File 2

The Black Organization! How did they find me here? Conan thought in shock, clenching his fists.

"M-Meitantei? Who are you?" Ran demanded.

Suddenly, Kid flung his cloak at Ran and Conan, and they disappeared altogether. "H-hey! Where did they go?!" Vodka exclaimed, running to the empty spot.

Meanwhile, the threesome was on the roof of the building. Ran looked around in surprise. "H-how did we get here?!"

Kid put a finger to his lips. "Shh, you don't want them to hear us, do you?"

Conan narrowed his eyes at him. "Why are you doing this anyway?"

"Run first, ask questions later," Kid said, opening his hang glider and clipping the belt. "Grab on to me, I'll take you to somewhere safe. They can't see me in the sky in broad daylight."

"How do we know you won't let us fall?" Conan asked in suspicion.

Kid was annoyed. "You're going to have to trust me if you don't want to become those guys' lunch." His eyes bore into Conan's. He was serious. It was not like they had any choice anyway. Ran and Conan held on to Kid as he took off, steering them away from the building.

Meanwhile, Gin was peering out of the window, watching. "So, the wizard of the century is in their ally...Kaitou Kid is his name, isn't it? Interesting..." He sneered.

---

It was a while before Kid landed on a roof of a house. Conan and Ran did not know the house belonged to him. Luckily, his mother was away at the moment. Both of them were still clinging onto him as he leaped off the edge and swung himself through a window.

"We've landed," he announced with a grin.

"W-where are we?" Ran stammered, letting go to Kid and looking around.

"You don't want to know," replied Kid, taking off his hat and brushing it. Conan's eyes widened.

"Y-YOU LOOK LIKE ME!" he could not help exclaiming.

Kid grinned at him as he put on his hat again. "Be glad that I don't have your good hair." He patted Conan's head. He adjusted his eyepiece as he straightened up again. "Now, I think I owe both of you an explanation..."

"Yeah, you do!" Ran said with a note of irritation in her voice. "What are you talking about, and who are those two men back there?" she demanded.

"Uh...well, umm..." Conan started to sweat, looking around.

"Well, looks like you got explaining to do," Kid said to Conan coolly.

"YOU'RE the one who has some explaining to do!" Conan retorted. "You have not told me why you saved us!"

Kid smiled at Conan and then looked up at Ran. "All right. When I was stealing a precious gem last night ("Yeah, I bet you were," Conan retorted), I came upon those two men and overheard their little plan, so there I went. And I have my reason to save you---and you should be thanking me for it, don't you think?"

"Yeah, maybe, you idiot," Conan said coldly, folding his arms.

"And?"

Conan and Kid looked at Ran, who was staring at them. "Can I get an explanation now? Who are those guys?!" she shouted.

Kid looked as if he was pondering. Conan looked at him, silently begging him. Don't tell her, don' tell her...

Then, Kid struck up a smile. "They're from an organization..." he began, and Conan immediately had a shocked look on his face. NO!! "...and they're trying to take all those lives which are related to..." Conan waved his hands wildly in frenzy. "...Mouri Kogoro."

Conan almost dropped his glasses. WHAT?!

Ran blinked. "O--Otou-san?!" she shrieked. Kid laughed, holding a hand behind his head. Conan looked from Ran to Kid, silently laughing awkwardly. So...that's your plan? "But why?!" Ran continued.

"Well..." Kid thought again. Yeah, what now, baka? Conan thought with narrowed eyes.

"Apparently they're scared of him," Kid continued to bluff, enjoying himself, "because his deductions are so good, they are afraid that he might find out what they are doing." He winked at Conan.

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

"Eh?" Kid was taken back.

"Otou-san...it just seems impossible! I don't want us to die!" Ran screamed.

"That's why I'm here," Kid said, patting his chest. "I'll protect you. They won't find you here. Are you hungry? I'll go bring something up." He left the room without waiting for a reply. Ran sighed. Then she realized that Conan had disappeared too.

