A little bit of interaction between the guys and the girls in this chapter. First section is Shinichi and Ran, second section is Heiji and Kazuha, third section is Kaitou and Aoko.

In the first section, the italics on their own paragraph/line that are in quotes are Ran's dialogue over the phone. Any italics that follows a character's name or action are thoughts of that character.

Japanese:

"Ahou" – Means "idiot/stupid"; it's used in the Kansai dialect (Naniwa area, like Osaka) in place of "Baka". If someone from that area calls another person a "baka", it's considered an insult. Likewise, if someone from Tokyo calls someone "ahou", it's insulting.

"Boke" – Another word for "stupid", again, used in Kansai dialect (Heiji uses this a lot, especially when arguing with Kazuha)

"-han" – Used in place of "-san" in Kansai dialect, a suffix attached to the end of a name when the person is older than the speaker

An "omamori" is an amulet of protection; Kazuha made one for both herself and Heiji from two of the links of the handcuffs that they had been trapped in when they were kids

Chapter 5

One day to go. Yukiko had already taken Agasa and Haibara and left via a car…obviously, not Agasa's Beetle. That would just about scream out that they were fleeing or leaving.

And they couldn't have that if they wanted to catch Bourbon.

Kaitou and Heiji were home, but Heiji would be meeting with Shinichi at Agasa's place before they headed to the warehouse. Kaitou would go his own route since his part of the plan didn't involve jumping into the lion's den.

So now, Shinichi sat on the couch in Agasa's house, his mobile in hand, and a frown on his face. He knew he had to call…it was the right thing to do. It would be hard not to blurt everything out, though, so he had to be careful.

He took a deep breath, then let it out and dialed the number. It would be the first time in months that he had called her as himself. No voice-changing bowtie and a payphone.

The other phone rang a couple of times before she picked up.

"Shinichi?"

Shinichi smiled. "Hey, Ran! Thought I'd give you a call!"

"Geez…it's been forever since you last called! You jerk!"

"Ouch…" Shinichi grinned. "I call and get labeled as a 'jerk'. Cold, Ran…"

"Stuff it…"

Shinichi laughed.

"When are you coming home?"

His laughter stopped abruptly.

"Shinichi?"

"Soon. That big case I've mentioned before…we finally got a lead. It'll all be over soon."

Silence.

Then…

"Really? You're really coming back?"

"Ba'a'rou…don't cry. Yea…I'll be coming back." Hopefully, not in a body bag…

A sniffle from the other end. "I'm not crying! Who'd cry over you…!?"

Shinichi smiled sadly. "Ran…I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"I've made you cry a lot…I've let you down more than ever……I'm sorry."

He had to clear it up. If it weren't important for him to stay silent on it, he would have spilled the entire thing with Conan right there and then. Because he honestly didn't know if he was going to come back alive.

"Shinichi…what's wrong? You don't just apologize like that…"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Liar."

"Really! We'll be wrapping the case up really soon, and I can come back for good! How can something be wrong with that?" Shinichi tried to smile, but failed.

"…"

"Ran?" Her silence confused him.

"You're hiding something from me, again, aren't you. This case…it's dangerous, isn't it…"

Shinichi frowned. "I'd be lying if I said 'no'. But, don't worry, Ran. I'll tell you all about it. Everything. Everything that's happened since I left. When I come back, I'll tell you."

"Promise?"

"Yea. I promise."

A chuckle from the other end. "Maybe I'm just a bit lonely. Conan-kun went with his mother to America yesterday…it's strange without him here. This may sound strange, and don't you dare laugh, but…it felt like he was watching me in your stead."

He didn't laugh.

"He's gone…and you're gone…how soon is 'soon', Shinichi?"

Shinichi closed his eyes. "I can't say. It's top secret. But…a week. Or less. Let's leave it at that." Tomorrow or the day after more likely, but…I've already said too much. I doubt there are any bugs in the house…tousan checked. But just in case…

Silence on the other end.

Shinichi tried to bring the mood back up. "Ba'a'rou. What are you worrying, for? Things will work out. By next week, we'll be walking to school together again! It's not the end of the world…it's the beginning!"

"…baka."

Shinichi chuckled. "Hey, hey…I told you not to cry…"

"I'm not crying!!"

The tears in her voice said otherwise, but Shinichi didn't call her out on it this time.

He wanted to tell her…in case he didn't make it back. But for some reason, the words got stuck in his throat. How could he tell her something so important over the phone?

