Chapter 4: By Your Side

Aoko's POV-

It's been a few days since Kaito's mom's death. I and Kaito along with Akako-chan and Hakuba-kun went to Kuroba Family Grave. Kaito wanted to go alone but we insisted on coming together. He was behaving normally teasing me and talking about the color of my panties. I am glad that he is okay but still somewhere he is broken.

We reached his home.

"Kuroba-kun, take care. We will leave now." Akako-chan said. "Nakamori-san also, take care."

"Hai." I nodded.

"Jaa ne Kuroba. Call me if you need anything." Hakuba-kun said.

Kaito just nodded.

They both left.

"Kaito, are you hungry? I will make something for you." I turned to him.

"Thank you Aoko." He said. "I will be in my room. I want to take some rest." He went into his room.

"Hai." I went towards the kitchen to make something for us.

I was wondering about what Kaito said to Kudo-kun on phone. What kind of organization were they talking about? I was confused. When did Kaito and Kudo-kun meet? How do they know each other? I looked at Kaito who was sitting on the bed in his room. His back was facing me so I don't know what he was doing. I went near to take a close look. He was holding their family photo in his hands. I went and stood behind him and saw him crying. He never loses his coolness no matter what. I felt broken seeing him this sad.

"Kaito!" I hugged him from the back. He froze for a bit but then I could still hear his sobs.

He turned and hugged me tightly. I could feel how broken he is. I felt like crying too but I somehow controlled myself. Right now Kaito needs me and I can't be weak. I need to be strong for his sake.

"Aoko, gomen!" he apologized to me.

"Kaito, why are you apologizing?"

"Because I showed you mine not so cool side. And, thank you for being here by my side."

"Bakaito! I am always there by your side. And, it's okay to show your not so cool side once in a while but only to me, okay?" I smiled.

He looked at me. His eyes still teary but tears had stopped flowing. Honestly, I had never seen Kaito like this. It was hard for him and for me as well. But somehow, I managed to be okay for him, because I wanted to be by his side, whenever he needs me.

"I have prepared some snacks. Let's eat." I broke the hug and he followed me to the dining hall.

"Ne, Kaito? How do you know Kudo Shinichi?" I finally asked him while serving food.

He looked at me with a shocked expression.

"How do you know that I know him?" he asked me.

"That day when Conan-kun came to visit you after he left, you were talking to Kudo-kun on phone. I didn't mean it but I heard you talking." I told him.

"Ahh, actually it was about a trick for a case."

"Ah, is that so? I thought you did something fishy!" I laughed.

"Huh? Why would I do something fishy?" he laughed as well.

Thank God he laughed. I just want him to always keep on smiling.

I kept looking at him with a smile. He looked at me.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing, I just want you to keep smiling Kaito."

"I also want the same for you Aoko." I blushed after listening to what Kaito said.

I love you Kaito. How badly I want to say this to you. But when I see you, I lose all my strength. I lose all the power I gather. What should I do to make you realize my feelings Kaito?

After a while, I left Kaito's house. I went to my house for getting the shopping bags and my purse. I was going to the supermarket to buy the groceries and other stuff.

I was still thinking about how Kaito & Kudo-kun know each other.

I reached the supermarket still in my thoughts I bumped into someone.

"Ah gomenasai! I was in my thoughts." I apologized quickly.

"It's okay, I was thinking something too. It was my fault I was not properly looking ahead." The other person, who was a girl bowed and apologized to me.

I was a little bit surprised when I looked at her. She looked somewhat like me, except for her hair and she looked a bit strong and muscular.

She looked at me with the same expressions.

"My name is Nakamori Aoko! Nice to meet you!" I introduced myself.

"Nakamori? Ah, you're Inspector Nakamori's daughter, right?" she asked.

How does she know my father?

"I am Mouri Ran! I have met your father a few times at Kaito Kid's heists. My dad, Mouri Kogoro was always invited to those heists." She told me.

