((I do not own Detective Conan or Magic Kaito))

((I'm sooo sorry for taking so long. x.x I lost everything on my computer with a reinstallation program. D: ))

Conan stepped into the museum and looked around. People were stationed at all corners of the building. All normal kid precautions were being taken. Nakamori was going about his rounds and pulling on faces to ensure kid wasn't among them. Which, he wasn't. Conan would have felt his presence. But that was a little strange, normally kid was here by now. He sighed and went over to sit on a bench.

Hakuba had stayed home to take care of Ran, she due at any point, plus someone had to take the phone call for when the hospital called about Conan's transplant. Speaking of, Shinichi pulled the small bottle out of his knapsack and dumped a pill in his hand. he swallowed it quickly and put the bottle away. Ran would get upset should he forget his medicine.

He glanced over at tonight's target. A beautiful jewel that glittered an emerald green. 'Oz's emerald.' according to the display case. The heist notice had included various allusions to the 'Wizard of of Oz' and Conan found it to be quite annoying.

"Buzz" Shinichi looked up. What was that? "Buzz" he heard it again. It wasn't a phone, phones sounded different then that. The security system? No, that was silent. "buzz" Was he losing it? He seemed to be the only one who could hear it. Of course, after a certain age, adults could hear certain frequency. What ever it was, Shinichi dubbed it worthy of his investigating. Without so much as mention of what he was doing the not-child slipped off the bench and looked around, trying to focus on the noise so he could tell where it was coming from.

He headed down a narrow hall and into a room filled with computers. iMacs to be precise. Newest models available. "buzz" Was it in here? it sure seemed like it. He curiously stepped over to the computers. He found it odd that only one computer was on. All the rest were shut down, just the one had a blinking light to say the computer was sleeping.

Conan glanced to the door and then gently tapped the space key to wake it up. Someone had opened up safari and word and left a message. Addressed to him, and with it beginning 'Dear Tantei-kun' He could guess who it was from.

Dear Tantei-kun,

I know you're hurting, I respect that you somehow have motivated yourself to continue to challenge me. As a small token of my appreciation I'm providing with you with the information to figure out my next heist before the notice even goes out, isn't that nice of me?

Good luck with everything,

A friend.

Conan closed word and glanced at what was open in Safari. Several tabs about one jewel, including the museum it would be shown in. Shinichi let out a sigh and printed the document, along with the letter.

--

It wouldn't be until hours later that he'd actually talk to kid, the heist was sometime after eight and it was only a little after three. Shinichi checked his watch and decided that maybe lunch was in order.

"Oi. I know you." A teen stopped him at the door. Conan looked up to face Kuroba Kaito. "Giving up on Kid?" Shinichi snorted.

"No. I just thought I'd get lunch." Kaito ruffled his hair and knelt down.

"Can I come with you? I need an excuse to escape the mop wielder of doom over there." He gestured to the girl handing Nakamori a bento. Shinichi blinked and then shrugged.

"Sure. I don't mind company."

"...You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Being depressed." Kaito answered simply, pushing the door open and leaving the museum.

"I told you, I have tried to fake it. It's just.. hard."

"Then don't fake it. Just think to yourself how good you've got it." Kaito chirped, walking beside the shrunken detective "I know there's some good in this whole mess, you just have to find it."

"Tell me one good thing about my situation and I'll try to find the rest." Shinichi shot back. Kaito paused, thinking hard.

"Uh..."

"Exactly."

"Now wait minute, give me a second to think... you've met new people?"

"No one I care about."

"I'm insulted. Okay, okay." Kaito shook his head at the death glare Conan offered. "...you still have your friends? You're the top of your class? ...You get special attention? "

"You suck at this." Conan couldn't help but smile.

"I'm trying." Kaito shot back, grinning. "I'll give up if you don't appreciate it."

"No, go ahead, I enjoy listening to you fail." Conan smirked.

"Oi! You wanna wake up with green hair?"

--

Two minutes until show time. Conan let his left arm fall to his side as he paced the museum room, glancing at anything he saw move. At the exact time described in the notice the room filled with pink smoke. Things went as normal. Kid grabbed the jewel, police tried a 'dog-pile-the-bandit' failed, and Kid escaped to the roof. Shinichi casually followed after him.

"Kaitou Kido." He stepped into the light. The thief turned to face him, his face over shadowed.

"I was expecting you. Here." he tossed the gem to Conan. "Pretty emerald. but, not for me." He smirked and dived off the building before Conan could stop him.

"Conan-kun!" The door burst open and Hakuba Saguru came out. "The Hospital called, you need to go in." He stated. "C'mon, the taxi's waiting down stairs."

Shinichi glanced back at the way the thief had come.

"Hai." he calmly followed the blond detective.

((ONE Chapter left. o.O))