Kuroba Kaito steadied his cap on his head, taking in a deep breath.

"Hattori Heiji, age 17. The feisty and loud self-proclaimed high school detective and also the son of Hattori Heizo." His lips turned upwards as he stared his new yet familiar identity in the mirror. He glanced down at his watch before taking a last look in the mirror again.

"Gotta go now ya, or I'll b' late."

He tipped his hat low and tucked his hands into his sweater's pocket, quickly sneaking out of Kuroba Kaito's house and onto the street. Something he didn't want to do but having no choice, he walked passed the Nakamori residence, his chest suddenly felt a tad bit heavier than before. Although Kaito was trained for this and he easily put those unnecessary emotions to the back of his mind, his effort was like shoving the dust under the carpet. The feeling came back soon enough when he realized that Aoko wasn't here to nag him about every single thing he did anymore.

Today, there would be no ice cream, no chocolate parfait, not even ice coffee today.

The walk to Beika Street wasn't long and Kaito reached there before the time agreed. As he raised his head at the tall house that stated Kudo Residence, his mouth began to form a thin line.

Kaito had been to Hakuba's house a couple of times, not because he wanted to, but because of some school projects that he had no choice but to pair up with him. There was no way in hell he would agree to let that sly detective into his house, so he complied and went to his instead.

And both of the detective's house were equally humongous.

These detectives don't deserve such luxury. Kaito muttered in his head.

"Heiji-niichan!"

The said man froze but his shoulder slumped when he noted Conan skipping to his side. Sometimes, it was hard for him to imagine the brat as a grown teenager. Then again, Kaito couldn't imagine the day where he would stand outside this detective's house, waiting to be invited inside.

"You're late, ya."

"You're early." Conan chirped.

Kaito could see him bubbling with positive energy, which made him want to throw him off a bridge. This man, or child, fed on death and despair that made the remaining living people suffer, while he was all intrigued by the possible weapons and tricks the murderer used. Up till now, Kaito didn't tell him anything about his case, just the details of the meeting time and place. But judging by his joyful demeanour, he suspected Conan was excited that his brain could finally be active in this dead and boring summer holiday of his.

For Kaito, he would rather enjoy a cup of ice cream, a perfect chocolate ice parfait at the same old cafe with Aoko. That alone would be enough.

Conan fumbled with his keys, and pushed the huge gates open as they took their step inside the small garden before the house. Kaito would have took his own sweet time to look around so he could leave some of his specially home-made gifts behind, as a sign of appreciation for inviting him over. Maybe a booby trap that can spray cotton candy all over the plants, or his favourite purple and pink dust bombs that would activate whenever someone step on the expensive and classic looking garden tiles. (That was what he did to Hakuba's home last time.)

Now, Kaito was interested in nothing. He just want to hurry and get inside the house.

The living room was huge, the longs stairs looked domineering from the tall height. They made their way past everything and towards the door located at the other side of the house. Conan unlocked the door quietly but quickly, before sending Kaito inside.

Inside, it was not just a huge, but super tall library. Kaito grimaced at the number of books that piled up and all the way to the ceiling before wiggling his nose at the smell of leather.

What a nerd.

"No one can access this place, except for me and... Ran. She's off to meet Sonoko, so I doubt she'll come here." Conan propped himself up on a chair before a long desk. "This is the most private place I know, as your request."

Kaito stuffed his hands into the pocket, surveying the library one last time. "Is this some sort of tactic you used to impress her? Even I'm amazed."

"Are you here to talk shit or what?"

"I need your assistance in some things." Kaito took off his hat and set it on the desk.

Conan aligned all his fingers together, forming a web-like shape. He looked almost like his age for the first time, excited and bubbly like how a normal kid would act whenever they were happy.

"What is it?"

"Have you heard of this voice before?"

The detective raised an eyebrow, his silence encouraging Kaito to continue.

Kaito picked up a book that was conveniently on the table and flipped to a random page. He cleared his throat and readied himself. "The cries of the foul birds awoke the two sleepers who stared about them in bewilderment."

