Author's Note: Yes, I'm back from vacation! Now I'll be able to write and update more ;) First, a few replies to those who reviewed: To Werewolves are People Too--- think so? Just read on! To Lucky Hammer--- it's called suspense! XD To Kristanite--- hmmm no comment, actually. And again, thanks for the review! :)

File 8

"Yeah, we're winning!" Tohyama Kazuha exclaimed happily.

She was in the audience box at the Kendo tournament, cheering her team on. Next to her was Ikenami Shizuka. "This is great!" Kazuha said gleefully. "Now is time for the finals! Now where's Heiji?" She looked around, looking for her childhood friend.

"Somewhere, I suppose," Shizuka murmured.

"He has better hurry, or we'll lose again!"

Just then, someone announced the beginning of the finals. Two Kendoists stepped forward on the mat. "Oh, that's him!" Kazuha cooed, even though she couldn't see either of their faces. "Go, Heiji!"

Shizuka just sighed.

---

Shinichi yawned as he clumped down the stairs, scratching his head. He had managed to get enough rest, even though it was only nine. The nap had made him forgotten part of what happened the day before (which rarely happened), and he had taken a while to remember them.

He blushed, remembering when he almost kissed Ran. Stupid, what were you thinking? She hasn't completely agreed yet! He knocked his head with the heel of his hand.

"What are you doing?"

Shinichi looked up and saw Heiji standing at the bottom of the stairs with his hands in his pockets. He smoothed his hair, turning a little red. "Nothing," he muttered, walking down to him. "Where's Haibara---and Ran?"

"Haibara's having breakfast, and Ran is in bed," Heiji said, heading towards the kitchen. "I prepared breakfast." He noticed that Shinichi had paused. "Hey, it isn't that bad! Haibara helped!" he retorted.

"No, I'm just thinking...it's no use sticking around here and not doing anything at all," Shinichi said. "This is Kiddo's house, isn't it? I should take this opportunity to look around and find out what the thief had in his coop."

"Ehhhh?!" Shinichi shot Heiji a confused look when he had suddenly exclaimed. "Ahh...you haven't changed, have you?" Heiji quickly said. "Always sneaking around and trying to find something."

"It's not really sneaking around, since Kiddo himself brought us here," Shinichi told him. "I haven't caught the name on the sign outside."

"There wasn't any," Heiji said. "It was taken off."

Shinichi folded his arms. "Okay...but I wonder why he kept us out of his room---and the piece of cloth over something in the hallway."

"B-but Kiddo is dead, isn't he? I mean, he disappeared, but could be dead," Heiji continued. "It won't be respectful to search his house like this."

Shinichi gazed at him. "Are you okay, Heiji?"

"I'm fine, why?"

"You're acting very strange."

"Oh...um...I'm just bummed about missing the tournament, that's all," Heiji muttered in reply. "But let's keep out of Kiddo's stuffs and concentrate on the men in black, okay?"

"But there isn't much to concentrate on, we don't even know where they are and what they're doing now," Shinichi insisted. "I would rather investigate the disappearance of Kaitou Kiddo first."

Heiji blinked for a moment. Finally, he let out a sigh. "Fine, I won't stop you...but how are you going to go out without getting caught?"

Shinichi thought for a while. "You brought clothes, didn't you?"

---

"You better not lose the cap, or I'll kill you," Heiji hissed.

They had arrived near Sumida River, where Kid was said to have disappeared. Shinichi was wearing Heiji's cap, sunglasses, and simple clothes that concluded with Heiji's jacket. Shinichi looked at Heiji teasingly over the sunglasses. "Sure. Thanks again, Heiji, for lending them."

"What are friends for?" Heiji murmured. He gestured around him. "So, what now? We can't look for Kid, he fell into the river."

"We aren't here to look for Kid, we're here to look for clues." Shinichi bent down at the bank of the river, examining the ground. "For example, there could be footprints if he had managed to drag himself out of the water, or even a sign that shows his body was washed up."

"And if there isn't any?" Heiji asked, scanning the scene.

"We can't just give up," snapped Shinichi. "He has to be alive..."

Heiji sighed. "All right, I'll look for you."

