Four points of the same star
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Detective Conan .
A.N: A few minor changes have been made and mistakes have been corrected.
FOUR POINTS OF THE SAME STAR Chapter 15: Training and THE thief.
"Well, I've been thinking about this training sessions yesterday, after you left, and I have a worked out a kind of schedule in my mind but, I have to warn you, Conan: it will be tough. You want to learn in a few months what I have learned in two years. It's not going to be easy." Ryu looked at the little boy that was sitting on the bed opposite his."You'll have to work really hard."
Conan nodded firmly.
"I know what I going against, Ryu." he replied, smiling slightly, " Don't worry, I won't come and complain to you."
"You'd better not." Ryu remarked, grinning, "However, I have divided the training in two parts: one while you're Conan and another when you'll be Shinichi again. In the first part, you'll have to learn the basis, the theory if we can call it like that. I think it would put a big strain on you to do else: I mean, fighting and shooting are not suitable for a seven year olds body.
In the second part, you'll practice all the things you've learned. I think I'll be fully-recovered by then, so we can practice together. Well, this is a general idea. Any questions?"
"No, it's quite easy to understand." Conan said, " So, I'll start from the theory now, right?"
"Yes." Ryu replied, slowly getting up and reaching for his crutches. He walked towards the shelves and took a few books. "This should help you a bit." He tossed them to him.
Conan caught the books and looked at the covers. One was a handbook of a martial art: Jeet kune doh. The other was a self-defence one.
"Those are the books I used back in America." Ryu said, "You understand English, right?"
"Wha..? Yes, yes. I know it well." Conan replied, " I must read this two books and..."
"No, not read. You must master them." Ryu remarked, "There are detailed descriptions of the moves and pictures, too. You have to know everything that's inside those books because you'll have to try the moves on me when we'll be practising. All right?"
Conan nodded slowly: the thought that he had to read the two handbooks didn't scare him as much as the thought that he will be facing Ryu in a fight pretty soon.
"Ok, these regard the fighting." he said, "What about shooting?"
Ryu looked at him, raising an eyebrow.
"There aren't books that teach you how to shoot." he said, "Otherwise anyone could buy it and there would be plenty of mad killers around." He sat down on his bed and turned to Conan. "I'll have to teach you personally how to shoot."
Conan looked at him blankly.
"Sure, but we can't do it here. I mean, we must find a good place."
"I've already found one." Ryu said, "There's a rifle-range not far from here. We'll go there as soon as you'll be Shinichi. You know, they don't let kids inside."
"Well, in other words, I'll be doing everything after I take the antidote."
"Not really. There are a few things you have to do from now on. Everyday from now on."
"You mean besides reading these books?"
"Yes, but first I have to check out a thing..." Ryu got up again, " Do you mind locking the door?"
"S.. sure." Conan said, slightly confused. He got up and locked the door. In the meanwhile, Ryu walked to the centre of the room on his crutches. Conan's confusion increased.
"Ryu, what the...?" he began.
"Conan, stand in front of me." Ryu said, cutting him through.
The boy did as he was told to and waited.
"Listen, don't shout and don't worry." Ryu said.
"Wha...?" Conan began but quickly stopped.
He ducked quickly, avoiding one of Ryu's crutches. Ryu was balancing on one them and was using the other, sword-like, to hit Conan. Conan dodged and ducked another couple of blows but he noticed that Ryu's speed was incredible: he hardly avoided one blow, that another grazed him. Avoiding a blow on the head, Conan stumbled over a chair and was about to fall to the ground when Ryu grabbed just in time.
"Ok, I think this should be enough." he said with a slight smile.
Conan looked at him with annoyance and astonishment.
"What was that for?" he asked, sitting down on Agase's bed.
"Sorry, but it was the only way to test you and see what, but most of all where, you have to work on."
"Come again?"
"Well, I've analysed your abilities: you've got good reflexes, a good eye and you're very quick on your feet. I think it's due to your soccer training, right?"
Conan nodded, unable to speak: Ryu had found out all of this only in that minute while he was dodging his blows?
