Murmurs of pitter pattern clattered against the window pane, sparks of lightning flashed in between fluttering curtains, illuminating the creamy walls and flabby tables where Kaito hovered over, arms pressing down the counter, glittering blue eyes smiling at him in childish excitement. "Do you remember what I asked you about yesterday?"

"Of course, Bocchama." Jii slid a bottle of pills across the counter. "But, do remember not to-"

"-exceed the limit." Kaito rolled his eyes, stuffing the bottle into his jacket, smile still loitering around the corners his lips."You've told me, already. I know. You worry too much."

"Bocchama-"

Kaito shook his head defiantly. "You worry too much."

Shoulders sagging, Jii sighed. "Alright. But do not forget- two is the limit."

Kaito grinned far too easily. "I know. I know."

Jii's lips drew down, hoping Kaito really did.

"This. Is. Disgusting." Aoko grimaced and tightened the grip on her nose, sapphire orbs gazing at the burnished walls and ash driven pathways. "Why didn't you warn me? I could have bought myself a gas mask."

"Hell if I knew," Keiko gasped out, face green from the burning smell. "I'd never come here in first place." Keiko shuddered but then stopped, sharpening her ears. "What was that?"

"You can't scare me." Aoko mumbled and yet squinted through the dark, raising the torch a bit higher as she repeatedly gazed behind her back. Keiko laughed and suddenly cold fingers crept up her back slow and steady, Aoko shrieked.

"Kidding!" Keiko's laughed right into her ear, Aoko couldn't help but push her away.

"Not funny." Aoko grunted a bit upset and brought her torch closer to her chest until scruffy hairs met bright light and Aoko shrieked again, scaring Keiko out of her wits. Keiko whirled her head in all direction, shocked and alert at the same time. Nothing happened though and she breathed out. "Don't scare me like that."

No response.

Keiko turned towards Aoko noticing the way sapphire eyes were transfixed on the floor. "Aoko?"

Keiko stepped closer and saw her friend rise her torch with trembling hands again. Keiko frowned moved towards her until scratchy hairs curled around her ankle. Keiko whimpered and glanced down with all the courage she could muster as she squinted through the dark until she pointed her torchlight on her leg and-

Keiko screeched. Loud and shrill. Eyes bulging to the size of coconuts as she hurled her leg back and fro.

Aoko jumped, awaking from her stupor and turned her head towards her friend, whispering: "Keiko? Are you trying to scare me again?"

Aoko neared her, loosed the grip on her torch enough to enlighten a section of the cellar, she never wanted to see. Aoko screamed and scurried away, howling and crying and Keiko could already feel the tears stinging in her eyes too but for some strange reason still turned her head towards the direction Aoko last stared at and whimpered. Oh, please no.

The wall was aligned with huge, fat rats blinking straight back at her, fangs bared and feral as they pounced forwards seconds later but ultimately too late. Keiko was already far away, hot on Aoko's heels, freaked out and by now openly screaming in her highest vocal range.

This wasn't what I had in mind. Keiko scream inside her mind as she ran further away from death's door. This isn't what I had in mind at all.

They neared the end of the tunnel, roars of high pitch squeaks echoed around them. Keiko flung herself at the ladder, climbing up and pushing against the trapdoor with all her might. "It won't open!" Keiko grunted and banged against the door again. "It's stuck!"

"What do you mean is stuck?" Aoko squeezed herself next Keiko, almost pushing her away from the ladder if it hadn't been for Keiko's vice grip on the rusty metal. Aoko thrust upward with her entire weight, both hands pressed against the old wood and pushed with every ounce of strength she could muster.

"You'll fall!" Keiko reached out and grabbed the back of her shirt, when Aoko climbed higher up the ladder and curled her body as though to use it as spring as she stretched outwards, mental hinges rattling above her. Keiko watched with strange fascination as Aoko pressed most of her weight onto her arms in pure desperation. Keiko moved up then too, helping Aoko by adding additional strength until the hatch finally creaked open. They scrambled out, crashing against the floor mat and hastily shut the trap door, hinges chinking beneath them.

"I'll never do this again!" Aoko moaned, sprawling on the floor and catching her breath.

