A/N: I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience and their kind comments! They all mean a lot to me! If you commented as a guest, rest assured, I saw it and it made me very happy. Thank you all again for sticking with me!


Haibara sat one seat away from him, not looking at him. She took a sip from the Styrofoam cup in her hands, grimaced, and finally sighed.

"I don't understand why you couldn't come up with some kind of a disguise that would explain your presence," she said, voice low. "I don't want to answer any questions from the police. And besides, how am I supposed to explain moving Kudou into his house?"

Kaito frowned at his shoes. "He's light, actually. I don't think he'd been eating well. But he was still conscious before we moved him inside. He only needed a little support from me."

Haibara sighed again. "Fine. But listen, this is going to complicate things in ways I can't explain to you. Be on your toes."

Kaito nodded once. Of course, with Kudou wounded, they'd be running a risky operation. He seemed to be leading his end of things, so if he was out of commission… Kaito looked at his hands. He'd washed off the blood, but he could still feel it, sticky and warm on his fingers. He never wanted to feel someone's blood on his hands again.

Red stains on a white suit flashed through his mind. He tried to ignore it, but he was too badly shaken. The memory of his father's close call was sitting to heavily on his shoulders. Kudou was alive, but who knew for how long? He had a chance, but if the shot was from a sniper rifle, he was almost certainly going to…

Kaito shook the thought off. He was in the doctors' hands now. They'd do all they could. He'd done all he could. If he hadn't been there, that first shot…

"You saved his life," Haibara confirmed, as if reading the turn of his thoughts. He was worse off than he thought for her to be able to comment on it. "That first shot would have gone between his eyes."

Kaito flinched. He didn't want to think about it.

"Ai!" a woman called, distracting Kaito from thoughts of blood and brain matter. She was rushing across the waiting room toward them. "Oh, Ai, is he alright? Have you seen him?"

Mouri Ran, Kudou Shinichi's best friend and a skilled martial artist, daughter of a lawyer and a detective. Kaito kept his focus on her and away from his own thoughts.

"He's still in surgery, but the doctor seemed to think he'd pull through." Haibara spoke with a clinical detachment, like she wasn't close with the victim. Mouri didn't seem perturbed by the chilled tone.

"Oh, thank God, I've been so worried since you called," Mouri said, taking one of Haibara's hands between both of hers. "I'm so glad you were there. Who knows what might have happened if—if he'd been alone." Mouri began to cry.

Haibara met his eyes over her head, seeming to say, 'You see? You saved him.' Kaito just hoped it wasn't his fault in the first place. Maybe Akako would know. In the meantime, he tried not to look like he was still listening to them.

"When he wakes up," Mouri said as she wiped her eyes, "I'm going to cry on him a little, and then I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

That, Kaito would like to see.

"I warned him this was dangerous, but he wouldn't listen. I told him that he needed to be more careful, but no. Well, I'm not so sure I can agree with his actions anymore."

"Are you going to call it off?" Haibara asked, her voice soft.

Mouri seemed to deflate, returning her free hand to rest on Haibara's. "I don't know. I can't let him keep doing this, can I? Not when it's this bad. He could have died today, Ai."

"I know. But any one of us could die any day. I don't think asking him to stop when he feels like he's made progress will work," Haibara reminded her. Kaito felt like he should leave, but he wasn't sure how to extricate himself. He was in a waiting room, so unless someone came to get him…

Mouri groaned, dropping her forehead to Haibara's shoulder. "I just want him safe."

"So do I. But none of us will be safe until this is over. Not after all the work we've done."

They both fell silent, still holding hands. Kaito suddenly remembered asking Kudou is he was dating Mouri, remembered his flippant 'no,' and wondered again. Was there really nothing between them? They both cared so deeply for each other, but then Haibara seemed to care deeply for Kudou as well. So then, was he actually with Haibara?

Or was Mouri one of the allies Haibara was apparently worried about? Did that mean that Mouri knew about the Night Baron and their operations? Did she know that Kudou knew the Night Baron? Did she know Kudou was working with Kaitou Kid now?

Who was he even supposed to ask?

"Excuse me, Miss Mouri," a doctor said, interrupting whatever Mouri and Haibara had been whispering about, "it says here you're Kudou Shinichi's next of kin if his parents are out of the country."

Mouri stood. "Yes, that's right. How is he?"

"If you'll follow me?"

Haibara slowed her movements as Mouri followed the doctor. She held out a hand, silent and sure, not looking at him. Embarrassed, he pressed a listening device into her palm. She slipped it into the breast pocket of her shirt before following after Mouri. Kaito turned it on.

"...extracted the bullet, but he'll need to rest for several weeks, at least. The bullet missed any major organs, luckily, but it was a close call. If the ambulance hadn't been called so quickly, I don't think he would have made it. It's a good thing you called so quickly."

"Thank you," Haibara said. "Kudou actually reminded me. I was… shocked, to say the least, and it was hard to remember what I was supposed to do after getting him inside."