It might be the last time he got to speak with her in this world, but…he still couldn't tell her. When he opened his mouth to try, something completely different came out.

"I probably have a ton of schoolwork to make up…"

A chuckle from the other end. "I'm sure Teitan's super genius can easily catch up from where he left off."

Shinichi chuckled, though he was a tad disappointed in himself. He didn't want to talk about schoolwork. He wanted to talk about them. But…he just couldn't.

As they chatted about mundane subjects, Shinichi's thoughts strayed. I promise, Ran. If I make it back alive…you deserve to know the truth. Everything…I'll tell you everything, even if you don't feel the same way after hearing it. When this is all over…I'll tell you everything.

Heiji yawned as he sat with his head propped up by his hand, elbow on the desk.

Why was he here?

They were going to be risking their lives the very next day, and of all things, he was in school.

Then again, he couldn't skip out today without his father getting suspicious. Tomorrow, sure…he'd leave the house as per normal, then take the train to Tokyo.

Tomorrow…

Heiji had tuned out the math teacher half an hour ago when class started as he stared blankly at the equations on the board.

It felt surreal. To sit in math class. Sure, he did it every weekday, but for some reason, he just didn't feel like he was there despite the fact that he was.

He was (supposedly) listening to a lecture on mathematics like a normal student, but the next day, he'd be running into a warehouse occupied by Japan's, and maybe the world's, most deadly syndicate.

A chill ran down his spine.

He wouldn't admit it, but he was afraid. He was sure that his other two 'partners in crime' were just as scared as he was. But, none of them showed it. None could afford to. If they showed any sign of it, then one of them would talk the other out of going.

Yusaku had already tried to talk Shinichi out of it, but Heiji's friend hadn't budged on the issue.

There was excitement, there was fear, and there was a certain detachment. And, Heiji swore he could feel all of those at the same time.

Heiji, again, stared vacantly at the board. What am I doing here? Sitting in class when we'll be risking our lives tomorrow…am I trying to be normal? If I die tomorrow, I'll have spent my last day on Earth before the attack sitt'n in a classroom. How lame is that?

It took all of his self control not to burst out in laughter. Even so, he had to disguise a couple chuckles as a cough.

Though he didn't know why, he found it funny.

That he was seated in class with tomorrow's mission on the horizon. When Kudou was shrunk, he didn't know it was coming…he said he had gone to school like normal that day, and everything changed at night. I would envy him at this moment if I knew he wasn't worry'n about it just as much. I wonder how Kuroba is taking it…

It took Heiji a moment to realize that someone was prodding him. When he pulled himself back to the real world, he noticed that some kids were out of their seats, and others were out of the room. The teacher was gone, and Kazuha stood next to his desk with a raised eyebrow.

"What're you doing, Heiji?" Kazuha questioned him. "It's lunchtime. More accurately, it's been lunchtime for the past ten minutes. You've been sitt'n there like a zombie in all of our classes. Is some'n wrong?"

"None of your business…" Heiji replied as he leaned back.

"Are you ill?" Kazuha placed a hand to his forehead.

"Knock it off!" Heiji flushed as he swatted at her hand.

"Nope, you feel normal enough…for you at least…" Kazuha pulled her hand back, then sent him a glare. "What's with the space-case act, Heiji? What's go'n on?"

"Noth'n!"

"You said you wanna walk to school by yourself tomorrow. That's odd. You're act'n like a zombie right now. That…well, it can be normal for you sometimes, but…"

"Look, I said it's noth'n…I mean it!" Heiji glared at her.

Around them, a few others snickered at the "lover's spat".

Heiji felt a growl rise in his throat. Oh, hell…

Kazuha snapped at the cat-callers while Heiji's expression melted from angry to serious.

Heiji frowned. Possibly my last day alive, and I'm in school, argue'n with Kazuha as if tomorrow is just another normal school day. What the hell is wrong with me?

He was startled when Kazuha grabbed his arm and started to drag him out of the classroom.

"H-hey! Kazuha! What're you do'n!?" Heiji stammered.

"Leave'n the room! We need'ta talk! You've been acting weird all day!"

That said, she just about bodily dragged him from the classroom.

She stopped when they got outside, around the back of the building. There were a few groups of students here and there eating lunch, but otherwise, it was fairly empty.

"Okay…talk," Kazuha demanded.

Heiji stuck his hands in his pockets and looked away. "Noth'n to talk about…"

"Liar! You're a terrible liar, Heiji. Did'ja know that?"

"…do now…"

"It's written all over your face that you're ly'n. I want the truth…!"

