and shout out anything you shouldn't"

"I wouldn't use something like that against you." I spat out. It became clear to me in those few seconds that he thought that even if he did use my name that I'd use his against him. "I don't do things like that, even if you caught me."

Like I said, sincerity throws people off. Kudo must have been expecting me to agree to his less-then-obvious deal because his eyes narrowed and he watched me.

"So if I called the cops right now and gave you to them, name, blood, prints and all; you wouldn't say anything about…" he trailed off purposely so Hakuba wouldn't know what he was talking about.

"No I wouldn't say anything. I can't say I'd stick around though."

Kudo smiled and leaned back. "Then I feel the same as you. Why should I say anything about you when I haven't seen you do anything wrong? I mean, you steal, that's undeniable, but you return what you take. Even now I sure you're doing something that would help someone more then it would hurt them. I have no reason to turn you in."

The professor and Hakuba watched the conversation between the two of us. Hakuba was relieved, which told a lot how much he thought of Kudo, even as Conan, but Professor Agasa looked unsure.

"I'm not so sure about this. It's not like I'm going to turn you in myself or anything" He raised his arms in a show of harmlessness "but you are breaking the law."

"Don't worry, I won't blame you if you decide to go to the police. If you think I'm that much of a threat then I'll understand. I can't say I'll be cooperative but I'll understand." The old man had no qualms with me so I didn't think I'd bother him and if I ever did something that I couldn't live with then I'd be happy if he did turn me in.

"It seems like everyone's holding your future over your head." Hakuba looked at me with a serious expression. "I never felt as if I was using someone so much."

"You're not. I'm the one who barged in on you if you don't remember."

"Yes, trust me I won't forget that, but I've been using so much against you. I know so much that I can still use…"

"What have you used against me? I think it's been pretty fair so far."

"Your conscience."

"Huh?"

Hakuba looked at me like I was some sort of idiot.

"You're too… compassionate. I knew that and I still told you what was going on. I left you with no other choice then to help me once you knew I needed it."

"One, I still dislike you," it got me mad when he tried to hit on Aoko when I was and wasn't around. "And two, I'm Kid. You couldn't make me do anything if you tried."

Our little argument wasn't going unnoticed. Kudo was taking in every word we were saying to try and fit the pieces together. I sighed when I caught sight of him.

"How much have you figured out?"

"Not much." He let his eyes focus on the desk in front of him. "Hakuba-kun is in some sort of danger and you're helping him. Because of this Hakuba-kun found out who you are, or already knew, and now has even more evidence against you. Whatever you had been helping him with got caught up in the heist last night where you decided to take the gem for this woman." He flashed the card I had handed to him out of his pocket. "I'm still unclear whether Hakuba-kun was with you but I'm betting he was. After that, because it wasn't shown on the news, someone tried to shoot you. Both of you obviously got away and are with me right now, fighting over morals."

"Wow, and that's your idea of 'not much'?" I laughed darkly. "I'd hate to see when you figure something out."

"I still don't know what danger he's in, who was shooting at you, why they were doing it, how come Hakuba-kun repaid the favor and helped you, how you got away, and a few other details that I would like sorted out."

"Sorry" I held up my hand. "I think you know as much as you're going to. I just need you to help the woman."

"Sure Kuroba-kun," I couldn't help wincing when he said my name. "I'll make certain that gets done, afterwards I would like some answers."

My smile was sad and Hakuba shook his head. "I'm sorry Tantei-kun but you won't be getting them. If our little problem gets to the police you'll know but I can't give you any of the information you really want."

"I can testify to that." Hakuba gave me a dark look and I pushed him.

"Has it inconvenienced you that much? There are some things out there that you just can't tell others."

I don't know why but Kudo understood that more than he had my earlier convictions. I thought it was because he was hiding his little secret from everyone but that didn't make any sense. I knew there must have been some reason why he didn't tell anyone, or some reason that Ran didn't know, but I hadn't taken the time to dig into it.

And I wouldn't.

If Kudo was going to let me be I'd share the sentiment.

"I'm not too sure about this Conan-kun." Unless you were listening you couldn't hear the stutter in Agasa's voice when he spoke.

"He hasn't done anything and I have the gem." Kudo watched me until I met his eyes. "That doesn't mean I won't try and catch you when we cross paths in the future."

"I wouldn't want it any other way Conan-kun." Unlike the professor, my langue was more natural and there was no hesitation. I'd prefer not to call him by name since neither really seemed to fit him, but it showed that I wasn't sloppy.

