Alternate Universe

Terrible Two's

Part 2

Agasa stared at the children standing in the doorway of his home.

"Who…did you say you are?"

T_T

Shinichi stared up at the small house in front of him in silence. This was the only place he could think of to take them too. The question was, could he convince the good professor to believe it was truly him, Kudo Shinichi?

"Where are we?" a voice behind him whispered, slightly irritated.

Ah yes. And there was also the small issue of Kaitou Kid to explain as well. (Sighs) This was going to go just peachy, wasn't it?

"A friend of mine lives here," Shinichi whispered back to the shrunken thief who just rolled his eyes. Like he didn't know that. He wanted a name, not an obvious fact.

"Come on. We need to hurry. It's almost dawn."

Kaito stared up at the rising sun and narrowed his eyes. So it was…

"Come on!" hissed the detective.

Kaito hurried forward, a hand pressing the wound in his side. It seemed in their haste to leave, the detective had once again forgotten Kaito's injury. Still, he knew now wasn't the time to worry about such a thing. Then again, when would be a good time?

Kudo took a deep breath and knocked, bracing himself. He knew his story would be a doozy to take in and believe.

The door opened and a tired looking professor dressed in his usual white lab coat stepped out, blinking in confusion at the two children before him, wearing large unfitting t-shirts that seemed to hang on them like a dress.

"What can I do for you kids?" he asked kindly.

Kudo sighed.

"You are never going to believe this professor, but we need your help."

Agasa stared.

"And you are?"

The boy's gaze turned determined.

"Shinichi Kudo."

T_T

Agasa could only stare, certain he hadn't heard the boy correctly.

"Who… did you say you are?"

The child sighed.

"It's me professor. Shinichi Kudo."

Agasa really wanted to slam the door shut and go back to bed, because that certainly couldn't have been what the boy said and yet as he peered more closely at the child before him, he noticed the slight physical features that did resemble the teen detective he cared so much about.

Shinichi could see the professor studying him and quickly hurried to elaborate.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but last night I and…" he glanced back at the thief who stood watching them with a resigned expression. "Well, him, ran into some shady characters who we think were in the middle of murdering someone when we stumbled upon them. They tried to kill us by using a new poison it seemed they hadn't used many times before. Instead of killing us though, it… well it shrunk us into children."

Agasas expression turned thoughtful.

"I know you need time, Doc," the thief behind them stated, "but we should go inside. Out here in front of God and everybody isn't a good place for a chat such as this one."

As though having just noticed the other boy, the scientist nodded and hurriedly beckoned them in. Shutting the front door, he turned to them, about to ask a question when he noticed the boy in the back swaying.

"Shinichi, is he…"

Kudo snapped his head around to face Kaito just as the thief's legs gave out. Agasa luckily reached forward just in time, catching the young boy who gasped in pain. Worried, he rushed the child over to the couch and laid him down, gently peeling back the large articles of white clothing. He frowned when he took in the bloodied and slightly infected wound.

"This is serious," he muttered more to himself.

Shinichi however heard it and felt his own concern heighten. How could he have forgotten the thief was so badly injured? Shaking his head, he could only sigh to himself. He knew why he had forgotten. With everything that happened and how professionally Kid had handled the cop, he hadn't thought much about the others wound. Now… he hoped they hadn't waited too long.

A knock on the door startled them both from their thoughts.

"Were you… expecting someone?" Shinichi whispered and Agasa face palmed. He had forgotten.

"Yeah… Ran was going to come over and borrow a book from me. I hadn't…" he stopped and hesitated, "I hadn't expecting this."

Kudo nodded. He hadn't been expecting this either.

"Alright we need a plan. She knows me as Shinichi. What if she sees through me at this size as well?"

"Is that really a problem?" Agasa questioned, frowning, "she is your friend, surely she…"

"No," Kudo snapped, "if she finds out and for some reason it gets out to the assassins that I am still alive, they will hunt me down and kill her. I can't let that happen. She can't die because of me."

"Shinichi, surely they won't…"

"I am a famous Detective, Agasa and they saw my face up close. I doubt it will be hard for them to track. Also, when they find out I didn't die, which will be obvious when no word about the famous teen detective's death comes out in the morning paper, they will check into everyone who is considered a close contact of mine. She can't know… for her own safety."

Agasa sighed.

"Very well Shinichi," he said as the knocking persisted and grew louder, "what should I tell her?"
"I… I don't know. I will think of something."

Agasa nodded and started towards the door as the small drunken detective wracked his brain. What could he tell her?

"S-Shinichi-san," a voice whispered.

Kudo turned to the thief who now stared at him through pained eyes, "c-connect us to you. The real you. We need…to discover… the truth. What better way… then…another detective?"

Shinichi stared at him. That… was actually a really smart idea.

As if reading his thoughts, the thief snorted.

"I do have those… once in a… while."

Kudo grinned, but the expression vanished from his face as Ran walked in, talking a mile a minute to the professor about the book she wanted to borrow. She stopped however, when she noticed the two boys staring at her.

"Oh," she cooed, smiling, "who are these little guys?"

Agasa and Shinichi shared a look over her head.

"You are just so cute," she started, coming ever closer.

