She's Ready To Be Heartbroken

Ever have those times in your life when you just want to pause your situation and like on a game show have the option to phone a friend?

I needed that right now.

I swallowed at the dry spot in the back of my throat, my heart racing as my head recklessly fumbled through ideas as the two nurses and Aoko looked down at me waiting for a reply.

"You want my…what?.."

Aoko laughed nervously noticing one of the nurses starting to become slightly annoyed after asking me the same question five times without a single reply from me. Giving it a shot, Aoko walked around from the foot of my hospital bed and knelt down to my side where she could meet me at eye level.

"Little boy..", Aoko began, brushing another loose lock of hair away from my eyes as I stared fearfully back at her." The nurses and I are curious to know what your name is. Can you give it to us?"

Uh…..No.

To be honest I didn't even know or thought yet how to approach this. Of course, I couldn't be just grins and nods greeting myself as Kuroba Kaitou. That would cause some slight confusion and a spice of chaos.

"….name?...", I slowly drawled out watching as Aoko shook her head 'yes'.

Think Kaitou. Think. I know I couldn't reveal myself, putting Aoko at risk. Whoever wanted me dead at the moment thought I was just that, six feet under the ground. If they discovered I was still out and about walking around, only in pint size form, they would not only come after me but probably Aoko too.

No way in hell was I about to let that happen.

So now I needed a name to complete my perfect disguise as the eight year old I transformed into. To think from the hundreds of disguises I was able to master I wasn't able to muster up of a simple name for myself. Yet, it needed to be believable; it needed to be something that wouldn't be lame, something fitting, something…

"Takayama Harry!"

…. that sounded very foreign.

Well hell! I needed to think of something quick on the spot and it was just at the moment I wish I could have disappeared on the dot and the only man I knew who was able to pull something like that off successfully was Harry Houdini. Bam. The first part to my name.

The last name Takayama came from another magician, a well known Japanese magician. Cyril Takayama was a wildly popular street magician in Japan. So yes, I did derive my name from some of my well-liked fellow magicians….

Of course I would. What, did you expect me to use authors? Ha- I'm not that geeky.

"Harry Takayama?" Aoko repeated carefully, her eyebrows rising. "What an odd name….."

…and when Aoko said my name out loud to herself did I only realize how lame my new name was.

I began to fluster to explain myself " Uhh..well…my mother is uh..French! She is the one who chose my first name and my dad is from Okinawa. So my name is a tad weird!"

"Oh!" one of the nurses exclaimed clapping her hands together in delight. "So, you are bilingual? Speak some French for us!"

The other nurse nodded her head in delight in agreement" Yes, please!"

I gave a deadpan look towards the two nurses. People were amused way to easily these days. They were lucky one of my heists not too long ago occurred in France and I was able to pick up the language after a time of practice. With occasional international heists, picking up a language can come in handy for the future, especially if you expect to disguise as the dang foreigners.

"Um…" I looked at the nurses nervously and then gulped again as a knot formed in my throat seeing Aoko light up from the corner of my eye as she leaned forward towards me.

"Oh please Harry-kun! Say something!" Aoko urged with her hands laced together held up towards me pleading and I caved.

Fine. FINE!

Such a demanding crowd.

Sighing in defeat, I turned toward Aoko with a serious gaze prior to grabbing her hand and dipping my head to press my lips to the back her hand before looking up with a wink and smooth grin with my best French accent to say "Vous jeune dame êtes tout à fait belle quand vous souriez vraiment!"

Aoko couldn't hide the slight blush that crept onto her cheeks as she stared back in shock and the nurses squealing in delight in the background.

Women. How easy to woo their faint hearts.

"Ah, um, ah…" Aoko stuttered as her hand slipped away from mine and back into her lap.

"That was so cool Harry-kun!" Aoko nervously laughed the blush yet to fade. Something girls had a hard time to do when I decided to turn up the famous Kaitou charm. Better to the fact, I was able to make Aoko fall into my charm and how rarely it did happen since she was practically immune to it. She always successfully had her guard up when I tried it and of course also a mop wielded at her side to lunge at me if I tried any 'funny' stuff.