"I went to soccer training when I was a kid, so I've got an idea of what exercises you must have done." the blonde remarked, "You probably have a good physical stamina and good running speed. Well, that lowers the amount of work you have to do."
"Ehm, Ryu, do you mind to explain yourself better?" Conan asked, "What exactly should I do?"
Ryu looked at him and nodded.
"Yes, of course. I think that you should grow stronger in this first part of the training, so that you'll be able to face the second part with more ease... wait, don't interrupt." he said, stopping him, " I know, you're Conan now while you'll be Shinichi later but I don't think it would make any difference. I mean, when did you follow soccer training? Before your shrinking but despite that, you still have all your abilities. I think it should work also in the opposite direction."
"You mean that, if I keep in exercise now.. in this state, the effects on my body will not disappear when I'll be myself again?" Conan asked incredulously.
"Yes... at least, theoretically." Ryu said. "So, I've wrote down a series of exercises you should do everyday from now on. Here take this."
Ryu handed him a small piece of paper and Conan read it quickly.
"Well, running(5) ... exercises for abdomen and back(5x20) ..." he read, "Exercises for strengthening legs and arms(4x20)." He looked up. "Just these?"
"It will be enough." Ryu said, "You can't put to much strain on your body in this state. However, those are the basic exercises. The numbers show how much you have to do: five kilometres of running, five series of twenty for abdomen and back and so on. By the way, remember that you have to do a good warm up before doing those exercises."
"Ok, but you think it will be enough?"
"For a seven year old, yes. You can increase the number of exercises when you turn to yourself again."
Conan folded the paper and put in his pocket.
"Conan?" Ryu asked after a while, "Is it my impression or you want to keep this training secret?"
"Ehm.. yes. I don't want anyone to know about this. You'll keep the secret, right?" Conan asked.
"Sure, don't worry." Ryu replied, "Mind you, I'll have to keep the secret: if Rei or Agase find out that I'm teaching you how to fight and shoot instead of resting, I think they'll be able to tie to my bed." Conan laughed. "However, the fact the that we have to do everything secretly, limits our movements...Well, let's see... you can start those books here, this week, since we won't be working on the files. No one will notice... as for the exercises..."
"I can sort that out." Conan pitched in, "I'll find a suitable time."
"All right, that leaves the shooting theory... well, we could start that here, too. At least, the beginning and wait till after the antidote to go on." Ryu said, thoughtfully, "What do you think?"
"Sounds good to me." Conan said, eagerly. "When will we start?"
"Tomorrow. I'll give you a few hints on shooting. You'll have to read that books before we can talk about fighting."
"Ok, then, I'll start the exercises today and I'll start reading the books, too."
"Ok, see you tomorrow, then." Ryu said, smiling, "We'll see if you're in form or if you're out of conditions."
Conan grinned, heading to the door.
"A few exercises won't put me down." he remarked, "Bye."
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Conan got up the next morning, highly regretting his words.
He had stopped at the park last evening as he was going back to the Mouri's, and had done all the exercises Ryu had written on the paper. When he got back home, he was exhausted. Ran got worried, seeing him so tired and thought he was getting ill or something. He had spent half an hour, saying that he was fine, that it had been only a busy day and trying to stop her from checking his temperature.
However, that morning he moaned, getting up: all his muscles were aching. He wobbled to the door. 'Come on, Kudo.' he said to himself, 'You can't give up so soon.'
He straightened up, wincing as his back stretched, and left the room.
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"So, how did your first day of training go?" Ryu asked as Conan came in his room that afternoon, after school.
"Well... if I don't consider that my whole body aches when I only move." Conan replied, "I can say it has gone well."
"Muscles aching, right? Don't worry, it's normal. Your body will get used to the strain in another couple of days."
"Yeah, I know that but the point is hiding it from the others. Ran nearly forced me to bed yesterday when she saw how tired I was. She thought I was ill. I had to act this morning for not letting her notice my conditions and, thanks God, she didn't."
"What about Rei, Ai and Agase? Did they notice that you wince whenever you move?"
"Agase and the Detective Boys didn't but, obviously, Rei and Haibara did. I had to make up an excuse."