Conan quirked an eyebrow after Kaito stopped. The latter flicked his gaze over to the brat.

"So?"

"No. I haven't." He said, but the tone of suspicion wasn't hidden well.

Kaito shut the book with a hand and set the book back to its place. Much to his not-so-surprise, it was actually one of the Sherlock Holmes series.

"Or should I have known?" Conan added not long after the short silence.

"It's fine, no need to worry about it." Kaito was sure he got the low and gruff voice of the kidnapper right. And if Conan didn't hear it before, he didn't see the reason to repeat that disgusting voice again. He was a master at mimicking one's voice without any problem, but when he did it for this time, he could also hear the terror of Aoko's pleas that echoed in his head.

The oh-so-smart-and-observant detective narrowed his eyes. "I doubt so. What's the original words this person used?"

"Hmmm, I wonder."

Conan clicked his tongue. "Really?" His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Kaito turned and leaned against the table as he let his hand to run down his face, but not enough force to pull his disguise off. The words that were hanging on his tongue were pulling him down like gravity and he felt exhausted all of the sudden.

"Children... of the Kaitou Kid Task Force's members were kidnapped yesterday night." He whispered.

"What?" Conan lifted himself off his seat. "How many, and who?"

"Two. Aoko, and another boy, Arima. He's just four this year."

This simple information was all Kaito needed to say to send Conan widening his eyes so much that it could fall off any moment. The latter put a hand to his lips and began to bite his thumb's fingernail.

"Last night..." Conan clarified. "What's the exact timing?"

"1:13am."

Conan watched him from the corner of his eyes and resume in biting his nail again. "Are you suspecting it's someone from the Black Organization?"

Kaito wasn't sure what to answer because he honestly didn't know. He gathered and weighed all his answers and hopes and reached up to two conclusion. One was that he suspected and wished that they were in the hands of the Black Organization, so at least he knew who the enemies were. On the other hand, he wished it wasn't the case because he wouldn't want them to be hurt, if what Conan said about the organization he was dealing with was true; they were merciless.

"I don't know." He finally spoke his thoughts out loud.

"One thing I can confirm is that it's not the voice of anyone I know from the Organization, provided they didn't fake it." Conan gave a pointed look over at Kaito. "Besides, they have underlings. And that's one factor I wouldn't rule out."

"..."

"What's the deal? Money?"

"Kaitou Kid."

Conan shrank back into his seat. "Of course. Why did I ask?"

Staring at the little detective, Kaito felt like a kid all of sudden. Not a kid with super brain and stupid enhance kicking shoes, he was just a kid in a dark empty hole. He didn't know where to go anymore. What he feared from the moment he decided to be the ghost of his father was becoming a reality. Now, the gem he was seeking and yearning to destroy was becoming the least of his worries.

He wasn't the ghost of Kaitou Kid. Kaitou Kid had become him. He had become Kaitou Kid.

If Kaitou Kid remained, he would lose Aoko forever. If Kaitou Kid disappeared, technically, he would still lose Aoko forever, but not in a way that would stop her from doing lots of things that she once told him she wanted to do in the future, her future; cafe-hopping around Japan, travel around the world, eat lots of food...

"You're lost."

"Hmm? I'm currently inside Kudo's residence-"

"I understand that you're lost." Conan firmly repeated his point.

Kaito pursed his lips. The feeling might have been mutual at some point of their life. He understood. They understood.

Conan sighed. "Are you thinking of sacrificing yourself?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. It was a plan worth considering.

"I'm pretty sure Nakamori-san wouldn't want that."

"Ah." Kaito wagged his finger, a smile etched on his lips. "She doesn't give a damn about Kaitou Kid."

The detective gave a withering look. "I'm not sure if you've forgotten, but you're Kaitou Kid."

"You're missing the point." Kaito's smile faltered. He tried to keep it in place, but he couldn't. "She wouldn't give a heck about me if she knows who I am."

"Are you-"

Kaito chuckled. "The almighty Kaitou Kid, me." He placed a hand over his chest. "Do you think I'll just give up like this?"

Conan frowned.

