Kaito always had strange luck. Most of the time it was a sort of Murphy's Law in reverse, things went right for him at the best possible time and in the most unexpected ways. This became even more obvious after he became the Kid, as if the greater the risks the better the luck, sometimes he almost felt it was as if his father was still watching over him.

But every so often, as if to restore balance things would go wrong. Spectacularly, bizarrely, impossibly wrong. Like the time with the rodeo clown and the frosting, or the attack cat, not a big cat just a small tabby with a big attitude (he had to replace his hat after that one). And he just knew today would be one of those days, like the day he learned why he should never, never underestimate little old ladies.

He had known this would be a bad day since yesterday when Aoko showed up waving a newspaper article about 'The Famous Sleeping Kogoro' and wanting to hire the detective to find her missing friend. Kaito really didn't want her to find out that he currently appeared to be eight years old and was living under the name of Arthur and in Kogoro's house. Not that he was worried about Kogoro finding him, as the man was not one of the more skilled detectives, in fact his current fame was entirely due to Arthur's 'twin', Conan, who was really the famous detective Kudo Shinichi.

No he was worried about being near Aoko and not being able to talk to her, to be Kaito. He didn't know how Kudo could stand it, being around Ran all the time yet always hiding behind the mask of Conan. He had an amazing poker face, especially considering he didn't have the training Kaito had received from his father. But some times the mask cracked allowing a glimpse of the heartache he hid, it was rare but happened most often after he talked to Ran from the phone booth down the street. Some nights Kaito had listened to the soft sound of Ran crying into her pillow in the other room while Shinichi mirrored her actions on the other side of the small room he shared with his 'brother'.

In some ways they were brothers now, there were only three other people in Japan they could be themselves around, their true selves. They had saved each other's lives as well as their sanity and surprisingly found they had a lot in common. Shinichi had become very good at juggling over the past few months and was learning a few magic tricks and escape techniques while Kaito was surprised to find he was a good detective. It was strangely satisfying to make sure a murderer didn't get away with their crime, that at least the victims family would know the truth, not wait and wonder for years. Even better was saving a life though that was all too rare. He sighed and shifted uncomfortably on the hard seat.

"So what's bothering you?" asked Conan, startling him.

"Huh?" He turned to look at Conan sitting on the bus seat next to him.

Conan rolled his eyes as he repeated, "What's bothering you? You've been lost in thought all morning and Ran thinks your coming down with a cold."

"Do you really want to discuss this here?"

"Why not? No one will overhear us unless you yell, not over the noise behind us."

Arthur paused for a moment, no, no one would overhear their conversation over the cries of "Mom, he's touching me again!" and "I'm telling!" coming from the next seat back.

"It's just I want to be me so badly, I want to wake up in my own bed, I want to see Aoko smile, I want to make her laugh, I'd even be happy to see her standing over me with her mop."

"Her mop?"

"She doesn't have any formal training like Ran but she's as determined as her dad, faster than most of the cops on his task force and has had a lot of practice with her mop."

"And I'm sure you're entirely innocent and never disserve to be swatted with a mop."

"Of course not! You know, you've got a pretty good glare but it would be more intimidating if you didn't look like someone who sleeps with a nightlight on. Ok, ok, take it easy I'm just teasing. Honestly I do stuff to get her irritated all the time"

"Why?"

"I guess it's because I like to watch her. No really, I like it best when she laughs, when she's happy but she's fascinating when she's mad. She has a fire in her I've never seen in anyone else, the way her eyes light up, the way she moves, sometimes I almost forget to dodge."

"Kid, you're nuts"

"Thanks a lot."

"But, I think I understand."

Arthur stared at Conan for a moment in surprise before he again said "Thank you" this time his voice was sincere.

Soon they reached their stop and the two small boys hurried to catch up with Ran and Kogoro who were sitting several seats farther up on the crowded bus. Kogoro was not in a good mood and it was unlikely he'd be willing to wait for them. He hadn't wanted to take this case but Ran could be very convincing when she wanted to be.

From the bus stop it was a short walk to the Nakamori family's house, where Aoko and her father met them. After introductions were made Inspector Nakamori looked at Detective Mouri in silence for a while before he said

"A few months ago I got an anonymous tip about a shooting, they said I should talk to the two men arrested during your case with the Nakajima family." Kogoro looked surprised and Conan and Arthur became very interested, "Unfortunately they both attempted suicide."

"They're dead?" sputtered Arthur.

"One is dead the other is in a coma. Considering they managed this while handcuffed and under guard I'm curious how they were arrested in the first place."

"I think they were caught off guard." Said Ran

"Hmph" He looked thoughtful then apparently remembering why they were there he invited them in and began talking about the ongoing investigation into Kaito's disappearance. Although he tried to seem professional it was clear that Kaito's disappearance hit him hard. After he finished describing the investigation he could tell that Kogoro was as lost as he was.

"I don't understand it," He said, "it's like a magic trick gone wrong, here one day gone the next. If only there were clues to where he went. But there's nothing, no note, no trace, just POOF!

Aoko laughed.

"What's so funny about him missing?"

"I'm not laughing about the situation, it's what you said about the poof thing, it fits him so well."

As they continued to discuss the lack of leads the only two people who could shed some light on the situation were not saying anything at all.

Tigger says, "Thank you everyone for your comments we did not expect to get so many reviews on this chapter and we enjoyed every one of them, we are as addicted to your reviews as you are to our story."

Manzanita says, Wow! Ten reviews in a week! That's really encouraging. Well Aoko's here, Kaito's not happy and it will get worse. So I'll see you in about a week (if my computer or internet connection don't crash)