"That is..?"
"I said I fell down the stairs, knocked down by Kogoroh." Conan said, slightly embarrassed. Ryu stifled a laugh and winced slightly, putting a hand on his ribs.
"Well, what are we going to do today?" Conan asked, wanting to change subject. "You said you'll give me a few hints of shooting."
"Yes, but before that, where are Rei, Ai and Agase?"
"All downstairs: Agase in the lab, working on something, Haibara's working on the antidote while Rei's reading."
"Good, then lock the door and let's get started."
As Conan closed the door, Ryu opened a drawer of the desk next to his bed and took out his guns: a revolver and an automatic.
"You never used a gun, right?" Ryu asked and Conan shook his head, "But you know how a gun works. I'll only give you a quick description of these two, then. As a summary.
Ok, this is a revolver: it's got six shots and it's quite easy to fire with but there's inconvenient: the loading of the bullets. You have to carry the bullets loose with you and you have to be very quick when you load them, otherwise... well, you know what could happen. This kind of problems are inexistent for the automatic. It has twelve shots and you only have to carry spare chargers that are very easy to change. I can say that the only inconvenient is the shock wave. You see, this is the kind of gun where you put your finger on the trigger and it goes on shooting until you take it of again. If you're not careful, you'll find yourself thrown back by the shock wave. So, that's the general idea.. Pretty simple, no?"
Conan nodded.
Ryu picked the automatic and took of the charger. He then tossed the gun to Conan.
"Well, let's see how you hold a gun." he said.
"Why? There are different ways to hold one?" Conan asked, catching the weapon with his hands.
"Sure. Many ways. You can hold it with one or both hands: you know, it's important because it's the best way to see if the gun's well-balanced when you shoot and it also shows how much self-confidence you have when you fire. Then there are different positions, you can hold a gun: straight, slightly bended to a side... It depends on the way you take aim."
Ryu was doing every move he said with the revolver and Conan looked at him very carefully.
"How do you hold a gun?" he asked.
"In this way." Ryu replied. He took the gun in his hand, totally bended at the right. " I find it more comfortable this way: it's easier to take aim if the gun's cane parallel to my arm. Now, let's see, you."
Conan took the gun in his hands and stood up. He held the gun tightly with both hands and aimed at the window.
"I think... this is my way." he said to Ryu.
"Well, it's nearly all right.." Ryu remarked. He took one of his crutches and used it to lower Conan's arms a bit. "You have to keep your arms perpendicular to your shoulders or the shot will go above or below your target and... you should loose your grip a bit, yeah like that.. and... don't be so stiff on your legs: be supple." Ryu looked at him again and nodded. "Yes, that should do: you've found your position. Too bad we can't try it soon but.. never mind. Don't forget all these things, ok?"
"No, I won't." Conan replied, giving the gun back to him, "Don't worry. I don't want to forget."
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Two weeks later, Conan, Ai, Ryu and Rei were busy working again.
The files regarding the Organisation were nearly all worked out and classified in different sections in their computers and laptops and, as though it wasn't enough, they all had other works to do, too. Ai was busy with the final testing of the antidote, Ryu was working on the radar for his devices and Rei was checking out all the material regarding the Organisation and working on the very last files. Conan helped here and there when he was down at Agase's house but he had his own work, too.
He had to find Kid.
They had found a few files regarding him and it seemed that he was not an ally but another victim of the Black Organisation. However, since they weren't totally sure about this, they had to find some clues and this was Conan's job: he was the only one that had actually met or talked to Kid and, since he lived at the Mouri's detective agency, he had more chances than the others to find him. As this wasn't enough, he also had to go on with his training. Ryu helped him too since he was feeling lots better: the wound hadn't healed perfectly yet, but the ribs' ache had gone and he hardly used the crutches to walk.
The boys spent a lot of time in Ryu's room, apparently to work on the radar: truly it was only an excuse... well, in part. Ryu worked on the radar while Conan finished to read the books Ryu had given him and even, tried out a few moves. Ryu corrected him, if necessary.