Keiko hummed and looked around the strange room, furniture covered in dusty blankets as though it was once inhabited. "Do you think somebody used to live in here?"

"Don't know. Don't care. Let's just get going." Aoko got up from the floor and turned the handle. Keiko silently prayed it wasn't locked and- click- it opened. She breathed out relieved. Rays of light flitted through and Aoko opened the door wider, eyes still adjusting to the change in light. "Seems like our mission starts now." Was all Aoko muttered as she saw the mass of people gathered from the end of the hall.

"Before," Keiko spoke up, holding Aoko's sleeve and pulled her right back. "Let's hit the bathroom first. We can't go like that." Keiko pointed at their ash patched face and dusted clothes, messy hair tangled with visible webs.

Aoko made a face and ruffled her hair, frowning at the dirtied dust that floated about. "Alright. Let's go quick."

Show me the world you're hiding.

Jeez, I only looked away for a moment. Conan looked around the hall once more, moving passed long stretched legs, side stepping the pointy tip of heels, and squeezing body, as though the grown ups around made a traffic of their own. Conan ran passed another set of gigantic walking legs, half-heartedly wondering when exactly the place filled up with so many people. Half annoyed; half tired he sauntered up the stairs. A small portion of his heart hoped his friends decided to take a break in the room Suzuki prepared beforehand, according to an employee it was situated somewhere in the second floor. Conan bit the inside of his cheek, trying his best to bottle up his building annoyance. They weren't there either. He closed the door behind him and shuffled down the steps. If only he had his badge with them, he could have contacted them a long time ago. He sighed, hopping down the last step, slightly thinking of asking Ran whether she'd seen them somewhere.

Conan gazed up, catching from the corner of his eyes a stout figure he quickly came to recognise as Nakamori with shoulders more tense then usual; they had a particular tightness Conan didn't see all too often. In fact, his eyes narrowed at the nervous fidgets inside Nakamori's blazer pocket, was he uneasy? Conan looked around once more, noticing the light atmosphere in the air, a lingering excitement policemen don't often emit during a heist. Conan could smell the whispers of promise and prods of rising excitation. He frowned.

Is tonight meant to be a special occasion? Conan heard nothing of that sort. He thought this was a heist like any other.

"Nakamori-Keibu," Conan ran up to him, smiling with radiance only children could put on. "Is something special going to happen tonight?"

"Yes, indeed, it is. I'm surprised you noticed." Nakamori leaned down to him, smiling albeit small at the corners. "Today is the day Kaito Kid will finally be imprisoned."

"Wow, really?" Conan's eyes widened. "How are you going to do that?"

"That'll be a surprise." Nakamori-Keibu's eyes glinted then. "But Conan-kun, did you know I've gotten a secret ally? I have you seen him already?"

Conan shook his head, no. "Who is he? Do I know him?"

"No, I don't think you've met him before but you'll recognise him straight away once you lay your eyes on him. He stands out from the rest, you know?"

"There are so many people. I don't think I'll be able to find him." Conan tried to negotiated, "Can't you give me another hint?"

Nakamori placed a hand under his chin as though to mull it over. "Alright, another hint." He turned to Conan again. "But this is all I'm going to say; a mouth mask." he gestured towards the bottom of his face as though to cover it. "I wish you good luck finding him."

Conan was still frowning by the Nakamori's back disappeared among the crowd. He was wearing a mouth mask? He couldn't be ill, could he? Maybe he caught a common cold. Has he seen a person like that? Conan thought deeply until-

"He doesn't seem well- just look at his face."

Genta's voice suddenly pooped in Conan's head, igniting a familiar ripple in the back of his head.

Didn't your mother let you stay in bed? Mine always lets me when I am ill."

He concentrated harder until he finally remembered flashes of misty blue eyes, tousled hair, flushed cheeks and the steady murmur of a muffled voice. Conan's eyes snapped opened. That wanna be magician! Conan turned, ready search the whole building when shocks of auburn met his eyes.

"Having a good time now, Edogawa-kun?"

"Haibara?" Conan looked surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought wouldn't come."

