All right guys I am going on vacation from Thursday until Sunday, and I don't think I will take my computer, which means you will have to wait for an update. Sorry about that. I hope you all have a good rest of the week and I shall try to update by next Monday. This covers episode 500 and a little of 498, you know because the timeline in this arc is all sorts of messed up.

An annoying beeping filled my ears and I am ashamed to say it took me longer than two seconds to open my eyes. I should be more alert then that. I flicked open my phone and turned off the alarm with a sigh. Those fifteen minutes felt like the blink of an eye, although I do feel slightly better. I yawn as I glance down to my left at the brown head of hair still resting on my shoulder.

"Boya, it is time to get up."

Almost instantly blue eyes opened, alert and awake, like he hadn't been asleep in the first place.

"Ready Akai-san, to go talk to Mizunashi Rena?"

I stretched an arm up to work out the stiffness.

"Let's go boya."

In silence we descend the stairs, creeping silently through the halls to Mizunashi Rena's room. As we walk, I go over the plan over and over again, memorizing every detail. I would need to know it intimately, backwards and forwards, so that mistakes aren't made. I can't help but feel more astounded by the boy's genius.

"Ho, you never fail to amaze boya."

Conan looked up at me confidently.

"I am just glad you are an ally Akai-san."

Huh, my sentiments on the boy exactly. I can't believe at one point I thought he was for the organization, and after seeing what he can do, I have never been so glad that I was wrong. If he does this well on the right side of the law, what could he possibly do in the dark? That was even more terrifying then his actual abilities.

"Same to you."

We arrive at Mizunashi Rena's room, and I pull open the door for both of us to go inside. I thumbed behind me for the lookout currently in the room.

"Time for a break, long night ahead."

He agreed without any fuss and didn't even question the primary student at my side, probably not noticing as he yawned, moving away from the room. Finally we are alone in the room with our agent. I shut the door and Conan asked seriously.

"Well then, what now Akai-san? In this live or die match, are you willing to try it?"

He was waiting for my approval, to get this plan underway. I understand the underlying meaning. Am I ready to do this? Am I ready to risk my life to strike a blow back against the organization? I remember what I want to do, and what I must do. Protect Shiho. Avenge Akemi.

"Of course."

I see the subtle relaxation of the boy's shoulders.

"Then first, let's have the prince come and wake up sleeping beauty."

Right, Eisuke. I wonder how he was going to do that though. Silently, Conan loosened his bowtie, bringing it up to his mouth, and knocked on the door twice in two short raps. Then he spoke, and to my surprise, another FBI agent's voice came out of it.

"Akai-san, there is an emergency meeting."

He looked up at me, like I was supposed to respond. Oh, I see, he wants me out of the room. I was still trying to get over the perfect imitation of another's voice. It wasn't a recording; I saw the boy's lips move. Go over it later Akai. I open the door swiftly, as if the agent was out in the hall.

"A strategy session huh?"

The boy answered quickly.

"Yes."

I keep my eyes front, not even glancing at the boy at my side. I have to keep up the pretense.

"If the plan is worthwhile I don't mind."

I close the door behind me as I walk a predetermined loop that would bring me back to the room. First though, to the roof to send an email to Camel, telling him to meet me at Mizunashi Rena's room to pick up the kid. I can't do it here with all of this medical equipment that would be affected by radio waves.

That device…what was it? Where did it come from? I had never seen anything like it, and it would be so handy for spies across the world. A sudden memory, of the Kenbashi Station case. The perfect mimicry of Itakura's voice on the phone now made a whole lot of sense. So I was right. He was involved in that, but now seeing his full personality, I can now say that Itakura didn't put him up to it. the boy did all that by himself, chasing desperately the organization with any and all tools he could.

I made the email before climbing back down the stairs. I wonder how it is going. I don't know this Eisuke kid, but I think the boy should be able to deal with him easily. I know that Camel will probably come up the stairs to Mizunashi Rena's room so I should meet him there. Sure enough, there he is. He looks a little different from two years ago, but I can tell that frame.

"Akai-san."

He greeted casually. I nodded in return.

"Did they question your disappearance?"

He shook his head.

"I just said I was going to the bathroom. This shouldn't take long right?"

I shook my head probably not. We approached the door and I leaned against it, trying to hear what was going on inside. A young voice, Eisuke I presume was asking questions in frantic confusion.

"Hold on a second, I don't understand. What do you mean? What is this organization?"

Ah, that's our cue to step in.

"Sorry, that is all you are permitted to know."

The teenager did look a lot like Mizunashi Rena and he stared at me in fear and like this boy just rocked his world, which probably happened. I stepped aside.

"Camel, take care of him."