Instantly, Kaito pulled out a scroll of papers out from his sweater and laid them on the long table before Conan. Without another word, the detective leaned forward to scrutinize the blueprints.

"What's this?"

"Blueprints of the building that my heist will be held at, in two days' time." Kaito already got it prepared a week before the Inspector came knocking onto his door yesterday night.

Conan slightly widened his eyes. "Why are you showing me this?"

"It's better for you to know the layout of the building, just in case."

"You trust me?"

Kaito lowered his gaze and blinked away the small hint of emotion that was about to reach his eyes before looking over to the blueprints again. "This isn't about trust. It's about choice. And I don't have a choice, that's why I'm here."

Conan scowled. "You make it sound like I'm the worst alternative."

"Not the worst, but definitely not the best." Kaito muttered under his breath. This was supposed to be his one-man show, the stage where he would stand alone. Now, people were constantly appearing on his stage. It irked him that the attention were on them and no longer fully on him; those attention weren't good, they were bad. And looked what happened. Because Aoko... Because Aoko came on his stage, she was in danger. And that kid too.

Why were they even captured in the first place? Where the hell were they before that?

The only thing Kaito could do was to brush away those thoughts and focused back on the papers before him.

"I need a distraction." He began.

Conan glanced up. "A distraction?"

Kaito solemnly nodded. "I need another Kaitou Kid."

When he was going to add in more details about his plans, he noticed that familiar glint in Conan's eyes, something Kaito didn't like whenever they were against each other. Now that he was on his side, he didn't know if he should feel good when Conan gave that kind of expression. And if Kaito listened carefully enough, he could almost hear the click in Conan's head.

"I've got a plan."

"A plan." Kaito repeated. It seemed like the detective had thought of something instantly when Kaito racked his brain for the entire night. But he wasn't ready to put all his faith on this small sized detective; after all, relying on his own was what he did best. But since he was here in this private room, in a place where he was exposed and trapped at the same time, it kinds of showed how desperate he was. All methods, all plans... as long as it would save Aoko and Arima, it was worth listening.

"Tell me all about it."

Then suddenly, Conan's face fell, but that brief hesitated look was written off by a plain expression, an impressive poker face that Kaito thought no one was capable of doing. Still, he already noticed something was off before that, and Kaito didn't bother to hide his observations.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You're hiding something."

"It's not important."

"Are you sure it's not important?"

The silence began to fill in. It was as clear as water that it was important, but Conan insisted on his stand and shook his head. Kaito had seen it more than enough times in Aoko's eyes to know what he had to do to unravel the answer. He would guess and guess and guess, and once there was a change of emotion that flickered in her eyes, he instantly knew. For Conan's case, there were limited choices for Kaito to guess, which made things much simpler.

"Is it about that girlfriend of yours?"

Conan tensed.

Aha.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I said it's nothing."

Kaito began packing up his blueprints.

"What are you doing?"

"Leaving."

"Why? You clearly need my help."

"And you're not available to do so." Kaito gave a pointed look. "Don't make it sound like you're the only source of support in this world for me. Like I said, you're not the worst alternative, at the same time, you're not the best either."

"If that's the case, you could have looked for the best straightaway." Conan challenged him.

Kaito snorted. He would have, but it was too troublesome. Hakuba was a pain in the ass, and they both studied in the same school, though if it meant that Aoko and Arima's safety were definite, Kaito was willing to do it. But once summer holidays ends and school starts, that horse would never let this go.

"Sort out your case before you talk to me." He turned and headed for the door. "I have no time to argue with you."

Jumping off his seat and skipping over to the door with his short legs, Conan stopped Kaito before he could exit the library. "Do you think I'll just sit there and do nothing after you've told me two people were kidnapped?"

He sighed. "I've regretted my choice. I'm wrong. You're useless to me. Are you happy now?"

"Like I said, I've already formulate a plan." Conan smirked. "And only I can do it."

The smug in his voice didn't go unnoticed to Kaito. He raised a suspicious eyebrow, unconvinced. Kaito wasn't underestimating Conan and his brain capabilities, but there's got to be a limit to it. And the fact that he claimed only he could do it, how brilliant was that marketing strategy to gain his attention?