"There's noth'n go'n on, and even if there was, I wouldn't tell ya cause it might be dangerous for you to know!!" Heiji finally exploded.

Kazuha stood there, mouth still slightly open, as she stared at him in shock.

Heiji immediately stepped back with wide eyes as he realized that he had just revealed that he was up to something.

"Dangerous…Heiji, what exactly are you doing?" Kazuha didn't shout this time. Rather, her voice was quieter…almost scared. "It feels like you're go'n far away…"

"Ahou…I'm not go'n far." I hope not…

Kazuha frowned.

"Really! Don't worry! It's not like I'm involved in someth'n criminal! Me? Come on, Kazuha…if anything, I'd be involved in take'n down those criminals!"

After saying that, Heiji wondered if he should just tape his mouth shut before he said anything else. Sure, Kazuha wasn't a detective, but she wasn't stupid, either.

What was that expression?

Loose lips sink ships…?

That was it, wasn't it?

Heiji decided right then and there that he wasn't going to say another word.

However, Kazuha's downcast and worried expression made him go back on that decision.

"It's not that big a deal, Kazuha…really. Don't worry…"

He expected her to quip back with the usual "I'm not worried about you, ahou", and was mildly concerned when she didn't say that.

"Kazuha?"

"It's something like that, isn't it. Something you can't tell the police…can't tell your father. You're go'n after someone really dangerous, aren't you. And it starts tomorrow."

Heiji didn't trust himself to say anything. If he talked, he might just blurt out the entire thing…and, Kazuha knew enough to put her in mortal danger as it was. He settled for keeping his gaze averted.

Kazuha stared at the ground as she pushed back tears. "You've done some crazy stuff before, but……this is something super-big, isn't it."

"That wasn't a question."

"Can't you tell your father about it…?"

"No!" Heiji looked back up, his voice firm. "No. I won't tell him, and neither will you! You can't tell him or even your own father! Not even Otaki-han!"

"Why!? You're gonna do something really dangerous, right!? Why no tell the police?! They'll help…!"

"They'll get in the way of this!"

"Ahou!! How can the police get in the way of a dangerous situation…!?"

"If I tell them, they could just get themselves killed, boke! It's for their own good!"

He liked shouting a lot better than feeling bad about not being able to tell her anything. He preferred to be arguing with her rather than watching her struggle with tears.

Unfortunately, it seemed like each time he opened his mouth to argue back, he said something incriminating.

"Just…stop ask'n, will ya!?" Heiji finally lost it. "I don't wanna tell you…I can't tell you! The more you ask, the worse it gets! And, geez, I end up blurt'n stuff out whether I want to or not! It's your fault for ask'n! So quit it!"

"My fault…!? You're the one go'n off on some mysterious crime-bust'n adventure without tell'n anyone! If you get hurt, who'll know?!"

"I won't be alone there, ahou! And, I won't get hurt!"

"You're always like that! Why can't you just tell me for once…?!"

"Because I don't want you to know information that could get you hurt or killed!!"

Both were breathing hard, a bit flushed from their argument, but Heiji's last statement had caused Kazuha's retort to die on her tongue.

Heiji pulled back with a frown as he looked away and put his hands back in his pockets uncomfortably.

Kazuha backed down and looked away.

Silence engulfed the two.

Then, Kazuha broke it. "You…you'll come back, right? This dangerous thing you can't tell me about…you'll come back?"

Heiji nodded, though he didn't trust himself to verbally reply. He couldn't be sure if he would be back or not…how could he possibly tell her that?

Once again, silence fell over them.

Then, there was a sniffle. Then another.

Heiji looked up in surprise, and was even more shocked to see tears roll down Kazuha's cheeks. He floundered silently as he stood rooted to the spot. She was crying…what should he do? What could he do?

Kazuha made the decision for him as she shook her head and wiped away her tears, then got herself under control. If he's going to do something dangerous, I can't cry. Smile, Kazuha…see him off with a smile.

Heiji was confused as hell when she went from crying to smiling. Though there were still tears in her eyes, she smiled at him.

"You'll take the omamori, right?" Kazuha asked softly.

Heiji blinked, then nodded. "Yea…"

"Good."

Heiji scratched the back of his neck, then sighed. "Kazuha?"

The girl looked up.

Heiji grinned confidently at her.

Kazuha smiled in return.

"I dunno about you…but I'm starve'n. Is there any time left ta lunch?" Heiji grinned as he finally broke the silence.

