Sorry guys. Short chappy today... Thanks for waiting...


"I'm sorry Kaito-kun. For everything…"

"Sharon-san…" The only thing in Kaito's mind was bewilderment. He immediately let go of her.

"I don't have much time, Kaito. Listen very carefully okay? You have to stop being KID if you really want to keep everyone alive. Snake's almost sure that you're KID, and I can't keep on tricking them about it any longer."

"What are you talki…"

"Kaito-kun. This is probably the last time I'll get to talk to anyone." She put her hands on his shoulders firmly, speaking as though she were explaining machine operating instructions to a child. "You and that girl aren't the only ones anymore. All of you could be killed off anytime, now that you aren't exactly necessary. Things are getting dangerous for both you and the organization. They won't hesitate now. The only thing I can guarantee right now is that they won't take a hostage against you. Anything else, they'll find a way around."

"Sharon-san. You can't mean that they're all going to just quit it now! They've already taken it too far! I-…" Kaito stopped talking as he recognized the faint smell coming from her pocket.

Seeing Kaito's eyes glance at her coat pocket, she quickly pushed him against the wall, and pulled out the damp cloth.

"I left something for you in our usual drop off spot." Sharon quickly spoke to Kaito as she kept the handkerchief firmly placed on his nose and mouth. "I'm sorry."

Kaito, fully unconscious, fell into her arms. As she left Kaito slumped against the wall, she turned around and exited the elevator on the top floor.


"Hey! Kid, wake up! Hey!"

Kaito felt his shoulders violently shaken. He opened his eyes to find himself face to face with a man, probably in his thirties.

"What do you think you were doing? Sleeping in an elevator like that!" he said to Kaito.

"Sharon-san!" he said, remembering everything. To the man's surprise, he stood up quickly, and jumped out the elevator. Looking around quickly, he asked, "What floor is this?"

"The top floor. Were you at that engagement party they're having down there? You seem dressed appropriately."

"Yeah… How long has it been since?" Kaito walked back toward the elevator. The usual drop off spot. Sharon-san left something here.

"Just twenty minutes ago. Now what were you doing there in that elevator?"

"Oh nothing. Just… Well, you know how engagement parties can get," he responded with a grin. Kaito thanked the man for waking him, and reentered the elevator as the man left in the direction of his room. As soon as the doors were closed, he tapped the button for the bottom floor.

Within the short time span between the top and bottom floors, Kaito pushed up the plastic covering the elevator ceiling. Swinging himself up, he felt around until his hand hit a long envelope. He jumped down, pocketed the package, and replaced the plastic cover.

Walking out of the hotel, Kaito examined the object left for him. He could feel the folded paper inside, along with a very evident solid, creating a bulge in the envelope. Feeling the shape, Kaito knew that it was a cassette tape.

"Kaito? What is that?"

He looked up to find Shiho standing in front of him.


"Why Shin-chan! How nice of you to call me on your own!"

Conan sighed as he listened to his Kaa-san through the phone. He'd shut himself alone in the bedroom while Ran went shopping for something to cook and Kogoro watched Okino Yoko in the other room. "Look, I don't have time to be messing around right now. I'll get straight to the point. Who exactly was Kuriyama Koume?"

With that, Yukiko became silent.

"Kaa-san?"

"Where did you learn that name?"

"I know she had something to do with you and Sharon Vineyard while you were learning disgui…"

"Shin-chan, you're getting yourself involved into dangerous things again!"

"Kaa-san. I know you're worried about me, but I need as much information about these guys as I can get. You've gotta help."

"I won't say anything more about Sharon-chan…" She paused. "There are some things that you shouldn't touch."

"Even if it's going to endanger children? Genta was the one who heard the name from a customer who I'm positively sure was Vermouth. I shouldn't delve further into something even if it's going to mean letting mass criminals running around freely? Even if…"

"What if Ran-chan's life depended on it?" Yukiko countered.

Conan stood still for a moment. "What does that mean Kaa-san?" he demanded.

"Shin-chan, just… Don't put yourself into anymore of this. Please… Shin-chan… Hey! Shin-chan!!"

It was too late. He'd already cut the phone.


Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, favorited, or alerted this story so far! Really sorry for the slow updates, but please bear with it...