Shinichi searched diligently while Heiji headed off to the other direction. He knew Kid was alive. He HAD to be. And he would not give up until he had proof. But it had only been a couple of minutes before he heard Heiji calling him.

He practically flew to where Heiji was bending down among some bushes. "Did you find something?" he demanded.

Heiji merely pointed into the bush. Shinichi peered in. His eyes grew wide.

It was a monocle---Kid's monocle---shattered in the bush. There was blood on it.

"It probably dropped when he fell," Heiji whispered, "and the blood..." He did not need to say more.

"NO!" Heiji started when Shinichi suddenly snapped. "It doesn't mean anything!" He grabbed the monocle in one hand and flinched, dropping it very fast. His hand started to bleed a little at where the broken glass had cut him.

"Baka," Heiji muttered, bending down to pick up the monocle with a piece of tissue. He wrapped it up slowly and handed it to Shinichi, who was almost reluctant to take it. "So, are you going to give up?"

Shinichi was about to answer when they heard a voice bellowing at them from behind. "HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?!"

Both whirled around to see who it was. Shinichi raised his eyebrows. "Nakamori-keibu?"

Nakamori-keibu stopped, and blinked. He peered under the cap at Shinichi's face. "You are...Kudo Shinichi?"

He walked to them, still a little dumbfounded. He finally recovered and shook his head. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I---er---" Shinichi looked down at his hands.

"We're trying to find clues on Kiddo's whereabouts," Heiji answered for him. Shinichi looked at him in disbelief, but Heiji kept calm.

"Is it? That's...unexpected." Nakamori murmured. He took out a stick of cigarette, used his lighter to light it, and took a couple of puffs before speaking again. "To be honest, I am too."

Shinichi and Heiji were surprised. "You are?" they said together.

"I know it sounds really stupid," Nakamori growled---and sighed. "But I miss seeing that disgusting smirk, his obnoxious voice...everything. You know---lonely. But I don't believe he would just die like that!" he suddenly snapped. "Whenever you think he's gone forever, he turns up again, just like how he did after disappearing for eight years!"

Shinichi took a slow deep breath. "I try not to believe it too, but---"

He held out the tissue wrapping, letting it fall away to reveal the monocle. Nakamori stared at it, not believing his eyes. He fingered its rim gingerly. He had to take several slow breaths before he could take in reality.

"He---he was shot, wasn't he?" he finally spoke up. Shinichi only nodded. "B-but...who did it?"

Shinichi stiffened at the question. He glanced at Heiji, who did not look like he was going to answer this time. "Um, I---I don't know," he muttered. "Can I keep this?"

"Sure, I don't care." Nakamori whirled around, waving his hand. "I have things to do. See you later."

He sauntered off, looking moody. Heiji sighed. "Poor keibu...I guess it's true that everyone misses Kiddo. So, should we head home?" he asked, turning to Shinichi.

"I guess so," Shinichi murmured, wrapping the monocle and pocketing it. "There isn't much to do now anyway..."

Just as he was about to head up, he suddenly spotted someone that made his eyes grow wide in shock. "Get down!" he hissed, pulling Heiji into the bush before he could say anything. They peered out from inside it.

Gin and Vodka were strolling down, Gin lighting a cigarette. They stopped at the river bank. "Are you sure he's dead?" Vodka asked, peering into the river.

Gin chuckled. "Of course he is. Do you doubt my shooting skill?"

"Of course not! It's good to have him out of the way---but we still don't know where that kid is."

"We'll find him. He can't hide from us for too long, and neither can Sherry. We've found out their little secret, after all."

"Didn't you put a tracking bug on that girl?"

"Kiddo found the device. But never mind...it will be more fun this way, isn't it?" Gin snickered. "He'll give up soon. I know he won't be able to stand seeing us killing those close to him, one by one."

Shinichi's hands trembled as the two men walked out of sight, laughing evilly. Heiji slowly poked out of the bush and checked to see whether they had gone. "The nerve of them...well, they're gone now, let's hurry back. Hey...Kudo?"

Shinichi did not reply, but Heiji could see the burning fury in his eyes.