Chapter Four:

Three Birds in a Cage pt. 3

Hakuba half dragged, half carried Kaito through the hall; his concern for the teen growing the further they walked. His friend was pale and not just a little, but nearly white. The only real color on him was the light stream of blood running from his lips and the glazed over violet of his eyes.

"Kaito?" he whispered, "Come on, you must stay awake."

"H-Hakuba" he whispered.

Saguru breathed a sigh of relief when he heard his name stuttered from his friend's lips.

"Yeah, it's me. We are almost to the office. Do you remember me telling you why we need to go there?"

"Um…safe?" he whispered.

"Right. Edogawa-kun and I can't open it without help. Think you can do it?"

Kaito didn't respond and Hakuba felt his heart skip a beat when he saw his eyes were once again closed.

"Kuroba?"

"Hmm?"

"Nothing…just…we are here."

The two struggled into the office and Shinichi looked up from where he studied the safe, his badge in hand near his mouth.

"I called for help", he replied, indicating the badge, "police should be hear soon."

"Good, how did you know where we are?"

Shinichi pointed at the woman who sat stone-still near the body of her father.

"She told me", he replied.

Hakuba nodded as he stumbled closer to the safe with Kaito at his side.

"Here, can you open this?"

The two detectives hid their worry when they noticed the way the thief could barely lift his head.

"Kuroba?" Hakuba repeated, "Can you open this?"

Kaito struggled to pull himself together as she stepped towards the safe. He ran his hands along it and placed his head up against the cool, hard metal of the door and listened as he turned the first gage. Altogether the safe had three gages and he knew it would be a real struggle to get them all open. He already felt like he would collapse any moment.

"I will try", he whispered as he closed his eyes and concentrated.

The two detectives were silent as the thief worked, but Conan especially paid close attention to how it was being done. The thief had always fascinated him and even now, half dead, he was amazed at the other teen's willpower and ability.

The first gage clicked.

"One down", he whispered, his voice rusty as though he hadn't used it for a while.

A loud, hacking cough broke the silence as the thief turned and spat out a wad of bloody gunk. He stared at it in fear before quickly slipping his poker face back on, but Conan who was nearest to him had seen it and his own concern heightened.

"Can you do this?" he whispered, not meaning to be heard, though Kaito must have.

The thief glanced at the child, his eyes bright with fever.

"Honestly", he whispered, glancing at Hakuba who was looking around the office, "I don't know."

Shinichi frowned. That wasn't what he wanted to hear.

Kaito closed his eyes, his head spinning. The second gage clicked.

Hakuba had been digging through some of the desk files when he heard Kaito give another cough, but this one accompanied a concern shout from Conan.

"Oi!" the boy yelled running forward, barely catching the thief before his knees hit the floor.

Hakuba sped to their side as he helped lower the thief down. Kaito struggled to breath; his eyes closed as blood continued to pour out of his mouth.

"Kuroba!" he yelled, but the boy was past responding as he blinked his eyes, trying to maintain consciousness.

"I saw how he was doing it, maybe I can…" Conan muttered to himself as he went to the safe and took a deep breath. Placing his ear against the door, he closed his eyes and willed himself to hurry as he concentrated.

"Edogawa-kun…can you…"

"I am trying", Conan interrupted, "that is the best I can give."

Hakuba nodded as he pulled Kaito's head into his lap, running a hand through the thief's soft, silky hair.

"Don't die", he whispered, "Who will I chase? Who will annoy me at school? What will I tell Aoko…if you really die here?"

Kaito chuckled; the sound horrific at its wet content continued to choke the teen.

"You would…fine something", he whispered out, gasping for breath.

Hakuba smiled a bitter smile.

"It would never be the same", he whispered.

"Got it!" Conan cheered as he spun the handle, allowing the safe to pop open. Hakuba slowly laid Kaito back on the floor as he jumped up and grabbed the inner door, pulling it open. Sitting on one of the shelves was a journal and beside of it, two small vials."

"One must be the poison", Conan whispered.

"But which one?" Hakuba asked in despair. Neither vial was labeled.

"Do you know?" Conan asked the woman who glanced up at them, her eyes sunken.

"I do not", she whispered, "Father's research was his own."

Hakuba glared the dead man before his glare switched to the vials in his hand. Which one would save his friend?

"If we give him the wrong one…he will die", stated Conan.

Hakuba glanced at the boy and then his friend lying nearly unconscious on the floor.

"I know", he whispered as sighed and placed one of the vials on the ground.

"Here goes nothing", he whispered as he took the one in his left hand and popped the cork, "Please", he begged the fates, "let this be the one."

Kaito himself was praying to lady luck about it being the right one as he felt Hakuba pour the substance into his mouth. The liquid felt like fire on his burning throat as an explosion of coughs triggered, making more blood splatter onto the formerly white carpet.