"Well, what did you say to the young miss?" one of the nurses enthusiastically implored for me to translate.

Great, now I found myself blushing when I was put on the spot for this.

"Ah…" I looked at Aoko who was doing that smile, that genuine one that was stronger than she knew it was, and then I looked up at the ceiling to avoid her gaze as my blush grew to my ears.

I just couldnt look at her when she looked like that!

"I…."

I paused as I could feel the room waiting with anticipation.

After a moment of careful thought, I nodded my head as I grinned again and winked holding a finger up towards the nurses "I can't just kiss and tell!"

Now that got me some good facial reactions.

Laughing, Aoko patted my head" Well, aren't you just the young gentleman that knows how to impress a woman? Just like someone else I know!"

Well, inwardly grinning to myself, a true gentleman doesn't win the hearts of woman with his good looks (that I of course had) but with his grace and mannerisms.

Plus honestly, I was too embarrassed right now to outwardly tell Aoko what I really said. In good time will I tell her flat out how she was completely beautiful when she truly smiled.

Present Time: In an unknown lab

" Harry?"

Turning my head was I able to be graciously surprised with the presence of the shrunken detective of the east, whom always failed to catch me like the others, with a sneer that pushed all the wrong buttons at the moment.

I didn't need more problems in my life right now, especially with this whole interrogation thing and all with the creepy scientist girl, yet lately Kudou-kun has been tickled pink when he found out about my true identity.

KID was shrunk and now stuck in the same predicament as the great detective!

High fives around the room people.

"Conan?" I imitated in the same mocking tone as my eyes followed Kudou who, too casually, walked in the downstairs lab to lean against Haibara's desk and push his slipping glasses up to the bridge of his nose as he laughed out loud. Really loud.

"Why on earth did you choose a name like Harry?" Kudou cackled as I glared at him, hoping my gaze would kill. Not everything worked like magic unfortunately to my benefit.

"I could ask the same, Conan Edogawa." I derided back. In my opinion, his name sounded a hell of a lot crappier than my own.

" Ah, but my arch-nemesis, at least my first name doesn't remind people of…"

I hopped out of my chair with a thud holding up a fist towards Kudou's face " If you say that foreign character's name Harry Potter, I will punch you dead square in the nose Kudou Shinichi."

" Please boys…"

Sitting back in my chair with a huff, I crisscrossed my arms on my chest watching damn Kudou shake with laughter against Haibara's desk, the creepy girl who interrupted us as she got up to retrieve some papers she recently printed off from her 'notes' on me. Usually I was much more calm and collected than this and little things like that I would have just laughed off or would have just wise assed my way out of it but lately….things were taking a toll on me.

"If you guys wouldn't mind stop acting the age you looked like right now, I think it would be important if we got back to what's really important."

I turned up my nose towards Shinichi and nodded my head "Thank you Haibara-san!"

Haibara leaned back into her computer chair and smiled coolly " Yes Kuroba-kun. That also means we leave out the whole gentleman nonsense too in the story."

"Yeah, lady killer" the pint sized punk sneered in unison with that cold hearted snake of a girl.

I gritted my teeth together as I bore my eyes into Haibara hoping she could feel the spite I felt toward her at the moment.

I hate you.

Three months earlier, Nakamori Residence

"Well, this is home!" Aoko proudly announced as she flung open the door to reveal a surprisingly messy apartment. Papers were flung everywhere and half finished food sitting on stacked plates were on the table in the living room and the whole place reeked of cheap cologne.

"Sorry." Aoko looked down at me smiling apologetically as I stared in shock at the mess not believing a girl like Aoko lived in this "Daddy must have been just home for a while before leaving for work again. It always gets a little chaotic when he finally returns but due to work and all just as soon as he is here he leaves. Usually also, with a huge mess trailing after him."

Ha, that's because he spends all his energy trying to scheme his next best plan to catch me in one of my heists, I mentally grinned.

"Well, you can just sit on the couch and watch some tv while I fix up the place!" Aoko smiled as she squeezed my hand that she held onto while we walked home from the hospital.

"Sure…" nodding my head in compliance as she whisked herself away happily humming to herself to start cleaning the monster of a mess her father left her.

