6:00am Sunday morning found Ran already up and about preparing a special breakfast.

It wasn't a special occasion, nor had anything unordinary good happened to her; Interesting maybe, but she wasn't sure quite how good the recent events had been.

Actually, she had just happened to wake up early, and happened to be in a good mood. Nothing extraordinary at all, just one of those days where snap awake and feel like shouting to the high heavens, 'I feel like doing something productive!'.

While Conan had been off at Agasa's house the previous day Ran had decided to relieve some of her recently built up stress by going grocery shopping. This always seemed to calm her down and now they had plenty of food around the house.

According to Aoyama-sensei (the doctor) she was supposed to be taking it easy so that she wouldn't experience another breakdown; I think we all know how smoothly that was going.

000

The karate-champ hummed happily to herself as she rolled onigiri. The recent event with Conan had left her surprisingly calm. At this point she didn't know if he was Shinichi like she had suspected so many times, if he was another strange case, or if he was in fact just a regular little kid… One with severe thrill seeking issues… Then again she supposed he could be an alien.

She giggled. One thing that she had learned from her recent experiences was that things were easier to bear if she didn't take them to seriously.

So why stop at alien?

"He could be a little vampire out to steal the souls of all the murdered victims we've dealt with," She giggled again, louder this time, and placed the onigiri she had been rolling on a plate next to the finished ones and began rolling another.

"Or a werewolf," She was now giggling so much that she had a hard time holding onto the rice. "Wouldn't that be something, little werewolf Conan! The scariest baby monster to ever grace a children's book!" She snorted rather un-ladylike at the thought.

"A fairy! That would be hilarious! To think I would have gotten all worked up over Conan the magic fairy!" This time she did drop the rice ball as she clutched her sides laughing wildly.

"I don't see what's so funny. 'Conan the Magic Fairy' indeed."

The annoyed voice came from a little ways behind her.

Ran turned, still chuckling, to find a rather aggravated looking young boy still in pajamas with his small arms crossed over his chest.

"Oh, hey Conan-kun. You're up early. How long have you been standing there?" She asked.

"Long enough for me to question your impressions of my masculinity."

"Oh stop, you're too young to sulk over hurt pride," she walked up and patted him on the head fondly.

"Don't make me cast a spell on you," he joked, poking her in the arm. "By the way, you might want to clean up that rice before it hardens onto the floor."

"Hai hai, your royal pixiness," she threw in a last tease before grabbing a rag and gathering up the fallen onigiri.

"Are you sure you made enough food?" Conan looked warily at the mountain of onigiri almost overflowing off the large platter where it sat. "That looks like enough rice to feed 20 people by itself, and I'm not even touching the subject of the six bowls of miso soup."

Ran looked at her special breakfast as if truly seeing it for the first time. She sweat-dropped.

" Uh…" was she could manage.

Luckily, the teen was saved from even more teasing by the sounds of a person knocking at the door.

"I wonder who would come to visit so early in the morning…?" She wondered aloud, patting her hands on her apron before opening the door.

"Yo kudo- uh… Conan." Heiji trailed off upon seeing that the person answering the door was not Kudou.

"Heiji-niichan."

"Heiji-kun! Kazuha-chan! What are you guys doing here?" Ran asked quite surprised by the sudden visit from the Osaka-jin duo.

"We um... decided to visit!" Heiji announced sweating slightly. "You know how boring Osaka can get and um…"

Kazuha glared at him.

"If I remember correctly you just announced that we were suddenly going to visit Ran-chan, Conan-kun, and Kogoro-san, and dragged me on board a plane."

Heiji scratched the back of his head grinning sheepishly.

"This is great Ran-neechan! Now there are more people to eat all the food you cooked!" Conan chirped little-kid-like.

"That's true!" She agreed then smirked and added, "I knew having a house fairy would be a good idea." Undaunted by the boys answering glare she went on.

"Conan-kun, would you mind magic-ing us up some places to sit at the table?"

Heiji and Kazuha looked confused.

"Inside joke… of sorts," Conan explained.

000

Deciding not to wait for Kogoro because they knew he wouldn't be awake for several hours, the group partook in a delicious breakfast of Ran's home cooking.

"Are you doing anything special today?" 'Said cook' asked the kansai visitors.

"Not as far as I know," Kazuha responded looking over at Heiji.

"Just here to visit for a while," he stated, "You know, checking up on the goings on in Tokyo, seeing if any cases need my attention while Kudou is out."

"Aho, why would Tokyo need you when they already have the great detective Sleeping Kogoro?" Heiji chose not to answer that. "Anyway Ran-chan, did you have anything in mind to do today?"

"Well, I thought since you were two were here we could do some shopping together. Oh, and there's a cool new café where we can all have lunch. I've been wanting to go there for a while now." Kazuha looked excited.

"Shopping…" Conan and Heiji groaned in perfect unison. One could almost say it was practiced since the girls always seemed to do this every time they got together.

"That's all right with you two isn't it?" Ran asked. Kazuha shot the detectives one of her patented death glares for good measure.

"…Hai."

000

Shopping was hell as usual for the two greatest high school detectives in Japan (not counting Hakuba). They were dragged around, forced to carry things, and in Heiji's case (and most likely Conan's too if he were his real age) forced to pay for things.

