Blue Shadow

Chapter 2

ooo

The next day, Kuroba Kaito was a new man.

Well, sort of.

He was happier and more mischievous than yesterday. All feelings of doubt spouted by the appearance of Blue Shadow flew out the window. That was, until Akako came.

Kaito was in the middle of making fireworks shoot out from pencils when the witch approached him once again.

"Had fun last night with Nakamori-san?" the red head teased.

Kaito raised an eyebrow at her. "What are you taking about?" All he and Aoko did was share an umbrella going home. What was Akako on about now?

The witch gave an exasperated sigh. "The heist, Kuroba-kun. I heard you gave the amethyst back to Nakamori-san."

"I'm not KID, Akako. I don't know what you're talking about," he repeated in a bored tone.

Akako suddenly put her face closer to his. Kaito gulped as they were practically nose to nose. "Really now?" The witch's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "How about this then? If you were Kaito KID and if Nakamori-san were Blue Shadow, what would you do?"

The prankster backed up and grinned at her. "If that were true, I'd have to say that you're out of your mind. One, I'm more handsome than KID and two, Aoko can't possibly be Blue Shadow."

"Kuroba, it's painfully obvious," Akako deadpanned. "I can't believe you're so blind. Nakamori-san can have quick access to all the heists because of her father!" she hissed.

"But where did she learn how to be a thief? And hand-to-hand combat?"

Akako rolled her eyes. "What do you think she's been doing for the last six months?"

"Volunteering at a pet store?" Kaito shrugged.

"Men are hopeless," muttered the red head as she rubbed her temples. Akako left and went back to her seat, leaving Kaito to mull over her words.

He looked at his childhood friend across the room. She was talking animatedly to Keiko.

It couldn't be Aoko, could it? She was too nice, too childlike to be Blue Shadow. What reason would she have to become a thief?

Then Kaito remembered the terrified eyes he saw last night. Blue Shadow's eyes had been fiery but he could see the sadness deep within.

It couldn't be...

ooo

"Hurry up, Kaito! I don't want to be late!" shouted Aoko as they made their way through the busy streets of Beika.

"Yeah, hang on!"

They made it to the pet store just five minutes til Aoko's shift and both were slightly out of breath.

"Thanks for walking me here," beamed Aoko. "I can't believe Kaito was worried about me!" she teased.

"An Ahouko like you? You would've been lost without me!"

His childhood friend gave him a playful swat on the arm. Kaito looked at her and grinned. Aoko's hair was a little windswept and she had this rosy tinge on her cheeks from all the brisk walking. Even if she was somewhat breathless, she was practically blooming.

"Bakaito," she smiled.

And oh god. In that moment she looked so... so cute that an involuntary blush spread on Kaito's face.

This sweet girl couldn't possibly be Blue Shadow! Sure, she had virtually unlimited access to heists and she knew all the details... BUT Aoko couldn't possibly have learned karate. First of all, she had horrible balance. Second, there was no one to teach her.

Just then, the store's little bell that hung on the door rang as a girl stuck her head out.

"Aoko-chan?" the girl called. Kaito turned his head and saw a teen who looked exactly like his childhood friend sans the messy hair. And that could only mean one thing...

This girl was Mouri Ran.

Aoko has been hanging out with Mouri Ran, the female karate champion, for almost half a year. Kaito was sure they were probably the best of friends now! And that's not all, if Ran was here then he would also be here.

Right on cue, Edogawa Conan exited the store and chirped "Hi Aoko-neechan!"

Oh boy.

ooo

The rain was pouring down tonight. It fell at a steady pace and lulled the city to sleep. A certain high school detective stuck in a seven year old body was lost to his dreams until someone woke him up.

"Conan-kun?" he heard Ran whisper. "Conan-kun?"

"Ran-neechan?" The shrunken detective rubbed his eyes and groped for his glasses. "Is something wrong?" When Conan looked up, no one was there.

"Conan-kun? Could you come here for a second?" he heard Ran call from outside the room. He lazily followed her voice and closed the door behind him, silencing Kogoro's snores.

"What time is it, Ran-neechan?" he yawned. It had to be too early for anything. What could Ran want at this ungodly hour?