The girls didn't notice this situation at the beginning: the first week, Ryu had been forced by Agase to rest in his room without working; so, when Conan said that he went upstairs to see how Ryu was doing, they didn't say anything. They thought he only wanted to keep him company and they also said that it didn't matter if he didn't help them.
But the second week, Rei and Ai were becoming a bit suspicious: the boys closed themselves in Ryu's room for about an hour every afternoon. When they came out to help them, later, they would only say that they had been working on the radar.
"Shinichi, Ryu, you're not hiding something, are you?" Rei asked them once.
"Wha..? No.. no, Rei." Conan answered quickly.
"Really, Rei, we're only working on my radar." Ryu added, smiling.
She stared at both the boys, making them feel slightly uncomfortable. Fortunately, Agase had called.
"Hey, can someone come and give me a hand?"
"I'm coming." Ryu and Conan said together and left the lab. Rei looked at them leave and then, turned to Ai, who was working next to her and had heard every word.
"Do you have the feeling that they are lying or hiding something?" she asked, turning her laptop back on.
"Yes. I wonder what, though." she replied.
Rei just shrugged and went on with her work.
That evening, Ryu talked to Conan before he left.
"Listen, are you sure you want to keep your training secret?" he asked.
"Wha..? Yes. Of course." Conan replied, "Why do you ask?"
"It's just that.. I don't like lying to the girls.. and, by the way, they could help you, too. I mean, Rei and Ai have had a good training: one in FBI and the other in the Organisation."
"Ehm.. no... I prefer not." Conan replied, slightly embarrassed.
Ryu understood right away.
"Come on, Ai will never understand that you're doing all this for her." he stated with a smile.
Conan turned bright red.
"Wha..?" he stammered, "How... you... know.. ?"
"It was pretty obvious, you know? The way you look at her and everything. I've noticed it even more in these last weeks."
Conan looked at him.
"Please, don't tell her." he said.
Ryu smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry. I won't say a word about your training or about.. your feelings." he said, grinning at the other boy's red face.
Conan nodded gratefully.
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'How do the others already know my feelings when I figured them out only a few weeks ago? After a night's thinking, in addition?' he thought as he was going back to the Mouri's, after his hour of exercise at the park. He was still mulling over this thoughts when he opened the door.
"I'm back, Ran-neechan!" he called.
Ran rushed towards him, fully-dressed and with her coat on.
"Conan-kun, you're finally back." she said, "Listen, we have to go with Dad: Inspector Megure has just called and he needs his help."
Conan groaned inwardly. He was exhausted and the last thing he needed was to work on a case that would only give merits to Kogoroh.
"What about dinner?" he asked, looking at the empty table.
"Don't worry: Dad said he'll solve the case quickly and then take us out for dinner." Ran said, smiling at him.
'Uhm, a good dinner... maybe I should go.' Conan thought as his stomach rumbled, 'No, wait... knowing Kogoroh, he'll only buy rice with condiments... Better stay home: I'll heat one of that tin soups that are in the cupboard and then go to sleep.'
"But, Ran-neechan, I'm very tired." he began to say, in his "childish" voice, rubbing his eyes slightly, "Maybe, I should stay ho..."
But Ran wasn't listening to him: Kogoroh had just marched in the room, holding a small piece of paper and shouting.
"WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS!" he yelled, "WHY SHOULD GREAT DETECTIVE MOURI WASTE HIS TIME WITH THESE RIDDLES!"
"Dad, calm down." Ran said, approaching him. "You'll surely figure out what Kaitou Kid's message means."
Conan quickly turned his head to them as he heard "Kid".
"Ran-neechan, Kid's involved in the case you were talking about?
"Yes, he sent this message to the police station. Look." she said, taking the note from Kogoroh's hand and showing it to Conan.
The little boy took the small, white card. The message was written in silver letters.
Among the shining things even the stars,
among the precious things even life.
When the clock keeps the tenth word,
from the highest of towers
I come to claim my prey.
The last wizard of the century.
Phantom thief Kid.
Conan read it again, memorizing the words.
"Hey, brat, that's my only clue. Give it back." Kogoroh said, taking the card out of his hands. "Why does he have to come, anyway?" he asked, turning to Ran.
