Chapter 4: Recollections

Bouncing out of the house, Kaito waved farewell to his mother. At 21 years of age, people might think that it was weird for him to still remain in his parents' house and not move out already. He himself had thoughts of moving out, but whenever he would try to broach the subject with his mother, he couldn't seem to open his mouth.

Sighing, Kaito's hype from this morning died down a little as he walked towards the train station. His mother may not admit (may never admit it), but he knew that she missed his father with the same intensity she had missed him for 13 years now. Coming back to their house where she knew Kato was there to welcome her home lessened some of her longing, but it was never enough. She may no longer be hurt as deeply as before, but she still missed him.

And Kaito missed him as well.

That house was where his father used to practice his tricks, where they used to play around the house playing pranks against each other, and where he was greeted by his family after every successful performance. Until that fateful day when his father just couldn't go home anymore.

Boarding the train, Kaito pulled down his hat on his head a bit lower to hide his face.

It was all that Organization's fault.

After 5 years of collaboration with his Tantei-kun, they had finally managed to bring down the Black Organization. It had only been successful because of Tantei-kun, and his contact: Vermouth. At first, Kaito refused to work with the woman. Especially when he learned that the former actress had his father as her mentor of disguises.

To him, learning that one of his father's apprentice used the skills she had learned for the Organization that had killed his father was devastating. He couldn't keep up his Poker Face for long whenever he had to witness her disguise skills; everytime she used them, he was reminded of her late father, and the flames as it covered his father's body from his sight. It had sparked one of his biggest fights with Tantei-kun.

"I'm not going to work with her." KID smiled, but Conan could see that it was a sharp smile, one that could cut you if you got too close.

Conan sighed, ruffling his hair in frustration. "I know it's going to be hard—."

"No, Tantei-kun", KID cut in, "you don't know at all."

Conan seethed. "I have already considered many other options before I asked you, KID. I wouldn't have asked you to do this if I thought anybody else could do it. Don't question me."

KID raised an eyebrow, "Do not forget, Tantei-kun. I may have offered my help, but that doesn't mean that I cannot retract it. I am not working with this woman, and that is my final answer."

"Using you for this operation is the only choice if we want to make sure everybody gets out alive! Put away your anger just for this one operation, idiot!" Conan snapped, nearly shouting as his frustration with the thief raised.

KID glared at him, monocle flashing in the light as his one visible eye burned with anger, "Then what? You want me to risk my life with her? I'm not going to do that." Kneeling down to the boy's height, he continued, "I'm going to leave her behind if I think it's convenient to do so, and I'm not going to regret it one bit."

Conan stayed silent for a few seconds, eyes staring out from behind those dorky glasses as he tried to figure out how serious the thief was with his words.

Finally, in a faint voice, he replied, "There's nobody else I trust but you to do this."

And that was that.

Kaito sighed as he remembered the serious face of his detective that night. He thought it was unfair that Conan just had to speak a few words and he'd be willing to do whatever he asked. He had managed to curb his anger and perform his role perfectly, and though he may not be able to be as companiable to Vermouth as Conan was, he was able to converse with her pleasantly enough.

It was Vermouth after all, who had revealed that Snake was not with the Black Organization that Conan was hunting down. Rather, their Organization was simply one of the many other organizations that was under the Black Organization.

"That makes complete sense." Conan murmured.

"What?" KID replied, still stricken with the idea that Vermouth had information about the people that had murdered his father.

"Snake is sloppy, and had already allowed you to see him way too many times. If Gin heard about it, Snake would have been dead long ago." He explained.

Vermouth smiled, a very sarcastic smile that made KID raise his guard up instinctively. "The only reason why Gin still hadn't heard about it was because of their boss. Anokata was the type to get rid of problems immediately, but Panther couldn't afford losing any of his agents. The moment Gin hears about this, you wouldn't even have to lift a finger to destroy them."

Conan stiffened at his side. "Gin would annihilate them immediately."

"Correct, my Silver Bullet."

"That's what you're here for aren't you; Gin is about to receive his orders to destroy them, and you want us to know about it."

KID narrowed his eyes in thought. "It will give us a chance; while Gin is busy destroying them, we might be able to get one up over the Black Organization themselves."

"Very good, my Phantom!" Vermouth mockingly clapped her hands at him.

"Do we take that chance?" KID asked Conan. He knew that Conan would rather catch them alive, but he also knew that they couldn't let this chance go by.

Conan thought for a moment, before raising his head to look at the thief, "What do you want to do KID?"

He was taken aback. "You're the brains of this operation, Tantei-kun. I am merely here to provide support."

Conan glanced at Vermouth, who tilted her head at the silent order before leaving the room. When the door closed, Conan looked at KID once more. "The Black Organization is my problem, and that means that your organization is also part of my problem. But you have a personal problem with Snake, and I can't just make a plan without including you in it."

Eyes softening in comprehension, KID walked over to the chair Conan was sitting on before kneeling. Taking Conan's hands into his, KID spoke, "I want him gone, Tantei-kun. Snake is the representation of the death of my father, and every heist I hold, I have to constantly be reminded that Snake can kill me anytime. I live in fear waiting for him to connect the dots and figure out that Kaitou KID had a son."

Tightening his grip, KID looked up at Conan. "But I also know that I want him to pay for his crimes completely. And death would not be the answer to that."

Conan held his gaze for a long moment before squeezing his hands that were wrapped around his small ones.

"I'll catch him for you."

"There's nobody else I trust but you to do this." KID repeated, and Conan smiled.

As the train pulled up to Beika, Kaito squeezed his hand shut. Later, one Kurosaki Ken was seen leaving the train, and no sign of Kuroba Kaito.


A/N: So I was planning to torture Shin-chan, but Kaito decided to stroll down memory lane. I couldn't stop him. Damn it, I'm making him blush on the next chapter. YOU JUST WAIT KAITO! Also, sorry for the wait, I was... doing something. More likely procrastinating. Yep.