"I thought so too. Hakase had a bad stomach this morning but seems to be doing well now. For some reason he was really concerned for your well beings." When Conan rose a brow, Haibara elaborated, lowering her voice several notes. "Kid isn't the only one who'll be appearing tonight."

Conan's face blanched. "You mean the black-"

"No, no," Haibara was already shaking her head and Conan breathed out relieved, gazing at Haibara now expectantly, silently wondering what it was that concerned her to this extent. She hesitated for a moment. "It's a man named Snake. Apparently is after the same jewel."

Conan gave her a dead stare. "So? I will catch both of them, then."

"Are you actually an idiot?" Haibara gave him a disbelieving stare before pulling him closer to her, hissing in his ear, "Do you know the amount of suspicious people I have seen so far? The amount of people I have seen mumbling into their hands?"

"You're exaggerating." Conan waved her off, about to walk away when Haibara pulled him back.

"I'm not. Not every thief is as gentlemanly as Kid. There are some who would hurt even little kids as long as they get what they want."

"Are you speaking for your own safety?" Conan teased, fully amused now.

"Kudo-kun, this no laughing matter. We're in danger. Where are the others anyway?" She asked, looking around. "Don't tell me you lost them."

"Oh, they-" Conan's eyes widened before he abruptly gazed back Haibara. "What did you say? people mumbling into their hands?"

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Yes. Probably phoning this 'Snake' and updating him about the situation. Why?"

He ignored her question. "When was that?"

"Awhile ago? Maybe ten or fifteen minutes. It took me a while to find you since you didn't have your badge with- hey! Where you going?" Haibara shouted, running after him. Conan paid no heed. If it really had been ten minutes then Snake's accomplices probably have already long since spread across the scene. Maybe some of them were already inside when that 'wannabe' magician demonstrated his show. Conan gritted his teeth and ran faster, dodging coming legs with perfect precision.

"Edogawa-kun! What's the matter with you!" Haibara shouted somewhere behind him and Conan came to an immediate stop and waited for Haibara to catch up to him.

"The matter? If they are as dangerous as you said. They have already sighted his target." Conan explained before pressing urgently, "Have you seen the cars falling out of nowhere?"

"Yeah, I did. Right when I came in." She puffed out, leaning forwards, hands on knees. "Wasn't it Kid's doing? People said it was."

"No, it wasn't." Conan shook his head, fist clenching by his side. "The person responsible works with Nakamori, although he might be Kid." After all Conan wasn't going to rule out that probability yet. "But that's not the point. It's highly likely Snake thinks he is."

Haibara's eyes widened. "You mean-?"

Conan nodded and started running again. "We're not the ones in danger." he announced then, feeling Haibara's eyes on his back. "It's because he is."

That supposed wannabe magician.

The door of the cubicle shut closed with a silent click. Kaito waited for a moment before he flopped down the cover and sat on it, feeling the cold from the material through hi trousers and shifted. The bottle in his hand felt warm as he uncapped the lid, tiny red-yellow striped capsules falling onto his palm and he poured them back, one by one until only one remained. The last one. Kaito noted, staring at the mirror fastened on the back of the door.

The effects wore off, a strange paleness remained though. Clammy fingers ran over his face, gliding over the thin layer of glistening sweat on his forehead, the slight blueness spreading over his cheeks until he pushed his damped bangs up, slicking strands of hair over his over his head to get a closer look on his face. He leaned forwards and inspected each line and colour on his face, frowning at the rising purple beneath his eyes and redness on his eyelids. Had he always looked like this? Kaito sank back into his seat, strands of chestnut hair falling over his puffed eyes one by one as he stared at the pill in his hand.

Too think they could produce so much harm. . .

What devilish little tricksters, perhaps more so than him. No wonder Jii-chan was so worried about using them. Kaito sighed, eyelids sinking lower over his orbs and his shoulders dropped, weariness washing over him as he fluttered his lashes close for a moment, enjoying the temporal quiet, just until he had to face the bustling world again.

"Kuroba-san?" An unfamiliar voice called, small steps echoed around the toilet before coming to a halt on the opposite side from Kaito's location. "Are you in here?"

"Who's it?" Kaito called, suspicion carefully interlaced as he sharpened his ears.