"Oh really, smarty's-pants?"

Conan walked to the middle of the room with Kaito's eyes trailing behind him. "You said you needed a distraction."

"I did."

"I'll be your distraction."

"You?" Kaito didn't mean to sound mocking, but he couldn't help it.

"Yes. Me."

"Care to elaborate?" He snapped. Kaito was obviously not getting it. He needed a distraction, a legit Kaitou Kid where it would lure the kidnappers away and allow him to focus on getting Aoko and Arima back. Was this brat going to skateboard his way to the criminals' ass or something? Actually, that was a pretty good distraction when Kaito tried imagining it.

Conan bit his lips. "I have an antidote, and this antidote can allow me to grow back into Shinichi."

Now that wasn't what Kaito expected to hear. He blinked and blinked again.

"...What?"

"These pills doesn't come easy, and I can't use it often because-"

Kaito raised his hand, silencing Conan instantly.

"You have pills?" He gestured his arms upwards. "To make you grow back?"

"Yes. Science." Conan deadpanned.

There was nothing Kaito could say.

"Haibara Ai." Conan cast a wary glance over at Kaito. "You'vevisited her when I was in Osaka, haven't you?"

Kaito shrugged.

"And then there was trouble, but you dealt it for me." Conan's tone grew softer, like he was too shy to admit it. "And I owe you one for that."

"No. No one owes me favours." Kaito sighed inwardly, remembering how Aoko always told Kaitou Kid that. He hated how she felt that she owed him. He owed her so much more. "I do things because I wanted to. No one forced me."

"Still, things could have been worse if you're not there." Conan murmured. "Anyway, as I was saying. Haibara Ai. She's the one who created the pill."

"Then why are you still like this?"

"It's an antidote, not a cure." Conan said and Kaito could almost taste the disappointment coming his tone, though his face didn't show it.

It didn't take long for Kaito to infer what he meant. "How long does this antidote last?"

"Last time I checked, the duration for my sudden growth lasted for five hours. By calculating the numbers of times I've ate the pill and the total time I've been back to my old self, the longest bet for this time would be four hours, at most."

"And you can't use it often." Kaito repeated the words that Conan said previously before he cut the latter off. "I assume the effect grows weaker the more time you consume it?"

There wasn't any sarcastic replies or annoyed look. Just a simple nod.

Kaito took in a deep breath. "So your plan is-"

"My plan is that I'll transform into Kudo Shinichi and disguise as Kaitou Kid, like you wanted." Conan interrupted, seeming like he was afraid of Kaito from taking his glory away if he explains his plan out loud. "Let's say after they captured me, but after the fourth hour as Kudo Shinichi, I'll change back to Edogawa Conan and I'll escape with that identity. The last thing they'll expect is Kaitou Kid, an adult, to turn into a kid. Even if they handcuffed me, tied me to a chair or whatever, I can get out of it."

Kaito bit his lips.

"It worked before, with handcuffs." Conan added, as if it could increase Kaito's faith in this plan. "Although it wasn't intentional."

"That doesn't make sense."

This time, Conan shrugged. "I guess not. But it happened. It's up to you if you're on it."

"I've thought of other plans before." Kaito clutched onto the blueprints in his hands. Indeed, he stayed up the entire night to think of them before calling Conan. Although those strategies weren't entirely fool-proof, which was why he was here to consult in this little detective. Now that he knew of this information; a shrunken kid can turn into an adult and shrinking back again... That was indeed a better plan, one that he wouldnever think of.

"What is it then?" Conan tilted his head. It wasn't a challenging or mocking gesture, but sincere curiosity. Kaito shook his head.

"Forget it. We'll stick to yours." Kaito said before he narrowed his eyes. "But you need to tell me what's up with your girlfriend. Is there something you shouldn't do, or something you need to do for her?"

Conan's face fell. He sighed and brushed his fingers through his neat hair. "I can deal it myself. Saving the hostages is more important."

"It is more important than anything to me. But there are things that are more important to you too. Spit it out, or else I'll go my way."