"Hai."

He struggled as Camel forcibly dragged and pushed him from the room.

"Ah, it seems the strategy meeting is about to start."

I nod.

"Then lock the boy in an empty room and go ahead. I will be there when we are done talking here. Afterwards follow the directions I gave you over the phone."

"Roger."

I shut the door, leaving us in a room alone with Mizunashi Rena. I smirk as I strode over to her bed.

"Now then, I wonder if you know about me?"

She looked up at me, not as panicked as I suspected her to be.

"Yeah, I know you. Akai Shuichi, the FBI agent the organization fears the most."

Good no time for introductions. We have a lot to go over.

"Good that will speed things along. We can get to the main point now."

She blinked at the both of us.

"Wait, tell me one thing first. How did you know I was CIA?"

I stiffen. That wasn't my department, mostly the boy's. I was also curious as to how he had undeniable proof. Conan straightened.

"First was the technique you used to see if I was lying at Haido park. You were looking for irregularities in my pulse and breathing and watched the size my pupils to determine if I was lying or not. That is a frequent tactic of the CIA. And afterwards, when you did know that I was lying, you thanked me anyway right? That was because you were able to get through the interview without Domon-san dying. Furthermore, what you said in front of Gin and the others, 'Our successes won't see the light of day, but our failures will become widely known.' That is a standard CIA phrase, isn't it?"

The woman was looking at the boy with amazement, and she wasn't the only one. This boy, was he really that aware of his surroundings? Did he memorize normal everyday conversations, looking for clues and those slight differences in words, looking for culprits? How observant was he? He continued.

"Well, it seems Vermouth was getting suspicious, because she asked if you were like this and knocked on something. That 'knocking' was a play on the word NOC, wasn't it? She was saying you were a secret agent. At the time, you had a transmitter and wireless tap at the bottom of your shoes. It was meant to catch the culprit of the door bell ringer case, but got stuck to your shoes on accident."

She smiled and leaned back, relaxed.

"Ah, I see. And how did you learn about my father?"

I answered her.

"Looking into it wasn't easy, only knowing his real name was Hondo. But this boy gave us information that he might be a part of the 'company'."

This boy had gathered most of the information on this case actually. She glanced up at me.

"You don't really think I could do it though? That I could kill…"

She trailed off, and I easily picked up

"Your own father you mean?"

She blinked up at me in surprise.

"You bit his wrist and shot him under the chin with a pistol. No, I should say that's what he wanted it to look like. Your father, Ethan Hondo, did that to protect his daughter. He prepared the MD in advance for that reason. He must have thought that they would find out that you were CIA. Am I wrong?"

I looked at it through multiple angles, and it was the only logical thing I could have come up with. She looked up toward the ceiling.

"Right, it was all his idea. I was desperately trying to blend into the organization. I wasn't trying to reach that level. I also didn't intend to stay in the organization very long. My CIA assignment was to introduce a secret agent to work as a contact to my father who was already undercover. The previous one ended up dead, and communications had been cut off. After that I was to fake my death and leave the organization for good. However."

She trailed off, closing her eyes in grief. I hate having her relieve the memories, because even if she might not have killed him herself, it happened right in front of her.

"He planned everything, from the MD, to the truth serum. He made it believable. He pulled the trigger himself. Shortly after, Gin and Vodka arrived. I told them exactly what my father said, and they let me live. Soon after Barney showed up, and he shot himself then and there."

The boy questioned.

"So the reason you requested Kogoro for the doorbell ringing case, was because you needed a new contact?"

"No, I used that to get a famous detective's address. I wanted him to protect Eisuke. He called the television station several times, and I knew it wouldn't be long before he came there himself. Of course, I was going to tell him my reasons in an email, that I was closely involved with the organization. Whether he would believe my story or not was a gamble."

She looked down at the boy by her bedside.

"However, it looks like the one I should have confided in was you."

I couldn't agree more. She continued.

"You knew didn't you? I was awake?"

Oh yes, I wondered about that too. He grinned.

"It was when I claimed I forgot something and came back into the room. I noticed it then, that the wrinkles in the sheets around your neck had changed slightly since I left the room. Also knew that Eisuke was in the hospital somewhere. A classmate of his just so happened to be hospitalized here, and when I asked him if he had seen him, he knew exactly which Eisuke I was talking about, even though he knew two Eisukes. It just showed me that he knew he was here and probably hiding him in his room."

He noticed the wrinkles? Holy crap. Just who was this boy? I shall dwell on this at a later date. But that Eisuke kid was here the entire time? Was that the presence I felt earlier today, when we walked past that one room? That would explain the glare then. Mizunashi Rena smiled at Conan.