By noon, the two were to be found leaning against each other panting on a bench in the heart of Tokyo's biggest shopping district.

"Remind me pant to never pant do this again," Heiji… uh… panted, watching the girls run around admiring expensive looking jewelry and the latest summer fashions.

"You said that last time, and the time before that, and the time before that, and for good measure, the time before that as well."

"Oh just shut it pixi-boy."

000

Ran and Kazuha stood a little ways away huddled over the diamond ring section of an especially well known jeweler.

"Wouldn't one of these make a great engagement ring?" Kazuha sighed dreamily.

"It's a shame they're so expensive," agreed Ran, "I'd say our chances of owning one of these in our lifetime is practically nil."

The two sighed in depression.

"What are they all gloomy about?" Heiji asked Conan, gesturing towards their captors… er, childhood friends.

"Dunno," The boy yawned and go to his feet, "I'm going to go see if I can find a drinking fountain or a place to buy water. I think the sun is about ready to murder me."

"What's a day around you without a murder? The dark skinned teen joked. "Get a bottle for me too."

The small detective nodded and wandered off, disappearing into the throngs of people.

000

Conan wandered around for what seemed like forever. For a well-known shopping district it was surprisingly hard to locate a simple convenience store or stall where one could buy a simple bottle of water.

He was just about to give up and head back when out of nowhere a hand clamped over his mouth. Surprise quickly turned to terror as he wriggled and kicked with all his might to break free from his captor. He heard a muffled yelp as his foot made contact with the person's shin, but whoever it was' hold remained firm and he was hauled hurriedly into an alley.

The next surprise came when instead of being thrown into a car or outright attacked right there, the person set him down gently and put a finger to their lips to keep him from crying out.

Now that Conan could get a good look at his supposed captor he could see that the person was obviously male, and wearing a pair of dark colored pants and jacket with the hood and collar pulled up to hide his identity.

After a couple seconds had passed the person visibly relaxed and spoke.

"You have a real knack for getting yourself into messes don't you kid?" he asked. Conan was taken aback at the familiar manner in which the person addressed him.

"Okay, first of all who are you, and what the heck are you talking about?" He asked seriously.

"You mean you don't recognize me?" the person asked with a fake pout.

"Right, I'm supposed to recognize someone who's purposefully hiding their identity with a jacket?"

There was a sudden puff of smoke and the jacket and pants were replaced by a white tux with a matching hat and monocle.

"How about now?"

Conan raised an eyebrow.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from Japan's most famous thief? Stealing jewels is one thing, but when did you add little kids to the list?"

"You're a special case."

"Naturally."

"Anyway, I don't suppose you've realized that you're being watched, have you?"

"By whom?"

"Your little friends in black of course. Seems they want to play."

Conan's eyes narrowed. "How long have they been following me?"

"Since yesterday, when you spotted them on that case. And just because I know you're wondering, no, they haven't watched you constantly. They've just been observing from time to time to see if you're a threat."

"All right then, next question. How long have you been following me?"

"You mean other than throughout the entire manga?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind." Kaitou Kid chuckled. "Only about three days. I've been looking for a chance to talk to you in private."

"And how does Aoko feel about you chasing after a seven year old?"

"She doesn't- Hey wait a minute, how do you know about her?"

"You're not the only one who stalks people."

"I do believe I hold new respect for you."

"Why thank you. Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

"The kidnapping of Tanaka Joutarou."

"When did you decide to become a detective?"

"You're just jealous because I'm better at it than you are."

"Keep dreaming ghost boy, but I digress, what did you want to know about him? Or perhaps you have information for me?"

"Both. As you know, I too have been monitoring the activities of the BO and I believe it's time we formed a union."

"A detective and a thief huh? Classy."

"Quite. So what do you think?"

"Any particular reason you chose now?"

"Something big is about to happen and I have a feeling we'll need as many allies as we can get. Besides, we're pretty much friends already… in a twisted sort of way."

"Very twisted, but I suppose that's true." Conan agreed.

"You have Hakuba and Akako on your side, and I suppose even Aoko's mop skills could be of some use-"

"You've followed me to school too?" This comment was blatantly ignored, and Conan went on as if Kid hadn't said anything.

"Meanwhile, I have the FBI, Heiji, and the police department on my side. A strange but good combination I'd say. Consider yourself allied."

Kaitou clapped his hands together and grinned. "Perfect. I'll investigate on my end and you on yours. We'll need a place to meet and discuss plans though."

"We can use my house since it's currently unoccupied and easily accessible."

Kaitou nodded.

"Meanwhile, why don't you come with us for today. That way we can explain things to Hattouri, then Haibara and Hakase, but be warned we're shopping with them."

"After shopping with Aoko, this should be nothing."

"Whatever you say." Conan replied skeptically.

There was another puff of smoke and the phantom thief was in ordinary clothes.

"Are you sure you don't want to go disguised?"

"What's the point? You obviously know who I am, and if I'm going to be working with Hattouri-kun, he is going to need to know as well. By the way I have a present for you."

"Oh?"

There was a pop and all of a sudden Kaito was holding a couple bottles of water.

"I suppose you can be useful after all."

000

Yay! Another chapter down! Things are definitely getting interesting!

Another chapter will be added soon!

新一X蘭　Forever!

""

(That's wingdings2 for 'review!' If it shows up…)

-CCV