"Oh God…did I pick the wrong one?!" shouted Hakuba as Conan grimaced beside him, also afraid of the answer.

"Police!" voices yelled as they came running into the room.

Behind the police, two EMT's followed.

"Please, he needs help!" Hakuba yelled.

The two men rushed over towards them as they began taking the teen's vital signs.

"Edogawa-kun! Hakuba-kun!" a voice yelled.

"Megure-San", the two detectives stated in relief upon seeing their friend.

"Thank God, we have been searching all over for the three of you. I assume this is Kaito Kuroba?" the chief inspector asked, indicating the unconscious teen.

"He is", Hakuba agreed, sharing a glance with Shinichi who sent him a small nod, "the doctor wanted well-known detectives in order to make him famous throughout Japan and the world for his poisons. He mistook Kuroba-kun for Shinichi Kudo."

"He does look like him", Megure agreed in understanding, "alright then, let's get you guys out of here, shall we?"

The two walked out of the old abandoned office building in the center of Tokyo and made their way towards where the ambulance and police cars were waiting.

"Conan!" a voice yelled.

Shinichi snapped his head up when he saw Haibara and Ran standing there.

"Ran-oneechan!" he yelled running to her.

Ran scooped him into her arms, clinging him to her tightly.

"Thank goodness you are safe", she whispered as tears ran down her face, "What would I have done if I lost you?"

Conan smiled, closing his eyes as he too clung to her. The sound of a throat clearing had both looking down at Haibara who stared up at him with impatience.

"Right", he whispered, "let me down Ran-oneechan."

Ran nodded and let him down as she noticed Hakuba waiting nervously at the door for the medics to appear with Kaito.

"What happened? I heard some of it from the police and you on the badge, but why did you specifically request me?"

"Ki-Kaito, one of the teens I was with in there was poisoned. He needs help. We think we gave him the antidote, but…there were two vials and only one was the correct choice."

Haibara nodded, her eyes serious as she started towards the ambulance. Hakuba followed behind the medics as they rushed the teen into the van.

"H-How is he?" he whispered to the EMT's.

The two glanced back at him with unhappy, concerned expressions.

"We will know more at the hospital."

"Do you mind if…if I ride with him?"

The two nodded.

"Alright, but don't get in the way."

Hakuba sighed in relief, about to get in when Conan tugged his sleeve.

"Yes?" he asked, "I need to go."

"Take Haibara-chan with you. She…she can help."

Hakuba glanced from Conan to Haibara. Normally he would have said no, but something about the look in Edogawa's eyes had him rethinking his initial response.

"Alright, she can come."

Conan breathed a sigh of relief as he nodded.

"Thanks", he replied.

The boy started to turn when a voice stopped him.

"T-Tantei-kun"

Conan whipped his head around to stare at the thief in shock. He had just given himself away completely?!

"S-Stay?"

Conan gaped at the other teen, but then he took in the tremors and the fearful look on his face. Oh… He was afraid that Conan would turn him in.

"Can we all come?" Hakuba asked the medic who scowled.

"This isn't a pleasure cruise", the EMT muttered, but he gave in when he caught their desperate gaze, "fine, but hurry. He needed help yesterday."

The three climbed into the back of the ambulance as Ran appeared at the door.

"We will meet you there" she called as the doors slammed shut and the vehicle took off.

"Kuroba-kun", Shinichi whispered.

The thief blinked in effort to stay awake as he turned to the boy.

"You have my word, I won't tell a soul", Conant stated with a serious gaze, "I will catch you in the act or not at all."

Kaito stared at him before a slight smile broke across his face.

"T-Thanks Meitantei", he whispered as his eyes slid shut.

Hakuba glanced at the boy before turning his attention back on his friend. He also wouldn't tell a soul, but that didn't mean he wouldn't have questions for the teen later.

The ambulance sped through the streets until it finally reached the hospital. The doors snapped open as emergency personnel rushed to take the sleeping teen. Hakuba and the others walked behind them until they could go no further.

"I looked him over while in the ambulance", Haibara stated as they took a seat in the waiting room, "It was the antidote you gave him. He should be fine, but it will take his body a while to recover."

Hakuba released a shaky laugh as he ran his hands through his hair and then dropped his head into them.

"I thought for sure…"

"It turned out alright", Conan comforted.

"Hakuba-kun!" a voice yelled.

Saguru looked up, his expression changing from one of exhaustion to one of anxiety as he watched Aoko run towards him; his father, Megure, and Ran behind her. Ran took a seat with Conan as Aoko stopped before the blonde.

"H-How is he?"

"They took him in to run some tests. I haven't heard anything yet."

Aoko nodded as Nakamori stepped up with Megure right behind him.