I needed to have a seat anyway because my head was starting to spin again, especially recalling the walk home from the hospital…..

"Umm…Ao- I mean Miss Aoko…"

Swinging our hands gently back and forth, Aoko stopped and looked down at me playfully with a stern look "It's Aoko-neechan! Because.."

Laughing at my surprised gaze from tapping her finger on my nose "its like I have a little brother now! So from now on no more Miss Aoko, only Aoko-neechan!"

Well, this was going to take some getting use to.

"Ah, ok, um Aoko- neechan?"

"Yes, Harry-kun?" Aoko answered her bright blue eyes lighting up in delight to the way I said neechan at the end of her name. How she found pleasure in the smallest things.

I shifted my weight from one foot to another "Are you sure…um that I can come home with you?"

"Is that what you have been worried about?" Aoko asked appalled as she knelt down to see me eye level again.

Well, that wasn't what I was worried about but okay, sure we'll go with that.

Aoko beamed as she placed both hands on my shoulders," I am one hundred and ten percent sure its okay for you to come with me. One, I am not about to let a child who just wound up in the hospital with a serious concussion wonder through the streets who doesn't even remember where he lives! I'm going to make sure you have a full recovery!"

Ha, just so you know with the more questions the nurses and Aoko were asking me I had to quickly resort to another alternative…..claiming to amnesia from my concussion.

"Second, my father is always at work so I basically live by myself so of course I need someone to keep me company and plus if he has any questions about you I'll just say you are my illegitimate child with my best friend Kaitou!"

"WHAT!?", I reeled back, shouting in alarm which was the reaction Aoko was exactly seeking as she rocked back onto her heels in laughter from my response.

" Just kidding!" Aoko grinned as she tapped my nose again, something that was starting to become a habit. " I would just tell Daddy the truth, he would understand what I'm doing."

"Oh, okay, cool." I mumbled as Aoko stood up to grab my hand so we could start walking again.

"So, Harry-kun…"

I turned my head up towards Aoko who swung our hands back and forth again as she looked up at the night sky where the clouds stretched out barely covering the moon that seemed much larger tonight than before. I arched an eyebrow watching Aoko's lips stretch into a soft smile as her cheeks began to color over again, wondering what on earth this girl was thinking now.

"Yeah, Aoko-neechan?"

I felt Aoko squeeze my hand a little tighter before she looked back down at me grinning "Harry-kun, you are like, what, eight? Nine years old?"

I mentally double checked on that. I mean really I am eighteen, but in this body now it looked as if I cut off about a decade on my physical body. So, yeah, I guess I was eight now.

Oh, my luck. How great it was these days.

"Um, I'm eight, so you were close!" I forced a smile back up to Aoko. I cant believe that about three days ago I was eighteen and now…I was this.

Aoko raised a finger to her chin "Hmm, that's about the right age for that stuff to be happening now.."

Right age for what? And for what stuff to be happening now? What was this girl babbling about now…

Aoko looked back at me grinning mischievously " Hey, Harry-kun! Do you have a girl at school you like these days?"

So Aoko to ask…….

I fought back the urge to roll my eyes as Aoko grinned in excitement waiting to hear my answer. Really now, some of the things she brought up literally can come from nowhere. It's the times I really wish I could jump inside her little wondrous mind and figure out where some of her stuff came from.

So instead of answering her question, I just turned it back on her for kicks and giggles.

"Well, what about you Aoko-neechan? You have brought up this guy's name, Kaito, up a few times! " I watched as Aoko's eyes widened and I sneered "Do you like him or something?"

Then comes what I least expect.

"I actually really do!"

………………………………………………………

……………………………………….

………………..

What?

Aoko must have laughed at my facial expression because I'm pretty sure my jaw was scrapping against the ground as we continued to walk. Her cheeks were flushed as she looked back up to the sky.