"Itsuki Asuka- Junsa-buchō." The sergeant replied so clear and loud, Kaito could already imagining him standing there, saluting. "I've been looking for you for sometime. Nakamori-Keibu wishes for you to get into you position immediately. And also if you don't mind I've been meaning to ask you something..." Itsuki trailed off. His voice that had been ear-splitting awhile ago thinned to an unrecognisable murmur. Kaito rubbed his face and sighed. There goes my break. . .

"Sorry could you repeat that?" Kaito asked, driving his fingers through his hair as he stashed the bottle inside his jacket pocket. "You've been meaning to ask me what?"

"Well, it's about this rumour. . .a little thing I've heard among the crowd."

Kaito's brow rose, somewhat surprised; somewhat amused. "A rumour?"

"Yeah. I mean, you are the guy who made the cards rain down, were you not?"

Kaito smiled and flushed the toilet just for the sake of it. "Oh? I didn't notice it stirred this much attention. Did you enjoy it?"

"Well, yes but that's not what I wanted to speak to you about."

"What is it then?" Kaito stepped out from the cubicle, finding his conversation partner checking himself out in front of the mirror. So unlike police. Kaito hid a smile. They were really blending in well with the crowd. Kaito walked over and opened up the tap, washing his hands to disguise the last minutes he spent here. "I mean, what was so pressing to speak to a guy that was taking a dump?"

Itsuki choke on his own spit and flushed bright embarrassed but still tried his best to apologies for the inconvenience. He just couldn't find a better opportunity. Kaito laughed hoarse and quiet, snickering all the while he inspected the sergeant closer. Itsuki didn't look much older than him. Kaito guessed him to be around his early twenties.

"I just wanted to warn you." Itsuki finally expressed, seemingly having regained his composure and spoke in such a way, Kaito felt as though Itsuki might have wanted to utter these words for a while now. "Many people out there believe you're Kaitou Kid in disguise. Even some of the Police Force do, despite their trust in Nakamori-Keibu."

"Oh, so you mean you don't?" Kaito canted his head towards him as he turned off the water, a questioning tilt in his voice. Itsuki stopped brushing his auburn hair with his fingers and gazed away from the mirror, looking at Kaito head on with eyes with such blazing eyes Kaito wondered whether he said something wrong.

"There's no way somebody like you would be Kid." Itsuki placed his snapback on again, and gazed at the mirror for the final time. "You're both too different."

Kaito's brow rose. That's a first.

"You're like a walking firework that attracts too much attention whilst Kid is a glowing light waiting to burst into flames. Besides," Itsuki smiled, patting Kaito's shoulder as he walked passed him towards the door. "You look like you can't barely stand."

Kaito only gave a sarcastic laugh back as the door closed shut and he sighed. He was meeting all sort of people nowadays. With the flick of his wrist the pill appeared in his hand again and Kaito hesitated, still remember how his inside burned at his first intake, as though scorching flames crawling up his oesophagus, chocking and fastening up his airways as he felt way too hot to be considered normal, almost as if somebody turned up his self regulating temperature to several degrees higher with a snap of a quick finger. Remembered the light-headedness, the prodding dizziness, blurred images taken in by unfocused eyes, gasps from piercing pain as though needles penetrate his bare skin and wedge itself into his flesh, twirling and zigzagging throughout as he muffled his cries behind his hand.

Kaito breathed out, slowly to calm his nerve and swallowed the pill in one go. To his luck the pain was momentary but didn't seem to have reduced the slightest for it still got him sinking into his knees and clutching his chest fervently, trembling and convulsing beneath the threshold of his arms and gasped for air like a fish out of water. Black dotes swam in front of his vision and for a moment Kaito wondered if this was the end; if this was it. But that couldn't be true. He didn't exceed the limit. This was only his second pill. Kaito muffled and another groan as he turned over, slightly wondering when he came to lay on the floor and curled himself up tight, fastening a his grip on his shirt and wheezed as his organs felt as though they were squeezed and squished inside him.