"That sounds just like Shinichi," Mouri said. Something about her tone was off, though. Kaito wished he could see her face to confirm.

After that, the doctor detailed the recovery plan—one month in the hospital, followed by physical therapy—and finally allowed Mouri and Haibara into his hospital room.

"He looks pale, but otherwise fine," Haibara mused to herself, no doubt for his benefit. The tightness in his chest eased somewhat.

"Yes, he's come out remarkably unscathed. Luckily the shot was low caliber, or he could have been in serious danger."

Kaito frowned. Low caliber? That didn't sound right. Hadn't the shot been fired from above? Or had it been… Kaito shuddered with a sudden chill. Two people, one on the property itself? No, Kudou would have better security than that, wouldn't he?

Kaito clenched his hands on his knees. This was worse than he thought. Haibara was still going to be living in close proximity to someplace he knew to be insecure…

He tapped out a text as quickly as he could.

'sry, stole ur number, but it was an emergency. Kudou residence not safe so don't go back home. Can u stay with Mouri?'

After a nerve-wracking minute, he received a curt reply. 'When the police leave, I expect you to check for signs of entry and signs of surveillance. I'll stay with Ran. Keep me posted.'

'yes ma'am'

Kaito ran his hands over his face, suddenly feeling exhausted. He was going to take the train back, but he already felt paranoid and he hadn't even gotten up yet. He dialed without looking at the screen.

"Hello, Hakuba speaking."

"It's me," Kaito said, tipping his head forward. "I need you to pick me up."

"What, Kuroba? Are you alright?" Hakuba sounded worried.

"I'm fine, but I'm at the trauma center nearest to Kudou's house. It's a long story. How soon can you get here?"

"I'm leaving now. Give me… I'm not sure, ten minutes."

"Tell Baba to drive carefully."

"Fifteen then. Take care of yourself until I get there."

"Will do."

Kaito's phone buzzed in his hands. When he opened the message, he was startled by Kudou's face, relaxed in sleep, but his expression seemed peaceful behind the oxygen mask. The last of his residual worry eased and settled.

When his hands began to shake, he found himself scooping up a spare piece of paper from a table beside him. By the time Hakuba found him, he was looking down at ten folded cranes.

"Do you think you need to keep all of the cranes to get the wish, or just make the thousand?" Kaito wondered aloud.

"I'm not sure. Were you planning on making a wish?"

"I don't know. Let's get out of here. I want to go home."


When they made it to Kaito's house, they found Akako sitting in the kitchen with three mugs of tea in front of her. Kaito closed his eyes for a long moment before deciding it wasn't worth getting worked up over.

"Which one is mine?" he asked instead.

"Blue mug. Green is Hakuba's."

Kaito sat down and simply held the mug between his hands for a moment, taking the time to settle. Hakuba was asking how Akako got in, but Kaito tuned it out. She probably found their spare key. More surprising was her timing, but Kaito ignored his questions about that, too. Akako never gave up her witchy secrets.

They had that in common, at least.

He took a long drink of his tea. It was made exactly as he liked it. "Kudou was shot," Kaito said. "Sniper and an accomplice. The sniper missed, but the accomplice had a small-caliber gun at the ready. Probably a pistol, but I'm not sure."

Akako sighed, apparently relieved. "You made it in time."

Hakuba opened his mouth to ask, but Kaito cut in before he could. "Do you see any danger in his near future? Or is he safe for now?"

"How could she possibly know that?" Hakuba asked, sounding irritated.

"I have not seen or felt any danger, but I'll let you know if that changes. For now, he is safe." Akako frowned at him. "Your fate is also clear for now, in case you were worried."

He hadn't been, but he didn't know if he had an explanation for that, even for himself. He was just too tired. Maybe he'd muster up some concern in the morning.

Hakuba looked about ready to argue, so Kaito set his mug down with enough force for it to make a loud noise. "I've been telling you that she's a witch for years, Hakuba. I don't know why this is surprising to you. I told you I ask her for advice, didn't I?"

"You're always joking about her being a witch, yes," Hakuba said.

"It's not a joke."

Akako sighed. "Hakuba, I have the power of foresight. I warned Kuroba of your arrival, as well as Kudou's. I also warned him of this, though I knew not what form the danger would take."

"If you hadn't warned me," Kaito said, staring at his mug, "Kudou Shinichi would be dead."

"There is a chance something else would have interfered," Akako admitted, "but I felt death was more likely without your intervention. I'm glad he is alive."

"I can't believe in magic," Hakuba said, voice adamant.

Kaito leveled him with a flat stare. "Can't or won't?"

Hakuba narrowed his eyes, but said nothing for a moment. "I'm going to look into the investigation at Kudou's home."

"Text me when the police leave. I have a few things I need to check on. You should be on the lookout for signs of forced entry." Kaito closed his eyes, trying to remember the angle of the shot without remembering the shot itself. "Especially the right half of the yard. Maybe near those hedges? The second shooter was likely on ground level."

