A/N:I know, it's a corny title. I couldn't think of anything better. I love this story. ^^ So I will do my best to update it. The original was SORT OF like this, but it started out with a murder scene and it was really dumb and clichéd, so I decided to leave it out of this version. The words just flowed out of me when I wrote the first chapter. Think about playing "And I'm Home" from Madoka Magica while you read this. It will make for interesting reading. I prefer the male version, actually.

Chapter 9 The Grand Escape

"Now...the game ends, Kaitou Kid-san," Shinichi said smoothly, aiming the gun at the elusive phantom thief. He noticed the thief tense slightly and a strange look pass across his face before it disappeared, settling on the neutral poker face he normally possessed. He couldn't help but smirk. This night had been more exciting than he had anticipated.

Of course, he wouldn't kill KID, he would merely incapacitate him or distract him until the police could show up and arrest him. Though a small part of him didn't want the elusive thief to be caught, for some reason. Something was strangely familiar about the masked thief. And that fear of fish he had...it was certainly unusual. The only person he knew with that fear was Kaito. But Kaito couldn't be KID...could he?

His eyebrows furrowed in suspicion as he pondered that thought for a bit before he shrugged, deciding to give up on that idea. As silly as Kaito may be, he wasn't stupid enough to go around stealing gems at night, dressed all in white. This wasn't his cousin, this was a potentially dangerous foe that posed a threat to the law. He had to be stopped.

"Meitantei-san, should you really point something like that at people?" The thief taunted, though he looked rather panicked.

"What happened to that poker face of yours, huh?" Shinichi remarked calmly, striding towards the thief, who backed away.

At the moment, Kaito was out of ideas. He was trapped. He couldn't figure out how to get away from this sort of situation. Shinichi was pointing a live gun at him and would most likely shoot him without a second thought. This was a bad situation, and he had to figure out something fast before he wound up behind bars and a grinning Nakamori would unveil his identity to everyone in the world.

He would not let that happen. But how could he attack his cousin, the one person who was most precious to him, above everyone else in the world? The two of them were like twins, they literally could not live without the other. But KID was a separate entity from Kaito Kuroba, and as such, that meant Kudou Shinichi was his enemy, no matter what Kaito thought, KID had to be the one in control.

He grinned slightly as he raised his own gun up. "This one's loaded, too," He said smoothly, tucking a piece of brown hair back with a gloved hand as he stood up, a confident smirk on his face that matched the detective's own. "Are you sure you want to provoke me, meitantei-san?"

Shinichi grinned. "That one's just an ordinary card gun, isn't it? However, this one...possesses REAL bullets. So, if I hit you, you will either die, or be injured. Which will it be? Will you relinquish the jewel you have in your pocket, or will you escape and make yourself an enemy?"

Kaito thought over the decisions in his head for a moment before a smirk made its way on his face. "Actually, I believe I'll take care of my business first, thank you very much."

To Shinichi's shock, he watched as the thief carefully pulled the red gem out and held it up to the moonlight. He studied it for a few moments.

"What are you looking for?" Shinichi asked in curiosity. Watching the thief now was almost surreal, it felt like a dream.

"Happiness. I don't like doing this. I only wanted to do this temporarily...but my goals haven't been met yet. So, until that time comes, I must don the mask of my alter ego, meitantei-san. I am looking to draw out some adversaries of mine so I can catch them myself. That is why I do what I do. What about you? What motivates you to catch criminals?" There seemed to be a glint in the boy's monocle as he eyed his foe.

Shinichi sighed. "To avenge a man's murder...a man I was close to and loved dearly like a brother. I originally started it all to find out who murdered him. I haven't found my answers yet." He said, unaware of how Kaito's face took on a shocked look for a moment.

'So, you never forgot about our dear uncle, huh, Shinichi? You still only think about my tousan. I'm sure he would appreciate that if he were still around. But this is a different territory I'm treading on; one where personal feelings do not mix with duty and honor.'

"Meitantei-san, it seems this one is not the one I seek, like always. Here, take it," KID said, much to Shinichi's surprise, and he tossed the small gem towards Shinichi. Unfortunately for KID, his aim wasn't exactly at an angle where Shinichi could catch it, and it fell to the ground and broke into a million pieces.

"Aw, crud," Kaito whined. 'This wasn't supposed to happen. That's the first time I've actually broken one of them. Now someone else is going to have to pay for the damage.'

A malicious smirk appeared on his face for a moment. "Meitantei-san, you will have to pay the bill. I'm off on my way home-" He paused as he realized Shinichi had his arm around him. "How did you?"

"I have my ways, Kaitou KID," He replied in that infuriating tone that ticked KID off. Why did he always know what he was going to do? "I won't let you release your glider."

Kaito grinned as he brought out a small pink ball. "I won't let YOU follow me, meitantei-san. Time for you to go to sleep." He smirked broadly upon seeing Shinichi gasp for a second before another smirk made its way on his face.

"I knew you'd try something like this, which is why I came prepared," He said before he held out a gas mask and put it on. "So much for your clever tactic, Kaitou KID-san. Are you ready to be arrested yet?"