"I'm actually a little surprised. The similarities are uncanny." Kudo looked up at me with open curiosity. "Can you remove the hat?"

I laughed. "Sure but our hair's different and the bandages make it even more so." I took the cap off and examined it before putting it on Hakuba's head. "Sorry about taking your hat."

"Did you get blood on it?" Hakuba took it off his head quickly. The neat freak, even if I had it would have been dry.

"Don't worry about it. I checked didn't I?"

He hmpht at me before putting it back on his head.

Kudo in the mean time took his chair over to me before standing on it and attempting to flatten my hair.

"Do you really look like that or is it some disguise still?"

"Nope all me. I don't even have hair dye."

"Scary."

"Yeah but it makes getting by you easier." He frowned at me and I just laughed. "I won't do it unless I have to."

"Don't"

"What are you two talking about?" Hakuba held the side of his head, feeling the strange texture of his newly un-styled hair.

"Nothing of consequence." A motion caught my eye and a few things happened simultaneously. Hakuba lost the hat I'd just returned, the sound of a door being opened reached everyone's ears, and I disappeared.

"Hey Kudo, I came to see what ya've been up to!" A dark skinned boy entered the room just as I left, catching only a glimpse of me. The other three looked startled at my sudden disappeance, apparently not even seeing me move.

"Well I don't know what you were talking about, but that was scary."

"Yes. Make sure you don't hurt yourself by taking off so fast… You know I have no idea what I should be calling you with someone else in the room." Kudo spoke clearly in my direction. The first room closest to me was the basement and I'd hid behind the corner of the staircase.

"Just give me a second, I don't want all you detectives in on my life, now do I?" I had the hat again but it didn't do much and the slight change in my voice was my only protection. I'd made sure to keep the bag with me since you could never be too careful. There were some things in there that would be I could use.

"You know what Conan-kun, I'm a little short handed at the moment. Can this be one of those times I mentioned when I need to do it?"

"What's goin' on? Who's in there?" Hattori's heavily accented voice echoed around Professor Agasa's large room. "Who're you?" I could hear as his voice shifted direction away from me, not aiming his question at me.

I could just see the smug look on Hakuba's face as he toyed with the Osakan detective, though I couldn't see what he was doing. All I knew was he didn't answer him.

"Sure." I heard Kudo sigh. "I can't think of anything better at the moment but if anyone else comes randomly barging in like an idiot," I knew he shot a glare at Hattori "you're going to need to hide again."

"Thanks Conan-kun!" I took the hat off and prepared my hair to look like his. The shirt was already Kudo's which made it all the better. I really needed to find a new pair of pants since my gray ones still had cuts and blood stains on them.

"What's goin' on?" Hattori demanded

"Hey Conan-kun, can I borrow the voice too?"

"Sure." He sighed again, "It didn't seem that much different than how you were talking to me anyway."

"No they're pretty close." I spoke in Kudo's voice, just slightly lighter on the inflections than my own and more formal sounding. There was a difference but only if you knew us both or had good ears.

Needless to say Hattori was very confused and Hakuba was joining in on the party. The detective didn't know about Kudo and the Osakan one didn't know about me which meant we'd be running circles around each other for a while.

I left the room looking like Kudo; the difference a hair style makes is impressive since you really couldn't tell it was me even with the bandages. I hated using gel but I had no other way to keep my hair from sticking back up and wearing a wig for that reason was pointless.

"That's what I thought was scary." Kudo mumbled to Hakuba

"What?"

Kudo looked at him a second before understanding that Hakuba had never seen him before so he didn't know of the close resemblance we shared.

"Okay, now I really want to know what's goin' on." Hattori had my place next to Hakuba, his expression a mix of confusion and comprehension as he decided for himself who was who.

"Kid, are you going to be staying or has the mood suddenly shifted?"

"I'm afraid I no longer feel comfortable here." I kept Kudo's voice and turned to Hakuba "Do you need anything?"

It was clear Hakuba was still incredibly tired. The weird contraption on the table had got him caught up in the moment but his stamina couldn't keep up. The detective loved to figure things out and if I was confused about the fruit-like thing was when I came in, so was he.

"I really wanted to shower or something but it can wait."

I had to admit that I felt dirty myself. We'd been running around for the past… 72… 48… a lot of hours and sleeping in our free time. Neither of us had found time for a shower. We were both exhausted and dirty and in no way wanting to take the train to my house at this time of day.