"I see! Once Dad told me about both of you." I remembered dad telling me how he was always at Kid's heists and he is a very famous detective.

"Ran neechan, shall we go somewhere else?" someone came calling her.

"Ah, yeah sure, Conan-kun!" she said.

Conan-kun!?

"Conan-kun?" I called his name as he stood beside Ran.

He looked at me with shocked expressions.

"You know Conan-kun?" Ran-san asked me.

"Yes, he and Kaito are good friends. He came to meet Kaito when Kaito's mom died." I told her.

"Kaito?" I forgot to tell her about Kaito.

"He is my childhood friend."

"I see! But Conan-kun, how do you know Kaito-kun?" Ran-san asked him.

"Ah, it's because he is Shinichi niichan's friend!" he said sheepishly.

"Shinichi niichan? Means, Kudo Shinichi?" I asked him.

"Hai!" he answered.

"Certainly, he was talking something weird to Kudo-kun on phone that day after Conan-kun left." I said.

"What were they talking about?" Ran-san asked me suddenly.

"I don't-"

"Ran neechan, it's time, we should go back. Ossan will be back home now." He cut me off.

"Ah yes!" Ran-san looked at me, "Aoko-san, can we exchange contact?" she asked me.

"Ah yes!" we shared contacts and she left. Something was certainly weird.

Shinichi/Conan's POV-

Somehow, I was saved. That was close! I need to be careful. Akai-san said that Ran is suspicious of me. I need to do something to clear those suspicions.

Aoko-san heard my and Kuroba's conversation. I need to tell him to be careful around Aoko-san. Ran and she has already shared contacts.

Ah! What should I do? I think they may start moving soon now.

"Conan-kun?" Ran called my name.

"What happened Ran neechan?" I asked her trying to sound normal.

"How do you know that Shinichi and Kaito-kun are friends? Why you went to meet him?" she was serious.

"Because Shinichi niichan told me to meet him because he was not able to meet him due to some case." I told her.

"How Shinichi and Kaito-kun know each other?" she asked.

"Shinichi niichan didn't tell me about it. I don't know Ran neechan." I was looking at her the whole time.

She was not looking at me. Her gaze was down the whole time. I felt bad. I always hide everything from her. I always hurt her. Even though all I want to do is protect her.

I looked down feeling guilty.

"Conan-kun, can you tell Shinichi something?" she asked me. I looked at her.

This time she was looking at me, with a smile on her lips.

"What?" I asked.

"Tell him that wherever he is, whatever he is doing, I believe in him. I know he may be thinking that what he is doing is wrong but I know and I believe that whatever he is doing, he is doing right. I trust him and that I am always by his side!" She told me.

I had no words. I just smiled and nodded. Deep inside her heart, she was hurt because of my behavior but still, she believes me. I am so lucky to have her.

Now, I need to do whatever I can to win this fight with this deadly organization and protect Ran. Not only Ran but also Haibara and the others, each and everyone helping me to fight them.

I need to end this soon.

I looked at Ran. Ran, I promise I won't break your trust. I promise that I will end this soon and come back to you, as Kudo Shinichi, again!

Somewhere in a dark place-:

"It's time now. We have to start moving. Let's search everything from the start." A person said.

"Hai!" two persons agreed to him.

"Start investigating Kudo Shinichi and Miyano Shiho first, Jin." The same person said. "Vodka, you take care of Kudo's family and his precious girlfriend Mouri Ran. But don't forget about Edogawa Conan. He is important for us." He stood up and went near Jin and Vodka. "Now that we know Apotoxin4869 has shrinking side effects, we have to investigate everyone we gave this drug. Most of them most probably are not dead."

"Roger!" Jin and Vodka agreed and left.

"The other part has gotten the whereabouts of Pandora." Another person told him.

"Great work! Tell them Boss and Rum have told them to get the person that has Pandora." Said Rum.

"Hai!" saying that he left.

"Now, it's the start of the end, Kudo Shinichi, Kuroba Kaito!" Rum said as he smirked.