Kaito could still hear the pounding of his heart even when the pain diminished bit by bit until he was numb all over. Kaito gripped the washbasin tight with both hands as he wobbled on to his two feet, hovering over the sink for support as he glimpsed at the mirror in front of him. He looked worst than before. Kaito would've smiled if he could. He staggered his way to the door despite his dizziness and leaned against it to calm himself. Jii-chan could've warned him for those side-effects.

Kaito groaned as wave of nausea hit him and stumbled out of the toilet, bracing himself against the wall whilst he crossed the hallways and squeezed himself through the packed corridors, weaving passed worried eyes, prodding questions to his well-being and a rather persistent old married couple that tried their best to convince him that calling an ambulance right here and right now would be the best option for him before Kaito ends up collapsing somewhere on the verge of death. How Kaito managed to persuade them at the end, he for his life not remember. It was blur of interwoven images in which he kept saying he was okay and hoped he'd really be.

He pushed the last double doors open and stepped into the main hall, right below the banister he could see Nakamori speaking into those walkie talkie things the police secretly used amongst the guests and customers. Kaito feebly grinned behind his mouth mask, and sidestepped the oncoming people, readying himself to hold onto the railing and climb down the first step when a foreign hand thrusted him forwards, completely throwing him off balance, overwhelming his head with another rush of induced dizziness and nausea as he toppled over, catching glimpses of ochre brown staircase, rows of bright shining chandelier, deep crimson carpets, and swirls of blue, fading yellow and blaring green before Nakamori's face popped in front of him, wide eyed and frustrated as he mouthed something Kaito couldn't hear. Kaito blinked repeatedly, trying to get out of this daze as someone took the liberty to wave a hand over his unfocused eyes. He pushed the hands off prying people away and sat up despite their efforts to push him back down. A pair of slender arms wrapped around him were especially reluctant and continued to clinch on him until he forced them away.

"Let go." He spoke out loud, still not hearing a word much less his own voice. Nakamori was speaking again but Kaito rubbed a hand over his eyes and blinked again, the blockade in his ears slowly broke until he could hear distant voices that steadily grew louder into something he identified as day to day volume of sound.

"Kaito-kun, can you hear me? Are you alright?" Nakamori's asked worriedly, eyes hooked on Kaito's face as though he was searching his answers there.

"I'm fine. I'm fine." He mumbled and glanced back, up the staircase for the offender. Kaito was sure he had been pushed down. He had touched the back of his head and flinched. It hurt. Nakamori pressed hand a hand on his shoulder as he turned around to face Suzuki and asked whether he had a spare room for him to lie down. Kaito blinked and turned around him, since when were there so many people gathered around him?

"Kaito, you. . ." A voiced breathed right into his ear so full of emotion his heart twisted painfully in his chest. Kaito didn't even need to turn to his side to figure out whom it belong to and truthfully speaking Kaito didn't think he wanted to at that moment. The usual warmth was gone from her voice, replaced by melancholic quietness that almost never appeared in their years of friendship. That alone made him push his queries aside and slowly turn, blue eyes fastening on brown locks that shadowed over her own pair of sapphire eyes, sitting farther away than he initially imagined with loose arms folded in her lap, hands clutching on to the fabric of her shirt as they trembled. Kaito's heart sank.

What have I done now?

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring-

Jii hanged up for the nth time and snapped his phone shut, gazing at the watch wrapped around his wrist. Worry gnarled in his stomach. Only ten minutes left. Just what was Oku-sama doing? Jii frowned and stuffed his hands inside his pockets, looking around him once more. She should have been here already. His fingers tightened on his phone, about to call her again when his own phone rang. He flipped it open without a second thought and stared at the caller's ID. He breathed out relieved, clutching the receiver close to him, "Oku-sama? Where are you? It's almost time." He glanced behind him for any on lookers as he mumbled. "Won't you make it?"

"I will. I will!" She laughed. "Don't worry about me. I'll be there soon."

"But-"

Click.

Jii-chan stared dismayed at the screen. The call ended as swift as it came. He sighed and punched in a message to Kaito. At least he'll be assured to know that Phase Two will be done on time after all.

Oku-sama is Chikage by the way. Just thought I should clarify it before you get confused by the next couple of chapters. . . .