"Tell me what happened."

Hakuba began explaining all he knew about the situation, tweaking it just enough to not allow suspicion to fall onto Kaito about his being Kid.

"And then Kaito collapsed and Conan was able to open the safe. That's all that happened."

"So the doctor was betrayed by his own henchman?" Megure asked.

"Right", Hakuba nodded, "the man…tripped and hit his head on the floor, knocked himself unconscious."

Megure hummed in wonder as he shook his head.

"Stupid…this entire thing is just stupid", he commented before shrugging, "I am glad that you three came out alive."

"Me too", Saguru stated as he looked towards the hospitals double doors.

Megure followed his look and frowned. Perhaps…he spoke to soon?

"No", Conan stated as though reading the inspectors mind, "he will be fine."

Everyone could only hope.

Hours passed and finally a doctor stepped out.

"We ran tests on your friend. Everything checks out. The vial you gave him was definitely the antidote and you didn't give it to him anytime too soon. Had you waited even another half hour, he probably would have died. I think the doctor you told me about did not know his own drug, because while he may have thought it would last a day, it barely lasted an hour."

"Where is he now?" Hakuba asked.

"We want to keep him here for a couple nights just to double check everything. He is still very sick, so it's not uncommon. Right now he is being moved into his own room on the second floor."

"Can we see him?" Aoko whispered.

"Sure, they should be ready by the time you get up there."

The others sighed in relief.

"We need to head home", Ran stated turning to look at Conan and Ai who nodded in agreement.

"Give him my best wishes", Conan told Hakuba who gave a slight bow.

"Thank you Edogawa-kun", the blonde stated, "for everything."

The two shared a meaningful look as the other smirked.

"It was nothing. I owe him."

Hakuba watched the child detective walk out as he turned to catch up with Aoko and Nakamori as they made their way to the elevator.

"I wonder if he will be awake", Aoko whispered.

"Maybe", Hakuba stated with a nod.

"If he isn't, we should wait until he is awake to speak with him", Genzo said with a serious, yet tired expression, "he needs the rest."

The three stepped into the hall and made their way to the room number the doctor had given them. Upon entering, they were shocked to see how pale the teen was lying among the blankets of the bed.

"Oh Kaito", Aoko whispered in despair as she stepped to him.

The teen was asleep, his eyes closed and his breathing, fortunately smooth. Aoko gently reached out and ran her fingers through his hair, her eyes pinned to his peaceful expression.

"I will see you in the morning", she whispered as she leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek, "get better soon."

The two Nakamoris quickly left, but Hakuba stood there, watching the teen for a moment before stepping forward.

"I know you're awake. I have seen you enough times to know when you truly are sleeping and when you aren't."

Kaito allowed a small smile to grace his features as he opened tired eyes to the detective who stood above him.

"I didn't…feel like talking", he stated with a scratchy voice.

"Then don't, you Moron", Hakuba stated with a scoff, before his facial expression changed from patronizing to concerned, "you scared me, Kuroba."

Kaito gave a sad smile.

"Sorry", he whispered.

Saguru stared at the teen for a moment in thought before shaking his head.

"You may sleep now, but when you recover, you and I will have a very long conversation about secrets and motives. Understand?"

Kaito stared at him, a frown marring his face.

"Hakuba…"

"No!" Hakuba interrupted with a scowl, "I am keeping your secret, but don't think for a moment that can't change. I want the truth Kaito and you will tell it to me once you are fully recovered."

Kuroba sighed, but he didn't argue.

"Good, now that we have that settled. Get better, okay? It won't be any fun if I don't have an annoyingly brilliant thief to chase around all hours of the night."

Kaito choked out a laugh.

"Yeah… I am sure you have nothing better to do", he whispered.

"I don't."

Kaito blinked. Somehow, that just didn't surprise the thief.

Hakuba smiled as he glanced back from the doorway.

"Get some sleep Kuroba-kun", he stated, "tomorrow is a new day."

Kaito watched the detective walk out before allowing himself a chance to breath. He didn't want to tell Hakuba about his problems, but he knew he didn't have a choice anymore. He owed the blonde and the mini detective both now and he knew exactly how they wanted him to pay.

"Guess I am too honorable a thief, huh Chichi?" he whispered into the dark, before a small smirk appeared, "then again, what fun is it when everything goes my way?"

Smiling, Kaito closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep. Tomorrow really was a new day and if he was forced to tell the detectives the truth, well…he would need to think on exactly how much truth they really needed to know.

Nothing is free and he wasn't about to show every card in his deck before the game truly came to a close.

AUTHORS NOTE*

Okay, this was the end of the three mini chapters! What did you think? Anything I should change?

Next chapter is the one with Heiji :D :D :D YAY! What do you think will happen? ;) Until then dear readers.