Author's Note: wipes forehead Done! Some of you sounded as if you're gonna kill me, hehe Oo;;

PART 2

Nakamori Aoko let out an audible sigh as she plopped her things down on her desk in class. She was feeling rather moody. Her father had not returned the night before, and she had felt rather lonely staying home alone.

Otou-san is always at work…why can't he just take a day off and spend time with me? she thought in disappointment, and sighed again. She turned to speak to Kaito, who sat next to her---but he was not there.

Strange…it isn't like him not to be here early. Is he sick?

Aoko thought for a moment, and then shook her head. Nah. Idiots don't get sick!

But they can get into serious trouble. Aoko jerked up. She looked around, wondering who had said that. It seemed that a little voice in her head had spoken to her. She bit her lip, calming down. Baka, you're thinking too much. Kaito has always been fine, he won't get into serious trouble. Besides, I would have known that long ago…

"AOKO-CHAN!"

Aoko looked up to see her friend Momoi Keiko bursting into the classroom, out of breath. She stumbled up and leaned against Aoko's desk, catching her breath. "Dou shita no, Keiko-chan?"

"K-K-Ku-Kuroba…" Keiko took a deep breath. "I heard that Kuroba-kun had an accident last night. He's in the hospital now."

Aoko stood up very fast, knocking down her chair. "NAN---NANI?!"

---

"So…it was the truck driver's fault," Nakamori-keibu murmured, his arms folded as he paced the corridor. Five children were seated by one wall, all only around seven, watching him. "He charged even though the traffic light had turned red during the next second…happens all the time…"

"B-but I shouldn't have r-run over," Yoshida Ayumi stammered, sobbing. She looked up at Nakamori with teary eyes. "I'm bad, aren't I?"

"No, you're not," Nakamori said kindly, patting her on the shoulder. "You didn't know what to expect. Don't cry."

Ayumi sniffled, nodding shyly.

"Ne, Nakamori-keibu," Edogawa Conan spoke up. "Is Niichan going to be okay?"

"I'm not sure," Nakamori replied, rubbing his temple in frustration. "I do hope so. The doctor is still checking on him. The operation had taken a really long time. You children must be tired. Why don't I take you home first?"

"We're not going home until we find out whether Niichan is okay, right?" Kojima Genta said determinedly, looking at his friends.

"Right!" Tsuburaya Mitsushiko agreed.

Haibara Ai leaned over to Conan. "You still baffle me, Kudo-kun," she said softly. "Why are you wasting your time here when you were fuming over missing Kiddo's heist?"

"I can't help feeling partially responsible," Conan muttered, tightening his fists. "After all, I was the one who simply told Ayumi to go on…"

"Like keibu said, you didn't know what to expect. Get a grip," Ai told him.

Conan nodded. But he frowned. "Not just that. That guy reminds me of someone…I just can't quite place him. Where in the world have I seen him before…?"

He was interrupted by the door leading into Kaito's ward, which had suddenly opened. The doctor and nurse stepped out. The children quickly jumped off their chairs and rushed up to them with Nakamori. "Sensei! How's the boy?" he demanded.

"Is Niichan going to die?" Genta demanded. Mitsushiko jabbed him hard in the side.

"No, the victim isn't going to die," the doctor told him, "at least not yet. He has one broken bone in his right leg, hairline fractures in his right arm, scratches over his body, and quite a bump on his head, but no brain damage. He went into quite a shock though. He's in a coma now. I cannot predict when he will wake up though."

"What is a coma?" Ayumi asked.

"It means that Niichan will be sleeping for very, very long," Mitsushiko explained. "Sometimes people never woke up from a coma, or die in it…"

Ayumi's eyes widened in fear. "B-but…" She tugged the doctor's sleeve frantically. "I don't want Niichan to die in a coma! Don't let him die! Do something, please!"

"We're doing all we can to help, but the rest is all up to the patient himself," the doctor said gently, patting Ayumi's head. "Don't worry, he looks like a pretty strong fellow. He'll live. I'll let you know when he wakes up, okay?" Ayumi nodded, sniffling.

"Then we better go, there isn't much we can do," Conan said, turning around. "Come on."

"Wait, I'll take you kids home," Nakamori-keibu said quickly. But before he went, he glanced at the window into the ward. He shook his head, biting his lip. "Okay, let's go…"

They were heading towards the elevator when its doors flew open. Aoko ran out of it, followed closely by Keiko. She came to a fast halt when she saw her father. "Otou-san!" she panted. "W-where's Kaito?!"

Nakamori raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Why aren't you in school, Aoko?"

"Why didn't YOU tell me that Kaito is in trouble?!" Aoko snapped.

He blinked. "I---I just don't want to worry you…"

"Oh, congratulations, now I'm more worried than ever! Come on, where is he?!"

Nakamori just pointed. Without hesitation, Aoko ran towards the direction her father had pointed. She came to a sharp halt and peered through the window.

It was dark in the ward, but there was just enough light to see who was in the bed. It was Kaito, clad in bandages and his eyes closed. His face was rather pale, and the heart monitor displayed a weak pulse. Aoko's heart shattered to see Kaito in that state. Her fingernails dug into the glass so hard that it hurt, but she did not mind. Tears started to fill her eyes. "Ka-Kaito…what---what happened to him?" she choked.

"He was knocked down by a truck last night," Inspector Nakamori said, walking up from behind. "He was saving a little girl. He's in a coma now."

"W-why…why did he go and do such dangerous thing…ahou…" Aoko bit her lip. "YOU'RE AN IDIOT, KAITO!" she screamed, slamming her fists on the glass.

"Aoko-chan…" Keiko said softly, putting a hand on her best friend's shoulder.

Nakamori-keibu sighed, and turned to the children. "Come on, kids…"

Ayumi glanced over her shoulder as she walked after her friends and Nakamori-keibu towards the elevator, her eyes filled with sadness. Keiko was desperately trying to comfort Aoko.

---

When Ayumi got home, her mother, looking relieved, rushed up and hugged her. "Ayumi-chan! I was so worried…are you okay?"

"Un! I'm fine, Okaa-san," Ayumi said, hugging back. She let go and looked up at Nakamori, who was standing behind her. "Keibu-san took me home."

"Ah, arigatou gozaimasu, keibu," Mrs. Yoshida said, bowing. "I hope my daughter had not caused any trouble."

"No, not at all. It's my pleasure, Yoshida-san. I'll be on my way now," Nakamori said, bowing as well.

After Inspector Nakamori left, Mrs. Yoshida brought Ayumi into the house. "Are you hungry? I'll get something for you. You must be tired. You don't have to go to school today. Rest first, and then go to change into something more comfortable."

"Hai," Ayumi answered, watching her mother leave. The television was on in the living room. She hopped onto the couch and was about to reach for the remote when something on the screen attracted her attention.

"Kaitou Kid has once again succeeded in the Kid heist last night," the newscaster on the screen declared."He had stolen the Ruby Ring around eleven thirty, although it had been guarded heavily. Two minutes later, he made a break for it. It has been another failure for the police unit, but they will not give up."

Ayumi's eyes widened. M-Matsu! She shoved her hand into her pocket and fished out the ring she had picked up. She held it up in front of the screen, which was now showing a snapshot of the ring. They matched.

Ni---niichan is…