Shinichi felt himself blush, but he backed up, still unsure what to tell her as his mind raced to come up with something. Kid watched him, but he didn't have the energy to assist. He could only hope the brilliant detective had a plan.

Bumping into the bookcase, Shinichi stared at books beside him and a sudden inspiration came to mind.

"Err… Nee-chan," he smiled cutely as he spoke in a childish tone, "Shinichi-nii has told me a lot about you."

Ran blinked.

"You know Shinichi?"

"Shinichi-nii is my… my cousin," the boy hurried to explain, "my parents live in America and sent me here to live with Shinichi. Do you know where he is?"

The girl frowned.

"Unfortunately I don't. I checked by his house earlier but he wasn't home. He should be later." She narrowed her eyes and moved closer, studying the small child, "you look a lot like Shinichi. I never heard him talk about his cousin before. What's your name?"

Kudo chuckled nervously, glancing at the thief who was watching him with partial focus. Swallowing, he glanced again at the books closest to him.

"My name is… is… Conan."

Ran blinked.

"Conan?"

"Yes, Conan…Edogawa."

The girl stared at him.

"That's a strange name." Her gaze flickered to the thief who tried to appear more aware than he actually was, "is he your brother?"

Shinichi shared a half amused glanced with the thief. It was truly their best option right now.

"Yeah, he's my younger brother, uh… Arthur?"

Kaito wrinkled his nose at the name and Shinichi just rolled his eyes, ignoring him.

"Maurice Arthur Edogawa," he stated again.

"Maurice, huh?" Ran giggled, "Must be an American name?"

"French actually," the ill child replied with a smile, knowing exactly where the detective had gotten the inspiration. "You can call me Marti though for short," he decided. He really didn't care for the name Maurice any better than he had Arthur, but Marti was at least a bit better sounding.

The girl smiled, but it quickly dispated into a frown as the child suddenly coughed and gasped a bit. Shinichi felt his face pale. The thief looked bad. Really bad.

"Sorry, Ran-chan, but these boys are tired from their flight and M-Marti-kun is not feeling well. Do you mind if I bring you the book later today?"

"Oh sure, let me know if you need anything."

The girl quickly left the house and Agasa sighed in relief before hurrying to the child's side.

"What really happened to him?" he asked Shinichi.

"Shot by a snipers bullet."

Agasa stared at him.

"Who is he?"

The thief tensed and Shinichi hesitated. Agasa, noticing the look frowned.

"Nevermind. I think I know anyways."

Carefully removing the white suit articles and the blue button down dress shirt and red tie (oh yeah, he knew for sure who this boy was), he inspected the inflamed area before hurrying to get water and alcohol.

Shinichi watched in silence at the doctor worked, thinking over the story he had just told Ran. He would have to make sure it stuck or she and everyone else would be in danger. The question was… how?

Silently, the three put their minds together and began to think out a plan in their own, strategic way.

T_T

That night, Shinichi yawned and sat up, stretching as he peered down at the sleeping thief. Or at least, he had though the thief was sleeping.

"How long have you been awake?" he whispered.

One eye snapped open as an amused, weak smile followed.

"Not long. You were snoring."

Kudo snorted. "That's what most people do at night when sleeping."

Kid just smirked.

"So… brothers huh?"

Shinichi shrugged.

"It's all I could think up at the time. You don't mind, do you?"

"Nah," the thief sighed, "we need to work together if we are planning to find a way to cure ourselves and take down that group of assassins who could do us in. Being brothers would be the most obvious and least problematic way."

Shinichi nodded.

"That was my thought as well."

"I could have done without you saying you're older though."

Kudo huffed.

"You would point that out. It's true though isn't it? You looked and still look, younger than me."

"When were you born?"

Shinichi hummed.

"May 4th of course."

Kaito narrowed his eyes.

"What year?"

Shinichi told him and the thief could only stare in horror.

"You are older than me!"

The detective smirked.

"See. How much older?"

The thief looked away, muttering, but the detective heard it and smirked.

"An entire year, huh?"

"Oh shut up," the thief spat, pouting.

Shinichi chuckled.

"Because that, makes you look so much older."

The thief just ignored him, shifting ever so slightly, careful of his wound.

"So wait… that means you're only sixteen!"
Kaito stared at him.

"Yeah? So?"

"But I mean… you… I… the Kid… how…"

"Oh," the thief whispered, knowing what he was talking about, "Perhaps one day Meitantei, I might explain."

The detective went silent. Ah, so the thief still felt he couldn't trust him yet. Well… it was only to be expected wasn't it?

"In the morning, we need to decide what to do. We can't stay here forever."

Kaito nodded in agreement.

"Tomorrow we will think of a plan, for now… let's just sleep. I don't know about you, but I could really use it."

Shinichi nodded.

"Alright. Goodnight…"

Kaito hesitated.

"Just call me Marti. That is my name now, isn't it?"

The detective nodded.

"I suppose it is. Goodnight Marti."

Kaito closed his eyes.

"Goodnight…Conan."

And the two boys drifted to sleep on their separate couches…

AUTHORS NOTE:

Hope you enjoyed! Chapter three coming soon!