Kid entered the kitchen and made a beeline for the refrigerator. As he stared into it, wondering what he should get, he heard a voice behind him that made him jump.

"Why did you do that, Kaitou Kid?"

Kid looked around and saw Conan standing right behind him, looking up at him. "Kudo!"

"Well?" Conan narrowed his eyes in suspicions.

Kid shook his head. "You gave my some signals, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but I didn't expect you to follow them," Conan said.

Kid turned back to the refrigerator, looking bored. "Why not? Is there a problem with it, tantei-kun?" he asked, taking out some juice and a plate of pastries. He chucked the plate into a microwave and activated it.

"It's not like you! I can understand you saving kids in danger, but those men are dangerous!" Conan snapped. "There's no reason I shouldn't doubt you."

Kid opened the refrigerator and took out plate. He turned around and shoved it into Conan's hands. "You're being cold to your savior, tantei-kun," he whispered with a grin. "Like I said, you should be thanking me, and not demanding answers from me. After all, I saved you from the two men in black AND Ran. Now, go back up there before Ran comes looking for you."

"Don't treat me like a kid, Kid!" Conan snapped in annoyance.

"Haha! That was a good one!" Kid laughed and ruffled Conan's hair again, making him fume more.

"Very funny!" Conan mumbled, whirling around and began to walk out. Kid followed him behind.

Suddenly, Ran appeared at the doorway, looking annoyed. "Conan-kun! Stop worrying me, running away like that! Now you stay here, I'm going to find Otou-san!" she shouted before running off.

Conan was shocked. "W-wait!" Conan screamed, but Ran was already gone.

Kid snickered. "How was my plan?"

Conan was grinding his teeth and grumbling. He glared at Kid. "Very well, clone," he muttered, walking back to the room where they had come from. But Kid stopped.

"Hang on, I forgot napkins," he said, and left again.

Conan let out a sigh, rubbing his eyes. He took this chance to examine his surrounding, wondering where he was. Is this Kid's house? he wondered, walking towards the table. There was a photo on the desk, and he started to reach for it.

Suddenly, a card flew out of nowhere. He quickly pulled back his arm, and the card stood still in the table, having missed him narrowly.

Kid was at the doorway, his trusty card gun in his hand. "Don't touch that!" he snapped, walking over and taking the photo. He pulled open the drawer, chucked the photo in, and closed it quickly before Conan could try to take a peek at its content. "If you try anything around here, I'll make you feel sorry."

Conan peered at Kid very closely with narrowed eyes. Kid raised his eyebrows, retreating quickly. "What?! Don't make me use this!" He lifted his card gun.

"Who are you really? How old are you? What's your real name?" Conan demanded.

Kid blinked. Then he shrugged. "Why should I tell you? It's not like I'm stupid, you know. Soon, you will be running to the police and telling them my real identity. I have had too many close encounters, and I definitely don't want to try getting out of another again."

"What, you didn't think I have seen that picture?" Kid started. Conan looked serious. No, he's bluffing, Kid insisted. He's trying to get me to talk.

"You're right...maybe I should brainwash you, eh?" he said menacingly, leaning very close and putting his gun end on Conan's forehead.

Conan looked shocked. "W-what?! Y-you wouldn't dare!"

Kid straightened up and spun around, his card gun disappearing from his hand with a small pop. "I'm just kidding. You know what, go and tell the world then. It saves me some energy trying to help you. Besides, your precious Mouri Ran is out there, and those men in black might be stalking her." He looked over his shoulder at Conan. "If you want to get to her before they do, you're gonna need more help for that little body of yours."

Conan turned rigid.

"Besides," continued Kid, still showing his back to Conan. "Those men are probably still at the detective agency. If Ran were to go there..."

Conan clenched his fists. He had forgotten about Ran---and she could be in danger now. Ignoring Kid, he pushed past the thief and rushed out.

Kid shook his head. "Baka...always need somebody to save you, don't you?" he muttered as he started to dress into black clothes.