Author's Note: Hey, y'all! Sorry for the wait. Here's Part 4, but before that, I'm gonna have to answer a few questions first.
To: Random Kaito Fan on the 'net (By the way, I have no problem about answering questions! ;)
Conan and his friends were out late on a school night, so how were they able to do it without getting in trouble?
Don't they always do it? XD Especially when Conan was going to try and catch Kid, you just know they couldn't resist it.
When Kaito went to the hospital, Conan and his friends followed, so did they get ANY sleep that night or what?
That depends. They most probably did---though probably not for Conan (too concerned), Ai (no reason) and Ayumi (crying).
Did Ayumi's (or any of the kids) parents get contacted or anything?
Yup, they were.
Does Ch2 begin the next morning (after 6am, before 12pm)?
Yes, it does. Obviously some time before school starts in Aoko's school.
How did Keiko know about Kaito when Aoko (his best friend) didn't? (Rumors, the news?)
It always seems so, doesn't it? Keiko said, "I heard that…" which is most likely from rumors. Maybe some gakusei's relative works on the police force with Nakamori-keibu and told him/her, or they happened to witness it as well. Aoko doesn't know because Nakamori-keibu didn't tell her, and he is usually the source of news (other than the newspapers or anything else).
What time was it when Aoko got to the hospital and Ayumi went home?
Around seven to eight in the morning.
Did Conan, Ai, etc. go home too?
Yup.
To: Firestorm2004
Kiddo Kid-do?
I know this fact from the beginning…but I'm too lazy to even bother putting a dash there Oo;; I guess I should try doing it again.
PART 4
"Ayumi-chan? Ayumi-chan?"
"Eh?"
Ayumi looked up, blinking. Mitsuhiko and Genta were looking at her in confusion. Genta had two cans of drinks, one extended out to her. "Dou shita, Ayumi-chan? Daijoubu ka?" Mitsuhiko asked.
Ayumi just nodded. "Daijoubu. Arigatou." She took the drink, but did not open it. She just sat there on the bench, swinging her legs, staring at it. Conan was standing not far from her in the park, watching.
"Something's troubling her."
Conan turned to see Ai standing next to him, sipping on a can of soda as well. She handed one to him, and he took it. "I know," he said under his breath. "The accident is troubling everyone so far."
"Including you?"
Conan glanced at her. "What's that supposed to mean?" Ai just shrugged and smiled at him. "Don't bother me," he muttered. "You talk to Ayumi-chan, make sure she doesn't overreact."
"Kids, overreacting?" Ai asked.
Conan frowned. "Just…talk to her, okay?"
"Why don't you do it?"
"Because you're a girl and I'm a guy!"
"What differences does it make?"
"Haibara…"
Ai rolled her eyes. "Okay, I'll talk to her if you want. But don't tell me you like her."
"I do NOT!"
---
"Is something bothering you, Ayumi?" Ai asked as she walked side-by-side with Ayumi on the way back. They had just left the boys around a corner (Ai having purposely volunteered to walk with Ayumi after receiving 'the look' from Conan).
Ayumi shook her head slowly. "You can't lie, you know," Ai told her. "Doesn't everybody say that?"
"Yes," Ayumi said quickly. "But---" She looked reluctant.
"If there's anything, you can tell me," Ai said with a smile. "Don't worry."
Ayumi looked at her for a moment. "Ai," she finally began, "if you know something which you can't tell anybody, not even your friends or the police, what will you do?"
Ai blinked. It was a surprise to her that Ayumi would ask this question. She relaxed. "Well, do you think you can take the burden?" she countered. Ayumi shook her head shyly. "Then, you should tell someone whom you can trust. Someone like---" She smiled. "---Edogawa."
To her surprise, Ayumi shook her head. "I can't tell him," she whispered. "B-but, can I tell you? You're my friend, and I know I can trust you."
There was no need for description to show that Ai was indeed astonished. But she put on a serious look on her face. "What is it?"
Ayumi put her hand into her pocket and took out the ring, showing it to Ai. Ai leaned over to examine, and immediately recognized it. "Ayumi, that's the ring Kaitou Kid-do stole last night!" she exclaimed. "Where did you get it?!"
"Please don't tell anyone," Ayumi pleaded, grasping the ring in her hand. "I promised Niichan not to tell anyone, but I have to tell somebody!"
"Niichan? You mean---"
Ayumi nodded forcefully. "Niichan was knocked down by the truck last night. He dropped the ring and I picked it up. He told me to keep it and not tell anybody."
Ai put her chin in her hand. "If so, that would mean---that boy is Kaitou Kid-do," she said, looking at Ayumi. She chuckled. "That was unexpected."