"You are amazing."

I glanced down at the boy. She didn't know the half of it. Just wait until he blows her mind with the plan that he came up with. I smirk.

"Yes, to the point us FBI are speechless."

She glanced back up at me.

"So what are you going to do now? The organization is coming to get me right?"

"Yes, and I have a proposal."

She looked at both of us who were smirking at her.

"You aren't saying I go back to them?"

I give a small nod, grinning at having another weapon against them.

"Of course. That's exactly it."

She looked shocked, and almost weary at the request.

"You are making me spy on them for the FBI is that it?"

I explain.

"No, all we ask is that after you report to the CIA, you give us information on them as well."

Her eyes narrowed.

"On one condition. I would like Eisuke to go into the Witness Protection Program."

"The Witness Protection Program? For your brother?"

I can't say I am surprised. He made it this far just by pursuing his sister, and had stumbled across some well kept secrets. That was probably for the best.

"Yes, I will write Eisuke a note asking him to cooperate. You will do that much won't you? You are having me go back to them as a spy when they are already suspicious after all."

"Yeah I will make sure your brother is protected."

"Also, no matter the circumstances, my father's mission for the CIA takes priority. Even if I become inconvenient to the FBI, don't think badly of me."

What a coincidence. We were about to inconvenience her a lot.

"I was just about to say that right boya?"

Conan nodded up at me. She looked confused. Conan stepped toward her bed.

"We have a plan, to get you back to the Organization and get them in their good graces if you are willing to listen."

She nodded, eyes bright and ready to listen. Between the both of us, we explained the plan that we had carefully outlined earlier. She was silent until the very end, but I could tell with each passing second she was growing more and more impressed. After we finished explaining everything, she exhaled sharply.

"That's quite the plan. I can get a hold of blanks myself probably, and I can set up everything else on my own."

She looked up at me.

"As expected of Akai Shuichi, the trump card against the organization."

I raise an eyebrow. Was she giving me credit for the plan? I sense the boy beside me not react to the false praise. Is this how he keeps under the radar, by letting others take credit for his work? I shake my head.

"No, it wasn't me. I am just as amazed as you are."

She seemed to still, looking at me with questioning eyes, before letting her gaze fall on the boy at my side.

"You mean…"

Conan straightened slightly, but didn't say anything to deny or accept the claim. I can tell however by his body language he was grateful to me for giving credit where credit is due. I hold out my phone. I haven't had time to buy a new phone, but I could get Mizunashi Rena's number now.

"Give me your number. That way after I am dead you can give me information as well."

She rattled off a number and I quickly clicked it in. Perfect.

"I think that is everything. I doubt we will be able to see you after tonight, so good luck. Be careful."

Conan nodded at her as he walked out of the room, probably to the strategy meeting. After the door closed, Mizunashi Rena smiled.

"He really is something isn't he?"

I nod at her, smirking.

"He is brilliant, and the sad thing is, I don't think the world can know about his genius."

She laid her head back closing her eyes.

"I think as long as the right people know. Do you think everything he planned will come true though? It seems farfetched that all of that could happen."

"No, all of the predictions are logical, but the fact he is willing to foresee so far into the future when many would stop at just enough is what makes it unbelievable."

I walk toward the door, before pausing.

"One more thing. No acting. This is the real deal. Actually hit the agent to wreck the car, desperately try to get away, and actually shoot at me. One mistake and we will all be in way worse shape. If they suspect a thing, we are all dead."

Just us two were especially at risk. One wrong move and either one of us was dead, her as a traitor and found out spy, and me because I was their worst enemy. However I trusted the boy's judgement. She nodded seriously.

"Hai, understood. Good luck on your end. I will see you on the other side."

I shut the door behind me to see Conan come running toward me.

"It seems the strategy meeting just started. I got the glue."

Where did he get glue in a hospital? Nevermind. We start off down the hall, toward a vending machine that I know holds canned coffee.

"How long do I have to have it on my fingers?"

"I have to wait for the right chance."

"How are you going to do it? Falling and dropping it?"

"No I did that enough today. They might suspect something since they saw me do that to trick other people. Don't worry it will be something that you will pick up on."

I pinch the glue onto my fingers rubbing it in, feeling the stickiness subside a little. I thumb a few quarters for a blessed can of coffee.

"I will look out for it then. You know the terrain pretty well. What would be a good place for Camel to wreck?"

Conan shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I need a map, but I got a place."

A map, and Camel to coordinate it. We will deal with that later.

We strode up to our temporary headquarters. Now all the planning was done, it was time to initiate the plan. Now it was just acting natural without arousing suspicion. I felt my undercover senses start to come back, even though I am working with allies this time, I still can't help the slight butterflies of nervousness. I let out a heavy breath.