Kaitou smirked. "You, my friend, should know that answer more than anyone." Kaito then pulled himself free of Shinichi's grasp and started to run away, only to be startled when a group of Nakamori's men surrounded him, armed with guns.

"Now is the day you finally get arrested, you crazy godd #%d thief!" Nakamori screamed, going into one of his infamous cursing rants, like he always did when he got too excited or angry.

KID smirked. "Good night, my dear inspector." He threw a smoke bomb in front of them and instantly they all fell asleep, save for Shinichi. He smirked. "They'll enjoy their nap for quite a while, eh?"

"I'm not finished with you." Shinichi said in a low voice. "What exactly are you after, and who are you?"

"Do you really wish to know?" Kaito said dangerously. "The truth may be too vicious for you to handle."

'Please, don't get involved any more than you have to, Shinichi. I care about you too much to let you get hurt.'

He smirked. "Adieu, meitantei-san. Sayonara for now."

He stretched out his glider even as Shinichi tried to stop him, but he silenced him with a hand to the cheek. "We'll meet again, meitantei-san...in more ways than one. Farewell, for now."

And with one flap of the glider, the ambiguous thief was gone.

Shinichi was left staring at the open window in astonishment. "That was certainly strange. What is with that thief, anyway? Why does he act so familiar with me, anyway?"

He frowned at the sleeping inspector, and shivered. 'I hate to be a coward, but I'd better get away before he wakes up. I'd hate to find out what he'd do to me if he finds out I failed to get KID.'

Ran watched the news feed on television, up to the point where Shinichi had pointed a gun at the mysterious thief, and her eyes widened in terror. Would her childhood friend really think about hurting the thief? No, her Shinichi wasn't like that at all.

Although he really looked attractive while he did that. It was kind of cool, seeing him with a deadpan face while he stared down the thief, but at the same time, it was really scary, too. It felt like she didn't know him anymore.

Why would her kind childhood friend point a gun at a thief? Even if he was breaking the law, somehow she knew he could be trusted. A part of her knew that Shinichi was wrong, and that he was doing everything he did for a good cause.

But would her friend really understand it if she explained her theory about KID to him? She highly doubted he would understand. His deductive mind might be sharp, but his mind was still too strongly inclined towards justice to really know what she meant. She could only imagine the look on his face if she would tell him.

He would probably scold her and call her an idiot for being so trusting in a dumb thief. Well, to be honest, there was a part to him that Ran couldn't help but trust and believe in. It was true what Sonoko said, there was a certain charisma about the man that made her want to believe in his genuine courage.

Snake grinned as he watched the news feed. He turned back to his other partner, a man with long, blond hair and cold, icy blue eyes. His eyes were like those of a wolf, watching the prey and toying with it before devouring it whole.

"So, what do you think?" Snake asked.

The blond grinned. "KID is certainly an interesting man. Is he after your organization, or mine?"

Snake shrugged. "We all have skeletons in our closet, don't we? Do you think he's the original?"

The blond frowned. "Hmm, if I had to venture a guess, I'd say the odds are highly unlikely. We successfully killed the original. Therefore, this one has to be a new KID. Find out who he is and report back to me on his identity."

"Yes, Gin. What of the detective?"

Gin shrugged. "Who cares about him? He's nothing but an insignificant little brat. As long as he keeps his nose out of our business, leave him alone. Children aren't my concern. He's too stupid to figure out anything. For now, let's set our sights on this KID." A predatory smile crossed his lips.

'I wonder who you really are, KID. I'd really love to see the look on your face when I cut you up.'

A woman ran down a street, desperately trying to outrun her pursuer. She held onto her young child's arm; a boy around five or six, who was also glancing back anxiously.

"Mommy, who was that mean man? Why'd he try to hurt us?" He asked, but the mother shushed him.

"Don't make noise. He'll hear us and attack. He's just a mugger. We'll just give him our belongings and he'll probably run off," She whispered.

"I'm afraid I'm not satisfied with only material goods," A new voice said. A man with dark hair stepped out, wielding a huge cleaver. A sadistic smirk was on his face. "Would you like to meet the death god now?"

"No, spare my son!"

The man frowned and then raised an eyebrow upon seeing the young boy huddled by his mother's side. He turned away for a moment. "I don't kill children. I'll let him live. However, you must die."

"What do you have against me?" She cried. "What have I ever done to you?"

"Let's just say that a long time ago, a woman I loved cheated on me, and ever since, I've wanted to rid the world of those filthy women! You're next." The man said. He pulled a gun out and put a silencer on it. "Time to die. Look away, kid."

The boy shut his eyes tightly as the shot echoed through the alley. The boy screamed as his mother's lifeless body hit the ground in front of him.

"Why did you hurt her?" The boy cried.

"My parents were also killed by criminals. It's ironic. I've now become a criminal myself, kid. I'll let you go." The man said before walking away, leaving the sobbing boy for the police to find.

"It's him again. He struck again," Megure said seriously. "I can't believe it...this is the sixth victim. Unusually enough, he left a witness alive."

He sighed. "It looks like we'll be needing the help of Kudou Shinichi again."