"Come on, Dad. We can't leave him alone at home." she retorted.
"Yes, I don't want to stay home alone." Conan pitched in, using his best "childish" voice, "And I also want to see Mouri-oujisan solve another case."
'Oh God, look what I have to say to go with them.' he thought, in the meanwhile, 'I really hope Kid's there..'
Kogoroh looked at the boy and gave a boastful laugh.
"Yes, why not?" he said, "You'll see detective Mouri solve another case brilliantly. I'll catch Kid."
Conan had a smile plastered on his face but inside, he was fighting hard not to laugh out.
'You? Catch Kid?' he thought, 'Yeah, in your dreams...'
The three left the agency shortly after and headed to the jeweller's shop where the message had been found.
Inspector Megure greeted Kogoroh and took him inside while Ran and Conan had to wait out.
' Let's see.. it's all in the message.' Conan thought, 'If I understand what it means, I'll also manage to foresee Kid's moves. Well, Among the shining things even the stars, among the precious things even life. When the clock keeps the tenth word, from the highest of towers, I come to claim my prey.
What could it mean? He surely wants to steal one of the jewels inside this shop, but which one? There are hundreds in there... And he could be disguised. He could take advantage of a moment of distraction to take the stone and disappear...
Let's see, the rest of the message. When the clock keeps the tenth word... At ten o'clock! What's the time now?' He quickly looked at his watch: nine thirty. 'Damn it, only half an hour. From the highest of towers... a high building... of course!' Conan looked around and noticed a high office building, opposite the jeweller's shop. It had a large rooftop, too. 'Well, that's the spot: I think he'll go away from there. Well, I figured out everything... except the most important thing: what Kid wants to steal. The police won't let me in and I don't know what kind of precious stones are in this shop... what can I do? I can't waste this opportunity to face Kid.'
Then, something clicked in his mind: someone else could give him the information he needed.
"Ran-neechan, I'm thirsty. I'll go and get me a drink in the vending machine over there." he said, pointing to the street, next to where they were. "Do you want something?"
"No, thanks, Conan-kun." she replied, "But come here quickly: it's dark and I don't want you to hang around alone."
"Yes." he said, and sped away.
As soon as he was out of sight, Conan took out his earring phone and hid behind a post.
'I hope they'll help me.' he thought, dialling the number as fast as he could.
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Rei, Ryu and Ai were all working in the lab when Agase hurried in.
"Shinichi-kun's on the phone." he said, "He wants to talk to you: it seems urgent."
The three looked at each other and rushed to the living room. Ryu took the phone.
"Hello? Conan, what's wrong?" he asked, slightly concerned but he soon changed tone and expression when he heard what the other said. "What? When? Ok... but what should we do? Uhm, uhm... all right, hang on."
Ryu turned to Rei.
"Pen and paper... " he mouthed, "Write down."
She nodded and went to get them. Ai, in the meanwhile, was wondering what was going on.
Rei appeared a few moments later with a notebook and a pen and gave them to Ryu.
"Conan? Go ahead." He began to write down what Conan was saying on the phone. "All right. I've wrote down everything. By the way, how much time do we have? What? Ok, we'll hurry up. Hear you in ten minutes, then. Bye."
Ryu hung up and turned to Rei and Ai.
"We have some work to do." he said, "And we don't have much time."
"What's going on?" Ai asked.
"Phantom thief Kid has showed up." he said quickly, "It seems that he wants to steal something from a jeweller's shop. Conan's already there with the Mouri's."
"Ok, but why did he call us?" Rei asked.
"Kid has sent the jeweller and the police a message: this message." He handed the notebook to the girls and as they read it, he continued. "Conan has figured out nearly all of it: the theft will happen at ten o'clock and he also has an idea from where Kid will escape. The point is that he doesn't know what Kid wants to steal: the police has blocked all the entrances and he can't go in the shop to see if there's anything special that attracts Kid's attention."
Rei looked up.
"I think I understand: he want us to find out what precious stones are in that shop." she said, "It should be easy to get the list of the jewels, doing a research on internet."