Kazuha laughed as she struggled not to cry. Ahou…

He didn't flip her skirt.

Sure, his escape route would be limited due to the fact that he had sprained his knee (he said he had tripped down the stairs), but he had flipped her skirt with minor injuries before.

Aoko paused in her thoughts. Was a sprain 'minor'? A twist was minor…but a sprain wasn't a break…

She shook her head. No getting distracted.

For the past couple months, Kaitou had been more of an enigma to her than usual. His magic skills had gotten better, of course, and there were the typical arguments over Kid, but…

She couldn't figure him out.

And now more so than ever.

Aoko glanced behind her for a moment. She wasn't the only one interested in Kaitou's behavior…Hakuba Saguru, who had joined their class a few months ago, was always interested in Kaitou.

Though, the two got along like cats and mice.

Nothing was any different today…except for the fact that Kaitou hadn't flipped her skirt or peeped on the girl's changing room. He had just returned to school today…he had been out since Thursday, and she couldn't get ahold of him over the weekend, either.

Then, he returns today with that mysterious injury. Though he would grin like usual and play pranks, he didn't flip her skirt.

Major red flag to Aoko.

Hakuba seemed to find it odd, too, and confronted Kaitou before their classes started.

Kaitou, as usual, skirted around the issue and then proceeded to make a fool of the British detective.

Akako, too, seemed unusually concerned, and once again, gave Kaitou some sort of cryptic warning about a "black shadow on the horizon painted with red".

Kaitou had stared at her a moment, then rolled his eyes.

At least the way he dealt with Hakuba and Akako were normal.

But going this far without flipping her skirt, even injured, wasn't normal.

Plus, if she looked hard enough, she could see something just under the surface.

Aoko thought back to his reactions earlier. He had seemed eager to get into his daily argument with Hakuba…usually, it seemed to annoy the hell out of him, but this time, he looked happy about it.

One could have mistaken that as a prelude to whatever he was going to do to Hakuba for bothering him, but Aoko knew otherwise.

And his reaction to the eerie message Akako had give him…for one split second, he had a serious look on his face. For a fraction in time, his mouth had been drawn taught and there was something in his eyes that scared Aoko.

But then, it was gone…and it left her wondering if she had even seen it to begin with.

She had.

She knew she did.

He acted normal, sans flipping her skirt or doing something that day to make her chase him with her mop, but there was something going on. She didn't understand it, but it was like she could feel it.

Aoko glanced over at his desk.

Kaitou appeared to be asleep in his seat, as per usual, but Aoko knew he wasn't.

That was it…

Aoko sat up straight.

There was a tension in his shoulders…it wasn't noticeable unless someone looked for it, but it was there.

Something was bothering him.

The second the bell rang, Aoko marched over to his desk.

Kaitou opened his eyes and grinned up at her as if he didn't have a care in the world.

Aoko crossed her arms.

"Afternoon, Aoko!" Kaitou chirped. "What brings you over here?"

"Class is over, baka."

"It is?" Kaitou looked around, then laughed. "So it is! I guess I fell asleep, again! Seriously, our teacher is the queen of monotone voices!" He wasn't really asleep…he had been going over the plan in his head for the next day.

After all, he was better safe than sorry. And, he knew that Shinichi and Heiji would be thinking about it, as well, to make sure there wasn't anything they missed during one of their many planning sessions.

"Kaitou!! Are you listening?!"

Kaitou blinked at her, then chuckled. "Nope!"

Aoko twitched and resisted the urge to hit him. "We need to talk."

"Huh? About what?" Kaitou tilted his head quizzically. "If it's about that prank on Hakuba this morning…"

"No…it's about you."

Kaitou pointed at himself with a questioning look.

It was almost cute, but Aoko pushed that thought aside.

"Yes, you! Unless there's another Kuroba Kaitou sitting in front of me!"

Kaitou scratched his head. "Did I do something? I don't recall angering you yet for today…"

Aoko twitched.

"Ah…that was it, huh?" Kaitou snickered. "You're used to me doing something, so since I didn't do anything, you're angry? Weird girl…"

"IDIOT!!" Aoko roared at him.

The half of the class that hadn't left the room for lunch break stared at them a moment, then went back to what they were doing.

Aoko yelling at Kaitou was commonplace by now. In fact, it would have been more unusual if she didn't yell at him.

Kaitou stared at her with wide eyes.

"If that's how you act when I'm worried about you, then…!!" Aoko started.