And then his brain finished booting up; he finally sensed something was wrong. Conan turned around to see Kaito KID lounging by the window.

Damn. He didn't have his tranquilizer watch with him nor his super powered shoes. He tried to search for some kind of weapon he could use on the thief but then the white clad magician spoke up.

"Easy, tantei-kun. I only want to talk."

Conan frowned. "What about?"

KID looked at him. The thief's expression showed no trace of any mischief nor humor. He was uncharacteristically serious. "I think you already know."

Conan sighed as he took off his glasses and pinched his nose bridge. He knew this would happen sooner or later. No one ever listens to him.

"It wasn't my idea," he told KID. "When I realized Nakamori-san's plans, I tried to dissuade her." Conan shook his head, "She's so determined to stop your heists."

The boy's words just hung in the air.

Neither spoke for a while; the sound of rain crashing down filled the room. Then, KID cleared his throat. "And how did she get that sword? I see she shares your love for sleeping needles."

The thief kept a level voice but there was a harsh undertone to it. Conan studied his guest before finally asking, "Who exactly is Nakamori Aoko to you?"

There was a flash of- what was it? Rage? Fear? Uncertainty? -in KID's eyes but it was gone in a second. "Does it matter?" the moonlight magician replied with nonchalance.

The mini detective said nothing. The quiet took over once again.

"Are you familiar with Kudo Shinichi?"

Conan froze at this. Could the thief possibly know his true identity? He examined his companion but the infamous Poker Face was set in place. His fears were confirmed at the thief's next question, "If Mouri Ran decided to become a detective and started hunting down criminals, how do you think he would feel?"

Conan stayed silent as the thief continued.

"And what if Mouri-chan stumbles upon a syndicate and gets caught in their radar? What would Kudo-kun do in his state?" KID ranted on. "Is he going to tell her the truth about himself to prevent her from walking straight into danger? Could he really risk that, doubling the stakes on her life?"

The magician paused to calm himself. These were one of those rare times Conan could see the slight cracks in KID's mask. But he understood. Sure, he loved being a detective. But if Ran were to suddenly venture into it too, he didn't know how he would feel. Of course it would be nice to see her finally interested in mysteries but with the Black Organization still out there-

"I don't know if you've heard," KID interrupted his thoughts. "But there are some dangerous people who want the same thing I'm after though for entirely different reasons. And if they decide that Blue Shadow's interfering with their plans..." the thief trailed off. "I'd have preferred if Nakamori-chan was never involved in the first place. Nor anyone else for that matter."

Conan exhaled deeply and looked at the thief with regret. He felt responsible for this. "Nakamori-san persuaded my friend to make gadgets for her," he finally confessed.

KID made no comment.

The shrunken teen ran a hand through his hair. He really shouldn't have taken her request lightly. Over six months ago, Nakamori-san had approached him with interesting questions on how to stop Kaito KID. He didn't think she'd actually go through with it.

But she was Nakamori-keibu's daughter. Conan should have known she would be as stubborn and as driven as the inspector. She was kind of like Ran in that way.

And now he unknowingly put the Phantom Thief in a situation he himself has been avoiding: endangering someone close to him.

The silence was suddenly broken by KID's laugh.

This was quite alarming, having an internationally wanted criminal losing it in your living room. There was something in the strained laugh that made Conan's insides writhe with guilt.

"There isn't any other way, is there?" the thief asked aloud. "She would have ended up involved one way or another, I just never thought it would be like this." The man in white opened the window, letting a cold gust spray on them.

"I don't blame you," KID said quietly. "Though now you owe me, tantei-kun," he added with a wink, regaining his lighthearted demeanor.

"Those dangerous people you mentioned," Conan found himself asking, "do they wear black?"

"Every day's practically a funeral for them," the magician joked.

"Then we might be able to help you out."

"We?" the bandit repeated in an amused tone. "Not more detectives! But I'll consider you offer, tantei-kun. Sweet dreams."

And a haze of pink was all Conan saw before blacking out.

ooo

Kuroba Kaito returned to his house that night drenched by the rain.

He knew what he had to do. But did he really have it in him?

Yes, he decided.

Yes he did. He has to. Even if it would hurt both of them.

There was no other way.