"You caught me. Kaitou-kun is my child hood best friend but also the boy I really really really like! Even though he can be big jerk, really cocky, a little too supportive of KID the thief, and a big pervert……"

Aoko looked back down at me smiling shyly, something else that was rare for me to see

"Kaito-kun is really cool ,really smart, really good with magic like his Dad who was Japan's greatest magician, and he really underneath it all has a really good heart…" Aoko's cheeks turned a darker color as her soft smile stretched onto her face a little more "…and no matter how much I deny it, I cant help but to seem finding myself to love that idiot."

If I didn't know it, I would have said right then I just had a heart palpitation. I didn't realize I wasn't breathing as Aoko was talking and I looked away so Aoko couldn't see as I felt all the blood rush to my face. Great Kami, she loves me? Maybe she had a greater poker face than I because I would have never guessed that.

" Aoko-neechan." I suddenly said as we continued to walk "Have you ever told this Kaito guy about how… you really feel about him?"

There was a moment of silence where Aoko didn't answer this but only smiled sadly.

"No." she at first whispered. Aoko then forced out laughter that sounded a little to heart wrenching. "Kaitou-kun is so popular with girls at school! I don't think he would ever feel the same way that I do about him….so, this is a secret just between me and you!" Aoko grinned pressing her index finger against her lips.

' I don't think he would ever feel the same way that I do about him'

That line resounded and echoed in my head as we kept walking and I couldn't help but squeeze her hand tighter as the line became louder and louder in my mind.

Aoko was ready to be heartbroken. Without even finding out the damn truth from me. She already basically, of all the girls in the world, ruled herself out when it came to me.

How foolish Aoko could still be. She never gave herself enough credit for the things she rightly deserved, and she deserved a lot.

"You're wrong…" I muttered, squeezing Aoko's hand harder so she would look down at me.

"Harry-kun?"

"You are definitely wrong about that! You shouldn't give up before you know anything! That's stupid! Really stupid!" I almost shouted not aware I was slightly losing my temper from this. Aoko could really be unbelievable sometimes.

Aoko looked at me in utter shock before I corrected myself and put my innocent eight year old mask back on.

"What I mean is…..I am sure this Kaitou guy would be pretty dumb if he didn't see someone as beautiful as you are neechan…."

The smile that I was beginning to love more than anything returned to Aoko's face as she knelt down to wrap her arms around my small body and crush me against her. She still smelled like rain and lilacs with just a bit of cotton, all together a comforting mixture. She was warm, and really soft… and perky? When did she become so developed? How did I miss this!? Was I really this off not noticing all these things!?

'Don't ruin the moment Kaitou', I mentally chastised myself for the unnecessary thoughts that began to run through my head as I returned the hug as best as my eight year old self could.

"Thank you, Harry-kun" Aoko whispered in my ear before pulling away.

"No problem, neechan." I replied back softly, feeling my whole body tingle as she grabbed my hand again, swinging it back and forth as we continued the rest of the walk back to her home.

………………………….

"Hey, Harry-kun?"

I snapped back out from my thoughts as a hand waved up and down in front of my face.

"Uh..yes?" I replied startled as Aoko stood in front of me with her hands on her hips looking at me quizzically.

"You're starting to be out of it again. Maybe I should give you your medicine right now instead of waiting until after dinner and while we are on that…." Aoko turned around to turn off the television I wasn't even paying attention to. "It's dinner time!" she smiled as she held out her hand again for me to take to lead me to the table.

Putting my hand in hers she helped me off the couch as we walked towards the living room together where we could sit at the table with steaming food that was waiting for us, courtesy of Aoko of course. I smiled as Aoko chatted mindlessly as she prepared my plate, thinking how technically, really, this was the first time Aoko and I were ever alone together having dinner in her apartment.

At least while I had this curse some blessings were coming out of it.

To be continued…

Finally….chapter three. Instead of three years it just took me about three weeks to get this to you guys. Oh Kaito how we all love you. Thanks all for the reads and make sure you place your reviews so I can see what you guys thought ;). Oh, and akemi-chan, maybe just maybe I will take you up on our conversation and go ahead and shrink everyone haha. Just have big shrinking party!

Also so you guys know, I may or may not have a chapter for you all until August because I leave soon for work as I coach some kiddies how to play soccer. So enjoy while you can and I shall try to return as soon as I can.

Thanks for the r&r!

-Detectivegirl2005