"All right, but we don't have time: the theft's at ten o'clock and it's already nine forty." Ryu remarked.
"Ok, I'll do that." Rei said, going to the lab, "I'll try to be fast."
"Ai, we'll have to figure out what the first lines of the message mean." Ryu said, turning to her, "Conan's working on them, too: he thinks that they hide a clue about the jewel."
"All right. Let's see, then." she replied.
Among the shining things even the stars,
among the precious things even life.
Ryu and Ai worked on these two lines but without success: they had only a few hints.
"Well... shining and precious: it's sure that there referred to the jewel. But the rest..." Ryu said.
"I think we should work on... stars and life." Ai said, "It could be the name of the stone."
"Yeah, could be. Let's see when Rei brings the list... there goes the phone: it must be Conan."
He got up and took the phone.
"Hello? No, not yet: Rei's still working on it. By the way, did you figure out the message? Uhm, uhm, Ai thought the same, too. No, we don't... hang on, Rei's coming. Wait on line, ok?"
Ryu put the receiver on the table and turned to her.
"You got the list?" he asked.
"Yes, I got all the names." she said, showing him a few sheets of paper.
"We have to check if there's any stone that has "stars" or "life" in it's name." he said.
Ai, Ryu and Rei began to scan the list with their eyes to see if there was a stone with the characteristics they were looking for.
"Nothing in this paper." Ryu said, after a while.
"Neither in this one." Ai said and she turned to her side, "What about you, Rei?"
Rei didn't answer: she was still reading her sheet of paper. Suddenly, she looked up.
"Ehm, my French isn't very good but... étoile means star, right?"
"Yes, it means star." Ryu answered, "What did you find?"
He approached her and looked at the list.
"Look here, the seventh name on the third column." Rei said, pointing at the paper, "Etoile de vie"
"Star of life." Ryu translated, "It must be that. I'll tell Conan."
He picked the receiver.
"Hello? Yes, the stone's name is Etoile the vie". Kid's probably after that. Listen, we're not sure if he's really not involved with the Organisation, so be careful. Just talk to him... or at least, try to talk to him. Ok, then... Bye."
He hung up and turned around.
"We'll see what has happened tomorrow." he said.
"I hope he'll make it." Rei remarked, "He has only got ten minutes."
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As soon as he received the information from the others, Conan dashed back to the jeweller's shop and informed Inspector Megure (Kogoroh wouldn't have bothered at his words). He told him the real meaning of the message and that the theft would have taken place at ten o'clock.
Inspector Megure put policemen on guard at every entrance and door sure that it should stop 1412. Conan didn't think so: Kid was a master in disguise and was pretty good with his magical tricks, too but Megure said that he knew what he was doing, so arguing was useless...
At ten o'clock sharp, everyone was ready inside and outside the jeweller's: they were all waiting for Kid. Suddenly, a white smoke screen erupted from the shop, enabling all the people inside to move or see. When the smoke disappeared, they jewel "Etoile de vie" was gone and the policemen in guard in front of it's location wasn't there anymore. The policeman was Kid.
"Find him, quick!" Inspector Megure shouted to his men. "He still must be around."
Ran was waiting outside with her father.
"Damn Kid." Kogoroh muttered, "He was hiding among us. Well, we can't do anything now: the police has to find him. "We can go home."
Ran nodded and turned around.
"Conan-kun, we have to... Conan-kun?" she called, looking around, "Conan-kun, where are you?"
The little boy was not there anymore.
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"I made it also this time."
A young man was standing on the edge of the roof.
He was wearing a silvery-white suit with a white cloak and a white top hat. A single lens covered his left eye. He was smiling slightly to himself as he saw the mayhem he had caused down: people, policemen, were running here and there on the street.
He put his hand in his right pocket, drawing out something that he held up high, as though wanting to get a good look of it.
The bright full moon's light flooded the rooftop, making the object in the man's hand sparkle. He watched it carefully, waiting something that didn't seem to come. He sighed sadly.
"This is not the right one." he said, softly. Then, he looked down at the street, "Maybe, I should give it back. They seem to want it back very soon."