"Please don't tell Conan-kun!" Ayumi pleaded again. "I know he's against Kid-do! But I don't want Niichan to go to jail! He saved my life!"
Ai sighed. This child really has lots of problems. But… She smiled. "I won't tell anyone, don't worry. But keep that ring until Niichan wakes up from his coma, and then we can go and see him to find out whether he really is Kid-do."
Ayumi lit up. "Really? Arigatou, Ai-chan!" she squealed, hugging her suddenly. Ai blinked, and relaxed with a smile.
---
"I'm back," Ai called as she walked into Dr. Agasa's house.
Dr. Agasa looked up from the phone. "Welcome back, Ai-kun. Shinichi is on the phone and wants to talk to you."
Looking bored, Ai took the phone from him. "Moshi moshi."
"Well? What did she say?" Conan asked quickly on the other line. "Haibara?"
Ai had hesitated, thinking about Ayumi's worried look when she pleaded her not to tell Conan. "Nothing much, she's just still worried about the boy from the accident," she finally replied. "It's okay. I've already talked to her."
"Is that all?" Ai could picture Conan frowning at the other end. "Okay then. I'll see you in school on Monday."
As Ai hung up, she looked towards the television that was still on. Nothing interesting was showing that afternoon. But it did not matter to her. She had something else on her mind, namely the boy whom she supposedly thought was the Kaitou Kid. But she was still unsure.
Could it be…?
---
Aoko sat on the couch, staring at her cup of tea which she had not touched for the last hour. She had just heard something which she wished was a dream. As she said that speechlessly, she ran everything through her head, letting them sink in against her will.
Mrs. Kuroba sat across from her, looking pitiful. She knew how Aoko was feeling. After all, she had just heard the whole story of her own childhood friend's secret identity. Mrs. Kuroba was willing to bet that Aoko was wishing that she had never discovered the secret room behind the portrait.
"Is---is it really true?" Aoko finally whispered hoarsely.
"I'm afraid so," Mrs. Kuroba said with a little nod. "But don't get him wrong, Aoko-chan. He did it for a reason."
Aoko sprang up. "What reason then? Tell me!" But Mrs. Kuroba shook her head reluctantly. "Why?!" Aoko demanded.
"It's better for you not to know," was her reply. "I'm sorry, Aoko, but some things but better off not knowing."
However Aoko tried to persuade her, Mrs. Kuroba would not tell. Finally, she left, still blurred by the recent incidents. As she walked down the sidewalk in town, many things ran through her head.
Kaito was Kid…he was the one teasing Otou-san during heists and embarrassing him…how could him…he knows I hate Kid…but he did not stop…baka…
Baka, Aoko! Why did you ever like someone like HIM?!
When she got home, Nakamori-keibu sprang up and rushed to her quickly. "Aoko! Thank goodness you're home…I was getting worried."
"Why? It's not like I'll do anything stupid," Aoko said.
Nakamori blushed. "G-gomen. How's Kaito-kun?"
"Still the same." Aoko plopped down onto the chair in the living room, deep in thought. She watched as her father stumbled to the kitchen. Should she tell her father about Kaito's secret? She bit her lip. She couldn't---not yet, anyway. She did not want to see Kaito getting arrested before he even knew it. It would be unfair.
But she was still extremely curious to know why Kaito became Kid. There had to be a reason. Kaito was her best friend.
She must find out no matter what.
---
"Kiddo won't give up, will he?" Nakamori-keibu muttered, smoking a cigarette as he examined the large diamond rock that was sitting in the case. It was the same night, and he and his men had gathered in a building to guard another jewel.
He looked at the crumpled paper that had Kid's note in it. "Only received an hour ago…sounds like he's in a rush. What the heck? I'm going to get you, Kiddo!" he growled, crushing the paper under his hand.
"Keibu, it's three minutes to nine!" an officer declared.
Nakamori nodded solemnly. He tossed the note into a rubbish bin. "Let's begin, shall we?"
Meanwhile, a white figure was standing outside the door, wearing a mask. But there was amusement in the eyes. He pushed a button.
Smoke began to fill the room. "KID-DO! Where are you?!" Nakamori roared, groping around blindly.
When the smoke parted, they found Kaitou Kid at the doorway with the rock in his hands. "The rock is mine now," he said, and ran off.
Nakamori frowned. Strange…the voice…it's different from the rest…WAIT, no time for that now! "Get him!"
But by the time they ran out, Kid was gone. They did not know that he was just hiding around a corner, chuckling.
"Kaitou Kid!" He froze, his eyes widened.
ANOTHER Note: Check my Author Status in the bio for a short announcement regarding the fics…