"You ready boya? You can meet me and Camel in Kusada Rikumichi's room afterwards."

He grinned up at me.

"Hai, Akai-san."

The little kid act was back, but I wasn't foolish to fall for it again. No, from now on I see this boy as an equal. I open the door and let us slip in quietly among the FBI agents, just as James said.

"They don't want the world to know of their existence."

I interject, drawing attention to the fact that I was there now.

"That's right, creeping as a shadow, vanishing like the fog. This is a trademark tactic of theirs."

Jodie stomped forward angrily.

"Hey, where were you? The strategy meeting is already over."

Their strategy session couldn't hold a candle to the one that was just me and the boy, alone on the rooftop. We had already accounted for their plan and gone far past it. I just smirked as I took in the three stretchers. Two decoys. Just like I predicted.

"I already know the plan from the three stretchers and the vans in the parking lot. I can't say it is a 'good' plan. It was expected though. Right, boya?"

He agreed readily with me. So far everything was going well. However, this is only the beginning. We have predicted one of thousands of possibilities. We can't get our hopes up yet. However, just this once I give a small chuckle, laughing at our own private joke that no one else besides the two of us understood. Jodie only looks slightly peeved.

"What is with you two? Besides, Conan-kun, shouldn't you be getting home already?"

Would he leave? No he was way too invested into this to just leave, plus he needs to be here to help me come up with a different plan if this one falls through. He easily brushed it aside with a few excuses.

"It will be fine. I told them I would be staying at Agasa hakase's house. I already took a quick nap too."

Jodie grumbles something, but I think she is just grumpy because it is quite early in the morning. Camel interrupts.

"In any case, we should get into position. Let us know when you decide to flee please. I am confident in my driving technique."

Oh good, he is already pushing the driver angle, just like I asked. Jodie whispered to me.

"Hey Shu, have you seen that man before? He only joined us recently, but…"

Yes, on several occasions, and he is helping me with this grand master strategy.

"No, I don't recognize his face, but I never forget an enemy."

"It's natural for him to appear recognizable. He is a fellow FBI agent after all."

"Yeah, but I still have a bad feeling about him."

As we talk I try to open my can of coffee with one hand like I usually do, mostly focusing on the conversation at hand instead of my fingers.

Suddenly I remember; my fingers don't have the tips to act as a grip anymore, just as the can slips through my fingertips, rolling across the ground with a loud clatter, coffee spilling out.

Shit.

The room fell into a standstill. I notice Conan stiffen but doesn't dare look at me, not fueling the thoughts in the fellow FBI operatives that something was amiss. We can't be making mistakes this early in the game. Jodie asked in concern.

"Are you all right?"

I tsked my tongue in displeasure at having the coffee spilled, even in all actuality I was angry at myself. I can't believe I made such a simple mistake. I stooped down to grab the can. Out of the corner of my eye, I see big blue ones giving me a reproachful glare. I was being lectured mentally by a child. That stung a little.

"You aren't getting much sleep. There are bags under your eyes."

I snort inwardly. As if, I took a nap less than an hour ago, plus I have this wasted coffee. I will just have to buy another one.

"Well, I will go out for some fresh air while you patrol. "

I exit the room and shut the door with a soft sigh. It looks like they bought the tired excuse, but that was way too close for comfort. I have to be extra careful from now on. I make my way toward Kusada Rikumichi's room, where Camel is waiting for me.

"Do you have the route you want me to take tomorrow Akai-san?"

I pull out the map that I managed to snag in the FBI headquarter room.

"Yes, we have to wait for Conan though."

"Is he that little boy that was with you? Why is he here?"

I don't answer. I can't explain him myself, let alone to another person.

"Akai-san do you have the map?"

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. The boy stepped up to the bed, where I rolled out the map. He pointed at a road that was next to a river.

"Akai-san, do you think we can use this?"

I glance.

"Isn't that the place Kusada Rikumichi shot himself?"

Conan nodded and looked up at Camel.

"The guardrail is gone there, leaving a hole that you can escape from."

Oh I see.

"Camel, when Mizunashi Rena 'knocks you out' can you drift over so that the driver side is right by the hole in the guardrail? That way you can jump out to escape."

Camel smirked smugly.

"No problem. I just have to keep her informed right?"

I nod.

"Yes, as soon as she hears that the organization is on your tail she will act. Be ready."

Camel gave a salute.

The night is almost over and dawn will soon come, bringing the day that the organization tries to attack us. The battle will be interesting, mostly to see if the boy's predictions are all correct.

Bring it on Black Organization. We are ready for you.