"Worried about me?" Kaitou looked even more confused, though internally, he was sweating a bit. Does she know…? No…maybe she's just saying that because of my supposed flight down the stairs…

Aoko squinted at him, almost forehead to forehead with the teen. Just like I thought…there are lines of tension on his face and in his eyes.

Kaitou stared back with the confused façade still up. "Um…Aoko? What are…?"

Aoko pulled back, then put her hands on her hips. "Whatever is going on that you're worried about…can't you tell me?"

"Worried? Me? Come on…those two words don't even go together!" Kaitou was better at lying than Heiji was, but Aoko was a tough audience to fool.

Though, normally, she would just shrug it off and accept it as the truth…

Today, she didn't seem to give.

"You're lying."

"No I'm not."

"You are!"

"I have nothing to be worried about…!"

"You were happy when Hakuba-kun came over to interrogate you this morning! I saw it on your face!" Aoko pointed at him accusingly.

"Well, yea…because that meant it was time for my daily prank on him!" Kaitou grinned.

"You were worried when Akako-san gave you that weird message."

"Don't be silly! Why would I be worried about her crazy fortune telling?"

Aoko clenched her hands into fists.

Kaitou was surprised to see tears in her eyes. What…?

"Why do you lie to me?"

The others of the class hadn't been interested in their argument…but this was a new turn. Thus, every eye was rooted to them.

Kaitou glanced around nervously. "What do you mean?" And, that moron, Hakuba, just has to still be in the room, of course…

"You haven't done anything perverted today…you weren't even reading the newspaper! You always read the newspaper!" Aoko blinked back tears. "I know something is…!"

Kaitou stood up and grabbed her arm.

Aoko stopped mid-rant.

"I'd rather not be yelled at in front of an audience. It's preferable to entertain a group of people with magic tricks than a squabble. Let's go." Kaitou gently tugged her out of the room. If she blurts something out that makes Hakuba suspicious…I'll not only have him on my ass about Kid, but he might poke his head into tomorrow's operation.

Aoko was surprised by Kaitou's behavior, but followed him up the stairs of the school.

It was only when they were on the roof, and Kaitou was sure they were alone, when he let go of her wrist.

Kaitou sighed and limped over to the fence, then sat down against it. "You're right…I'm worried about something. But, it's nothing big…just daily stuff…"

"Stop lying, Kaitou. You always have that stupid mask on your face…can't you just drop it for once!?" Aoko stormed over to him.

Kaitou stared at her in surprise. She's…pretty perceptive today… Then, his eyes narrowed as he glanced at her. "You were talking with Hakuba, weren't you."

Aoko started, then crossed her arms and looked away. "And if I was? Even he is worried about you!"

"Yea, right…"

"What's going on, Kaitou?"

Kaitou didn't reply or speak for a while. He wasn't about to tell her about Kid, but he would have to give some excuse as to why he wouldn't be in school the next day. His mother and Jii knew about what was going to happen tomorrow, but they were the only ones.

Sans Shinichi, said teen's parents, and Heiji, of course.

And Akai and Interpol…

"I won't be in school tomorrow. I have something to take care of."

"What 'something'?" Aoko demanded.

Kaitou shrugged as he gazed at the school grounds. "Just…something."

Why was he even talking? He should tell her anything. She would be in danger, and might worry about him.

Though, she seemed to be worried, already…Kaitou didn't like that. He didn't understand why, either. Sure, he felt different when he was around her, but…they were childhood friends, right?

Then again, Shinichi had teased him about that for some reason…which got him thinking about his feelings, which was something that no man should ever have to do in his opinion.

Especially one like him that hid his emotions.

There was a rustle of cloth that interrupted his thoughts, and he looked over as Aoko seated herself next to him.

"You'll be okay, right?" Aoko pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.

"Eh? What are you talking about?"

"Kaitou…"

Kaitou leaned back against the fence, then smiled at her and produced a rose in his hand, which he handed to her. "You doubt me?"

Aoko couldn't help but smile as she took the offered flower. Though, she blushed a bit when her hand brushed his.

Kaitou, too, felt heat rise to his cheeks, but he couldn't really figure out why. However, what he did know was that he felt a little better about what was going to happen tomorrow.

Aoko twirled the rose in her fingers with a smile on her face. He's probably tired from his sprained knee and having to limp all over the place…There was a lingering doubt about that, but she pushed it aside. Kaitou's normalcy act had effectively staved off her current worries.

Kaitou, meanwhile, had a true smile on his face as he gazed tenderly at the girl. Thanks, Aoko.

TO BE CONTINUED…