Hey everyone! Sorry, I know, I don't update. Gomen-nasai! Please don't kill me… Thanks for all those who reviewed! I was so excited to get 15 of 'em. Yeah, you can obviously tell that this is my first fic. Heehee.

Anyway, who am I to keep you from part IV of my story? Here's the chapter!

P.S. I changed the titles of the chapters ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan.

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Part IV ~ Truth

"You see, Ran, the truth is…" Conan began, not looking into her eyes, fearing what he would see.

She looked with wonder at the child who held all the secrets that her heart yearned to know. He was speaking so quietly; she almost had to strain to listen.

Conan continued to speak. All his thoughts and feelings poured out of him; the dam was finally broken down.

Ran listened with fascination at everything he said. The puzzle was finally fitting together, piece by piece. Every part made sense. Using his gadgets to solve mysteries and catch criminals. His parents and Hattori Heiji discovering his identity. Meeting Haibara and discovering her identity. Encountering again with the Black Organization. Fearing for Ran, fearing that the Organization would harm her if she knew.

"So you see," Conan said, finally looking at her lovely, pale face. "I was just trying to protect you, Ran. If…if anything happened to you, I…I would never forgive myself. I…know that you hurt. I know that nothing can be compared to your grief. But…it hurts me, too. Every time I have to speak through a pathetic little bowtie to hear my own voice. Every time I see you cry over that—that baka!" he smiled weakly. "Do you…remember that time you saw my shadow in the alley after the case with the kidnapping of the soccer star's brother?" Ran nodded. "I mean every word I said. When you cry, I hurt too.

"Ran, if you're angry with me, I understand. I'm pretty angry with myself, actually. But…I hope that you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me."

Ran eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Shinichi," she cried. She rushed forward, dropped to her knees, and held Conan in a tight embrace. "Of course I forgive you, baka!" she whispered. "I…" Her tears drowned out her words and spilled onto his small shoulders. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her.

I know, Ran, he thought, and buried his face in her silky hair.

I love you too.

~ * ~ * ~

"Oh my gosh," Kazuha said, wiping a tear from her cheek. "That's such an amazing story. So he really was just protecting you by your side. Kudo-san is not as bad and heartless as I thought."

Ran shook her head and smiled at her friend. "No…he really isn't that horrible after all." She giggled.

"So…did you two share a moment there?" Kazuha asked with a teasing grin. "I mean, I never would've gotten to know what was going on had I not seen that in the kitchen!" She winked.

Ran blushed…

*FLASHBACK*

"Did you like the t-shirts I got you, Heiji?" Kazuha asked as they walked toward the kitchen.

"Yeah, it was a great color," he replied. "What is taking Neechan so long? I'm HUNGRY!" They entered the kitchen and stopped in their tracks.

There was Ran and Conan in a tight hug. They seemed so peaceful with each other. Ran's eyes were closed, and she had a teary smile on her face; Conan involuntarily stroked her hair.

It was, of course, Heiji who ruined the tender moment.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?" he yelled.

Quickly, Conan and Ran snapped out of their trance. Both blushed furiously…

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"W-Well," Ran stammered. "Th-that was j-just…"

Kazuha grinned. "Hey, if you two are in love, don't deny it! When you love someone, it wouldn't matter who knows. You should ever be ashamed or embarrassed of loving someone." She sighed. "I only wish that the one I love would see this!"

"Don't you worry, Kazuha-chan!" Ran assured her. "We will get him to realize how much you guys love each other!"

They giggled. "I wonder what Kudo-kun and Heiji are doing?" Kazuha said.

"Ah, who cares about those two ­baka! We've got lunch to make!"

~ * ~ * ~

"AH-CHOO!" Heiji and Conan sneezed at the same time. "Geez, they must be talking about us," Heiji grumbled.

Conan nodded.

"Oi, Kudo! Good going—you've finally let Neechan know your secret. I told you, she was waiting for you to tell her…"

"Yeah…you were right, after all," Conan grinned. "But I'm still the best detective!"

"You wish!" Heiji retorted. But despite their argument, they grinned at each other.

"Hey, are we going to tell them about Kaito Kid?" Heiji asked, suddenly serious.

Conan nodded. "Yeah. Kinda pointless to keep secrets after I've told her everything, isn't it?"