"Tantei-kun, may we indulge in your hospitality a little longer? I'd say we could go across the street but I don't think you want me leaving Hakase-san's house like this."

"I said it can wait."

"It's fine" Kudo replied. "I'll try and make sure that Hattori doesn't bother you. Meanwhile," again he looked at Hattori with some displeasure, "you can tell me what you think you're doing just barging in" And shouting my name when you don't know if there are others over here. I could practically hear him yelling at the other detective. Luckily for Kudo, Hakuba had been too confused at the time to take any notice of it.

Hattori didn't bat an eye. Whatever he'd wanted to talked to Kudo about was important. That didn't mean the dark-skinned detective was letting up on the questions he had.

"Kid? In yer house? And yer letting 'im stay?" He pointed his thumb in a backward motion and Hakuba "And he doesn't look it but I'm guessin' this is Hakuba-kun. And with both of you guys here you're just lettin' Kid run around."

"Yes." Both detectives answered simultaneously. Professor Agasa just sat and shrugged his shoulders at him.

"Okay, well. Somethin's clearly goin' over my head so I'll go along with Ku- Conan-kun for now."

"Why thank you," it felt weird addressing Hattori as Kudo when he knew the other boy was in the room. "I hope that means you won't try to peek in on me when I'm in the shower as well." I raised my eyebrows at him and got a scowl.

"Now why would I wanna do that? Gross." The Osakan boy turned away from me and back to the real Kudo with a, what the Hell is going on look. I took the time to go back to the other room with Hakuba so that we could both catch up on our sleep while the other one showered.

"You first." I laid down on the bed and fell asleep almost instantly, stopping the detective from making any arguments. Things couldn't get any worse, I thought to myself, right?

Sure they can't, my inner voice thought back to me sarcastically.

…

Hakuba must not have woken me up when he got out. It wasn't until hours later that I came to consciousness on my own and found him asleep in the other bed again.

"Jerk" I mumbled to myself. "'What if something happened and I'd been asleep?'" I mimicked his words back to him in his own voice from earlier. Well, Kudo said he'd watch over Hattori so the other boy probably hadn't even come into the room, that didn't mean that letting him have the chance again was a good idea.

I rushed through my shower, taking the bandages off before entering and finding that the place were the stitches had ripped open wasn't that large but hurt badly. I physically couldn't look at my back. I left the bandages on my head while I went in the shower so I could clean my hair and wash out the gel without infecting it. While I washed I made sure my back didn't come in contact with any of the soapy water. The small cuts on my arms and legs stung when it touched them but my earlier burns didn't bother me, most likely because they'd had the chance to start healing.

I was done in less then five minutes but it took longer to re-bandaged everything. When that was done and I was finally clean I went for the bag again.

Pretending to be Kudo was obviously out of the question and I knew I had a few wigs somewhere in there. I settled on one that was a lighter shade of brown then my own and longer so that I wouldn't need to bother hiding my real hair under a cap. It was funny because it looked like the style Hakuba had going, we'd look like twins if I could find a darker shade.

I left the bathroom and snuck past Kudo and Hattori who were disusing something heated in the laboratory room we'd been in earlier. I made my way quickly over to Kudo's house and snuck in to grab a new pair of pants. I took me a while since most of his clothes seemed to be blue but I found a black pair hidden in the back that went great with the white shirt.

Sneaking back into the professor's house wasn't necessary and I went over to the two of them.

"Once Hakuba-san wakes up we'll be out of your hair Tantei-kun." I smiled to Kudo as he looked up at me. "Thank you."

"This was a one time only thing. If I run into you again, Kid I mean, I will try and stop you."

"That's fine." I waved him off. "I think I can give you some help as well, even if you didn't ask for it."

Kudo looked at me questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"Hattori-kun I have no idea what you've gotten yourself into but there are two men around the corner of this street, on the right, who are watching this house with suspicious extremity. I thought the information might be helpful."

Hattori's eyes narrowed at me, not because he was angry at me, but because he was thinking about what I'd just said.

"Do you need any help with that?" I asked him.

He just shook his head. "Nah, I can take care of it on my own."

"Sure, if you need me I'll still be here until Hakuba-san wakes up on his own. You could always ask."

Kudo watched Hattori with a pleading look that would have been more effective if he wasn't trying to hide it. It was Hattori's decision, it seemed, whether he was going to accept my help or not.

Hattori shook his head and growled. "Ah, fine. When you two leave can ya help us get outta here unseen too?"

"That's it? Aw, you're making this too easy for me." I smiled at him. "They won't even know we left."