A small smile flickered on his face.
"Enjoying yourself, Kid?"
The young man turned around at the sound of the voice: he wasn't scared or worried. On the contrary, the smile on his face widened.
"Hey, Meitantei-san." he said to the little boy standing a few feet away from him, "You're here, too."
"Don't play with me, 1412. You knew I was here from the beginning."
Kid smirked.
"Oh well, it seems that you know me well." he remarked, "By the way, how come you didn't stop me as usual? You know it's boring to win a challenge without a fight."
Conan smirked this time.
"Really? Maybe next time." he said, "I have to talk to you, Kid."
"You? Talk with me?" Kid asked, amused, "Since when detectives and thieves have something to talk about?"
"Well, they could if they have a common objective." Conan remarked.
Kid looked at him with an eyebrow raised and Conan noticed a glint of alarm in his eyes.
'Well, it's now or never.' he thought.
"I came here to ask you if you know anything about a criminal group called Black Organisation." he said and stared at the other.
Kid looked at him and shook his head.
"Sorry, meitantei-san." he replied, "I never heard of them."
"Are you telling the truth?" Conan asked suspiciously.
"Why should I lie?" 1412 retorted.
"All right, then tell me why do they want you dead?"
This time Kid didn't answer: he just looked at the little boy.
"Listen, I can't stay here for long." he said, after a while, " The police will notice that I'm here, sooner or later."
"You can go after you answered my questions." Conan said coolly.
"Ok, but you tell me this first." Kid said, "Why do you want to know?"
Conan thought this over: he didn't know if Kid was an ally or an enemy. If he told him the truth, Ryu, Rei and Ai could be in danger because of his carelessness.
But, maybe, if he only exposed himself...
"All right. You know who I am, right?" he asked seriously.
"Conan Edogawa, the little kid that lives with Detective Mouri and Ran-san." the other replied with a smile.
"I mean.. who I really am."
"Oh, that... well, you're Shinichi Kudo."
"Did you ever tell anyone?"
"No, I didn't: I gave you my word, remember? I might be a thief but I have my sense of honour."
"Good. However, the Black Organisation is responsible for my actual state: they are the ones that shrank me."
Kid looked amused.
"And here I thought it was just a clever disguise." he remarked.
"Look that it's not a game." Conan retorted with annoyance, "They don't know that I've become a kid. They think I'm dead. If they found out the truth, they'll come to finish me."
The other boy's eyes widened slightly.
"I see. That's why you don't want anyone to know who you are." he said, "And why you asked me not to say a word about you when we met on the cruise ship."
FLASHBACK
"Well, Meitantei-san, you've found me again." 1412 said.
"Where is Ran?" Conan asked, "Why do you always disguise as her?"
"Don't worry. I didn't touch Ran-san. She's there asleep." he replied, pointing to a spot a few feet away from where they were.
Conan rushed to her and shook her slightly.
"Ran, Ran wake up." he said, "It's me."
The girl wasn't totally conscious: her eyes were blurry and she felt drowsy. However, she realised that someone was calling her but she mistook the voice.
"Shi... Shinichi?" she asked feebly.
"Yes, it's me." Conan answered, without realising what he was saying. Fortunately, Ran fell asleep and didn't hear his words.
Kid did, though.
"Shinichi?" he said, "Don't tell me you're the famous Shinichi Kudo?"
Conan turned around very slowly.
"Don't tell anyone, Kid." he said. "Swear that you won't say this to anyone. No one must know."
Kid looked at him and nodded.
"Don't worry, meitantei-san. I won't tell anyone if it's so important for you. I don't want you to get mad with me otherwise who will I challenge next time." he said, a grin spreading on his face.
Conan just smirked back.
END FLASHBACK
"So, the people that shrank you, would kill you if they found out you're still alive. Kid remarked.
"Exactly." Conan said, "But what I want to know is why they want you."
"I only know that someone wants me: I don't know who they are."
"Why are they so keen to kill you?"
"That's personal, meitantei-san. I can't tell you." Kid said with a sad glint in his eyes, "Well, if you're finished, I'll go..."
