File 9

"I don't believe it!" Shinichi fumed as he and Heiji were walking back (he was storming, actually). "The nerve of them! They think I will come out if they threaten to kill more people! I won't let them!"

"Calm down, Kudo, you never had a temper like this," Heiji told him.

"I'm NOT having a temper!" Shinichi snapped. "But they made me so mad! I'm going to call the police, get them in jail, and---"

"But you don't know where they are all the time!"

"Then I will find a way to lure them out! I'll march right up to them and---"

"Oi, oi! I did not come here to see you sacrificing yourself!" Heiji exclaimed, grabbing his arm. "You have to calm yourself! This is not like you, you know! Get a grip of yourself!"

Shinichi took slow, deep breaths. He finally calmed down. "G-gomen, Hattori…I just can't stand them." He bit his lip.

Heiji rolled his eyes. "Who doesn't? They're the worst people alive on Earth."

Just then, a raindrop fell on Shinichi's nose. "Eh?" Both of them looked up. Rain was starting to fall from the dark clouds above them.

"Uh oh, we better rush home before we get soaked and catch a cold," Shinichi remarked.

"I have to go somewhere first," Heiji told him hastily. "I'll see you at home!"

"Ehh? But---"

But Heiji had already run off. Shinichi shrugged, and bolted for Kid's home. He had to lower his head as he ran half-blindly through the pouring rain. But for some reason, it did not last long before he was panting hard and had to stop to rest.

Odd…I guess I'm not used to THIS body now, he thought. This body seems heavier---or it's because of all the food Ran cooked. A sweat drop formed at the back of his head. Yeah…I guess I should watch my diet.

By the time he had caught his breath, rain was beating down so hard that his back hurt. He peered through the blurry scene. The first thing he saw was a shop with umbrellas on sold. I guess I should get one, or I'll catch a cold in this weather, he decided, running for it and almost slipping in puddles.

When he finally got under the shade, he was soaked from head to toe. He took off the cap and sunglasses, exhausted. Brushing his hand through his hair, which was less damp (thanks to the cap), he trudged into the shop, dragging his heavy clothes in slight difficulty. He was looking around the store for anything to wipe himself when he heard a voice behind him, "Kudo-kun?!"

He turned, blinking. "Megure-keibu?"

Inspector Megure was staring at Shinichi in shock and disbelief. He recovered quickly and ran up, clapping his hands on Shinichi's arms. "It IS you, Kudo-kun!" he exclaimed in excitement. "You've disappeared for so long, I was wondering where you went! What happened to you? And you're all soaked! Here." He fished out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Shinichi.

"Arigatou, Megure-keibu," Shinichi said, accepting it. He wiped his forehead. "I had been around, but I decided to come back for a break."

"Good for you then! I still miss your deductions. Eh? Isn't that Hattori Heiji's cap and jacket which he always wore?" Megure asked, noticing and recognizing them.

"Oh!" Shinichi laughed awkwardly. "I, er, borrowed them. What are you doing here yourself?" he asked quickly, changing the subject.

"Just getting some groceries. By the way, having you heard the news about Kaitou Kiddo's disappearance?"

Shinichi nodded as he walked after Megure down the aisle. "He's dead," he said.

Megure shook his head. "No, all we know is that he disappeared. He might not be dead."

"No, he's really dead." Shinichi bit his lip. "I---I went to investigate."

Megure looked at him. "And the evidence."

Again, Shinichi was reluctant. It was not that he didn't want to show the monocle to Megure-keibu---but it would hurt him if he took another look at it. Besides, Megure would probably ask to take it back to headquarters, but he wanted to keep it for some reason. He shook his head slowly. "I-I can't show you…really…I'm sorry…"

"Oh…okay," Megure murmured, looking puzzled. "Are you all right, Kudo-kun?"

"Umm, yeah, why?"

"You're acting rather strange."

"Am I?" Shinichi laughed, patting Megure on the shoulder. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Don't worry. Just let me know when you have a tough case to solve, and I'll be there!" Great, lying to Keibu, just like a criminal lying to the police…smooth move, Kudo.

Just then, a little voice suddenly popped into his head. Hey, why don't you tell Keibu everything? Maybe he can do something to get rid of the Black Organization!

No, I can't, a second voice retorted. I'm only going to endanger more lives!

But they're police! Professionals!

I told you I can't! Even so, we don't know how many there are in the organization! It could be dangerous!

"Kudo-kun?"

Shinichi started, and saw Megure-keibu staring at him in confusion. "Oh!" He quickly let go, blushing slightly. "S-sorry, my mind wandered off for a moment…did you say something?"

Megure shook his head, giving up. "You better head home, Kudo-kun, and get into some dry. The rain might have done something to your head. Here, I'll get you an umbrella. If I know you well, you keep your money in the pocket and they got soaked."

Shinichi laughed awkwardly, a hand behind his head. It was true.

Megure paid for the umbrella and handed it to Shinichi. "I can always send you home, you know. My car's just outside," he pointed out.

"Arigatou…it's okay, I'll walk. Ja ne, Megure-keibu!"

Shinichi waved, and quickly rushed back out into the rain, now prepared with the umbrella. He wiped his forehead. "Whew…that was close. I better hurry back now…"

As he ran off, a black car slowly emerged from an alleyway.

---

When Shinichi got home, Heiji was already there, walking down the hallway. He had started a little to see Shinichi. Shinichi raised an eyebrow as he brushed damp hair out of his eyes. "When did you come back?"

"Not too long ago. Where did you go yourself?" Heiji asked.

"Oh…er, somewhere," Shinichi muttered, shaking off his jacket. He started to trudge up the stairs. "I'm going to take a warm bath…"

Just then, they heard Shiho's voice from the living room. "Back already, both of you?"

They peered into the living room to see Shiho looking up from a magazine. She raised her eyebrows at Shinichi. "Why are you all wet and he's not?"

"Because Hattori came back earlier than me," Shinichi replied. "Don't you know?"

"He did? I didn't hear anything, and I've been in here the whole time."

Shinichi frowned. "That's odd…"

"That's because I came in through the back door," Heiji retorted.

"What for?" Shiho asked.

"C-can't I?" Heiji muttered. "You better go and change before you catch pneumonia. I'm going out for a while."

"Again?" Shinichi asked in surprise. "Where to?"

"T-to the train station."

"Why?"

Heiji turned red, but looked annoyed. "I'm going to fetch K-Kazuha, okay?" he finally retorted. "She found out! So now I've to bring her here."

"Ohh." Shinichi snickered. "All right. Make sure you come back alive."

Heiji shot him a glare before running out again, this time taking an umbrella with him.

---

"Someone just came out."

Heiji stood outside the house under the rain and looked around before rushing off.

"Should we make a move now?"

"No, wait a bit. We'll give them a big surprise later." The man chuckled softly. "This is going to be interesting…"