"Very well." With that and a brief bow, Hakuba let himself out. Kaito sighed, slumping into his chair.

"I will speak with Hakuba later," Akako said, voice calm and cool. Kaito let the tone soothe him. "He has been on the verge of accepting my power for some time, but I think it still makes him nervous."

"Aoko know yet?"

"Yes. I have told her… much about myself. She is relieved that we met when we did and that I am no longer in possession of most of my powers." Akako's smile turned wistful.

Kaito rested his cheek on his palm. "You really love her, don't you."

Akako's cheeks went as red as her name suggested, but she didn't sputter or otherwise overreact to his statement. Just the incriminating blush. Kaito smiled slowly; it felt hollow, but it was better than nothing.

"I do," she finally said. "I love her more than I could possible say."

"I can tell you without hesitation that she feels the same," Kaito said. Thinking of his best friend's stuttering admissions of her love for Akako was far more pleasant than the alternative, even given his initial displeasure.

Akako's smile returned, soft and fragile. "I know. I'm thankful for that every day." They both took a drink of tea in silence before Akako turned an enigmatic look on him. "If we all make it through alive, I think things will work out for you."

"If?"

Akako shrugged. "Nothing is set in stone."

"Tell me something I don't know," Kaito sighed.

Akako's smile turned wicked. "If Aoko asked me to marry her, I would say yes."

Kaito choked on his own spit, melancholy and anxiety overwritten by surprise. "Shit, Akako, really? Marriage?"

Akako flipped her hair over her shoulder, smirking. "Aoko isn't ready yet, but yes. I'd like to be married to her, I think."

"And you're telling me?"

"Obviously, Kuroba," Akako said, leveling him with an unimpressed look. "You are my closest friend after Aoko. Who else would I tell?"


The next morning, after making sure Hakuba would be at home until later in the afternoon, Kaito visited Kudou, borrowing Hakuba's face. When Kudou saw him, he blinked slowly, frowning.

After a long, awkward beat, Kudou narrowed his eyes. "Kid," he decided. "Thank you for saving my life." Kaito opened his mouth to protest, but Kudou shook his head. "I know that Hakuba isn't Kaitou Kid, but you are Kid wearing Hakuba's face."

Kaito sat down. "How on earth did you figure me out while you're high on pain meds, detective?"

Kudou grinned slyly. "That's a secret." He thought for a moment before nodding to himself. "But you saved my life, so I think it's okay." Kudou waved him closer. Kaito had the strangest feeling like Kudou was about to tell him something truly important while under the influence. As much as he wanted to know… "The truth is…"

"Are you sure you want to tell me, Kudou? You won't be upset with yourself when the drugs wear off?" Kaito winced.

Kudou leveled him with a flat stare. "The drugs aren't that strong. They make talking a little hard, and they make me feel fuzzy, but that doesn't mean I can't keep my own secrets, Hakuba." He huffed. "Fine, I won't tell you then."

"Why don't you tell me later? It would make me feel less like I'm taking advantage of you."

"Maybe. Did you need something, by the way? Or were you just worried about me?" Kudou seemed completely at ease with his questions, not embarrassed at all by the second one. Kaito didn't share his composure, and was thankful for the latex covering his true face from view.

"Partly the second, but I wanted to update you on the investigation."

Kudou's expression sobered. "Tell me everything."

Kaito quickly ran through what had happened after Kudou was taken to the hospital. From the size of the bullet he was struck by—"I thought it was strange that I was still alive. Low caliber, makes a lot more sense than surviving a sniper round to the chest."—to the presence of the second gunman. Kudou took it all in stride, making a brief request of Kaito to write down all the pertinent information.

When Kaito raised an eyebrow, Kudou looked away, pouting. "The drugs mess with my memory a little, that's all. I've been having very vivid dreams since I was admitted."

Kaito rolled his eyes, but complied. "Do you need anything, Kudou? I can pick something up and come back if you'd like."

Kudou yawned, looking bone tired and world weary. Kaito was tempted to tuck the blankets around him tighter. "I think Ran is bringing me books from home. I'd appreciate it if you'd update me on the investigation and… our other investigation, if you don't mind. I'm not going to be able to get much information from here."

"Won't Haibara…?"

Kudou looked sullen, cheeks puffed out like a petulant child. "She's a mother hen. Now that I'm in the hospital, she won't let me do anything until a doctor clears me. She's very strict. It's horrible. Nothing strenuous, Kudou."

Kaito snickered.

"You laugh now, but I'm absolutely serious. The woman is cruel."

"She cares about you, Kudou."

"And if you care about me at all, you'll bring me the news she won't."

"Yes, yes, I'll bring you news whenever anything comes up."

Kudou beamed, his eyes approaching fever bright. "Thanks, Kid. I appreciate it." He yawned again, so widely his jaw seemed about to unhinge like a snake. With that, Kaito stood and excused himself with a promise to return soon.

In the meantime, he had a heist to plan.