Conan looked at him: he seemed sincere. Ryu's words came to his mind.
'If you're sure that he's not an enemy, then tell him the truth: about the files about him and about us. He could help us, too... All right, then. Here I go.'
Conan looked up at Kid.
"Kid, the phantom thief surfaced for the first time 18 years ago in Paris, and for 10 years since then he has been eluding the police and capture." he said in a clear, cool voice, "However, he disappeared for unknown reasons, and many thought he had died." Kid slowly turned around and looked at him.
"Now, Phantom thief Kid has come back but he's not the same one of eight years ago. That Kid was Toichi Kuroba, the famous magician. He had been murdered by the Black Organisation when interfering in their plans. I... we think that the actual Kid has taken his place to finish his work and probably to find his murderers. We have done a few researches and it seems that Toichi Kuroba had a son: that son took up the role of the mysterious thief." Conan looked at Kid straight in the eyes.
"Am I right, Kaito Kuroba?" he asked.
Kid didn't move: he just stared at the little boy with an mingled expression of shock and surprise.
"How.. do you know all of that?" he asked finally.
"We have done a few researches." Conan answered simply.
"We?"
"The Organisation doesn't want only us dead. I have three friends that are in our same condition."
"And how did they find...?" Kid began but Conan cut across him.
"Kid, that's why I'm here now." he said, seriously, "It seems that we're all involved with the Organisation: so, I'm here to make you an offer. My friends and I are working to bring the Organisation down and send all its members to jail. We have material and information to weaken it but not the definite clue to bring it down."
"What do you want from me?" Kid asked.
"You know things that we don't know and we know things that you don't know." Conan replied, " If we join forces, we might be able to get the final information we need."
"You are asking me to work with you?" Kid asked, "On the same side?"
"Yes. What's your reply?"
"I.. have to think about it." 1412 answered, "By the way, are these friends of yours trustworthy?"
Conan grinned.
"I'd trust them with my life." he said.
Kid looked at him and smiled. He pulled a rope in his suit and a hang- glider appeared, like magic, on his back. Before stepping down from the roof, Kid turned to Conan.
"I'll show up, Meitantei-san. It might not be so bad to help you and your friends." he said, smiling.
"You know where to find me, Kid." Conan said with a smile.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Kid put a hand in his pocket, drawing out something. He tossed it to Conan, "Here, give it back."
Conan caught it and held it to the light to inspect it.
It was tonight's theft: the jewel "Etoile de vie".
"See you soon... Kudo."
"See you soon... Kuroba."
Kid jumped from the rooftop and flew away on his hang-glider.
Conan smiled to himself and looked at the jewel in his hand. He shook his head and went back down to the street. Ran was probably looking for him.
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The next afternoon, Conan informed the others of his talk with Kid.
"So, he said he'll show up, right?" Ryu asked.
"Yes, that's what he said." Conan replied.
"We only have to wait, then." Ai added.
They were all in the lab, doing their own works. While Conan, Ai and Ryu were talking, Rei was busy typing something on her laptop. Suddenly, she got up and shut the laptop. The other three jumped.
"Rei? Something wrong?" Ryu asked.
"Were we disturbing you with our talking?" Conan asked, "I thought you were listening too."
"Yes, I was listening." Rei replied, approaching them, "And no, you weren't disturbing me. There's a good news."
"What?" they all asked.
Rei smiled.
"All the files have been worked out. " she replied.
Ryu got up.
"We can send them to Matt, then." he said, "He'll start to stop the Organisation's activities from America."
"Yes, we can officially say that part three of the plan is going to start soon" Rei added.
Conan, Ai, Ryu and Rei looked at each: the final step of the plan was going to start.
The Organisation's days were counted.
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Another chapter's up! I hope you liked it. You know, at the beginning I didn't have in mind to put Kid in the story: I don't know much about him and I didn't want to make mistakes (All the fans of Kaitou Kid would have killed me!), but then, I thought that I could give it a try. I'm kind of thinking to put all the characters I know in this story and I didn't want to skip Kid. So, if there are any mistakes, please tell me and I'll correct them.
REVIEW!
Bye!