~ * ~ * ~

"WHAAAAAT? Yuou two are going to meet with Kaito Kid?" the girls exclaimed. "How can you be sure that he's not dangerous?" Kazuha demanded.

"Just trust me," Conan replied. "Kid isn't as evil as everyone believes. I've met him."

"Well…" Ran was hesitant.

Conan and Heiji gave puppy-dog looks.

Ran and Kazuha looked at each other.

"As long as you guys don't come back dead," Kazuha decided.

*record scratch* They stared at her. "Come back dead?"

"Never mind," Kazuha said furiously.

"Well, whatever you said, we'll be fine," Heiji said. "Don't worry about us, Kazuha, Neechan."

Conan nodded. "Yeah, we'll be all right."

~ * ~ * ~

"He'd better not be late again," Conan muttered.

"Don't worry, Kudo! When Kaito Kid makes an appointment, he's never late."

"He was late this morning."

"…"

"I know," a voice spoke up. "I was late because I wasn't coming as myself. I came as Mouri Ran."

They turned. There was Kid, standing gloriously in his full uniform. "Good evening," he said graciously, taking off his tophat and bowed deeply.

"Cut the act," Conan said sharply. "Get to your point."

"Oh, I'm deeply hurt," Kid grinned and held up something.

"A—smoke bomb?" Conan exclaimed. But before they could react, they were already surrounded by puffs of greyish fog.

Kuso! Thought the two detectives at the same time. Has he tricked us?

It took a whole five minutes for the concentrated smoke to disappear. When Heiji and Conan were finally able to see, they saw a schoolboy in his late teenage years. He was looking spiffy in a navy blue uniform, his hair looking like a mop on top of his head, and—

He looked exactly like Kudo Shinichi!

Conan gasped. "Then—you must be the person that Ran saw that rainy day, way back the first time we met!"

Kid thought for a moment. "Yeah, I remember that incident."

"So…" Heiji said slowly. "This is your real identity?"

Kid nodded. "My name is Kuroba Kaito. This is who I am."

"Why did you decide to reveal to us who you are?"

"Because you put enough trust in me to come and meet me, knowing that I am a rival of yours and possibly dangerous. I should put enough trust in you to keep my secret," Kaito said graciously.

Conan and Heiji grinned. They were right; he was one of them.

Kaito continued. "I will tell you everything as I know it. Keep in mind, this is the Black Organization we're dealing with. They may be setting a trap for us."

He then told his story, how his father, the original Kaito Kid, was assassinated forty years ago. After he found out, he became Kaito Kid to capture his father's murderer. "Three guesses on who killed him," he said bitterly.

"The Black Organization?" Conan asked. Kid nodded.

"I knew that it was some sort of organization. Recently I met up with a woman who seems to be its leader. She is an American actress—"

"Vermouth," Conan cut in.

"Yes, that's her codename. She is our ultimate target. I am developing a plan and I will definitely need your help. However, it is getting late now and we would look suspicious around here—I can't afford getting caught. I trust you with my secret, and I will contact you later in the same way. By the way, congrats on finally getting enough courage to tell Mouri-san the truth."

"How did—" Conan was shocked.

He smiled. "I'm a thief. I know everything. Take care." With that, he walked away.

The two detectives called out their farewells and made their way home.

~ * ~ * ~

"So, Kaito Kid is now involved, huh?" a woman said to herself. A wicked smile appeared on her lips. "This should be interesting…"

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That's it for this chapter! I've already started writing the next chappie, so hopefully it will be up earlier. I know I am really horrible about updating—sorry! I wanted to add more Author's Notes, but just didn't have enough time! I'm typing in my Computer Science class right now, because I've already finished writing my program! It was pretty easy; I actually like this class. Maybe it's because I actually know what we're doing. Heehee…*guilty laugh*

Oh yeah, responses to reviews!

Naochan1: Thanks for the encouragement! I hope that I can update sooner next time!

angelfanatic: Really? It has a Prince Charming feel? Aww, thanks! I'm so happy that you like it! Please keep reading!

starfruit-22: That's okay, I like long reviews ^_^ *dances off into HappyLand because people like my story*

MaU mAsTeR: Hey, I'm the TRUE MaU mAsTeR! I can explain all the characters to you if you want…sometime…

Ispreno: I hope you liked your wallpaper! Please keep reading!

Ta ta!

REVIEW PLEASE! ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!