"Are you threatening me?" Conan sneered. "You know I should be handling this situation, right?"

Kaito waved the blueprints in his hand. "You can't do shit without my instructions."

Conan growled.

"Ran's birthday is coming soon."

Kaito was taken aback but he hid his surprise well enough for Conan to not notice it. He began to dig out the data that was locked in the back of his head, and when the face of Ran came into view, information about her began seeping out of his memory box.

Ah. Mouri Ran's birthday. In a week time. Is it bad that her birthday is coming?

"I only got one antidote left." Conan explained with a sigh. "Haibara's still researching and she couldn't make the next batch anytime soon since she ran out of resources."

At that instance, realization dawned over Kaito. "You can only change into Kudo Shinichi once."

"Yes." Conan spat before looking up. "Are you happy with the answer now?"

"Obviously not." Kaito snapped back.

"Like I said, forget about me and Ran. We should focus on what's important."

Kaito wanted to retort, but he held back. There was no word that he could say to mend the situation or make anything better, other than shutting himself up and going with the plan. If Conan had nothing to say, what rights did Kaito had to go against it? Still, a trickle of guilt seeped through the crack of his conscious.

"If... that's the case." Kaito decided to say. "Then we'll act on it."

Conan nodded.

He was wrong to be selfish, but Kaito didn't have a choice. Even if he had to sacrifice himself, or the world, just to keep the people he had mistakenly involved in his mess to be safe, he would do it.

Yes, even if... even if his guilt was going against him as well.

.o.

Conan, no, Shinchi.

Kudo Shinichi.

Kudo Shinichi steadied his red tie around his neck, taking a deep breath.

Fifteen minutes had passed since he taken the antidote, five minutes had passed since he's stuck in this white suit.

"Your attire feels heavy." Shinchi tugged onto the hem of sleeves. "And stuffy."

"There's a price to pay to look suave in front of your audience." In his simple jeans and shirt, Kaito passed the monocle to Shinichi before he squatted back down to rummage through his kit of tools and materials that Shinichi couldn't bother to know.

Shinichi caressed the monocle in his hand, watching his own reflection staring back at him.

Sunday night came and as Conan, he told Ran he wanted to stay over at Professor Agasa's place. There wouldn't be school on Monday anyway, so Ran was more than happy to agree to his request.

"Is your Bluetooth working?"

Shinichi tapped one side of his ear, feeling the small little equipment etched inside his ear and nodded. "Working." In fact, it fitted perfectly, and much comfortable than those Agasa spared him before. He wondered where he got all these supplies of goods from, probably someone who would hit off well with Agasa.

He eyed down at Kaito who was still digging inside his bag and fiddling with his toys and such, but his back blocked his view to see what exactly he was doing. Shinichi sighed.

"What the hell are you finding?"

"Nothing of your concern."

Shinichi gritted his teeth. He wasn't expecting Kaito to change his attitude towards him even after doing such a big favor for him; Shinichi didn't need it anyway, since he owed him for saving Haibara that time. Still, he wished the magician could trust him just a tiny bit. Wasn't this a sign of trust already when he allowed him to be involved in this case?

Desperation. Shinichi reminded himself. He had been through that before.

He set the monocle onto his eye and glanced around, wondering if it would hinder his eyesight, but it didn't. Shinichi then looked down at his attire for the umpteenth time and glanced over at Kaito again.

"Do you feel great doing such things? Hearing those applause? Getting to touch those gems that's worth half of what the entire Japan's population is earning?" Shinichi blurted out. He wondered if his boldness suddenly came from wearing such an expressive suit. Still, it was a question he often asked himself every day. The mind of Kaitou Kid; Kuroba Kaito. It was something worth investigating.

Kaito didn't even flinch or react to his question. Instead, he still seemed focus with his bags of goodies.

"What about you? Do you miss being in your tiny self already? A better view of women's underwear I guess."

Shinichi glared. "Your nonsense is getting out of hand."

Kaito glanced over his shoulder and smirked before returning his attention to his kit. This wasn't the first time Kaito used careful and indirect words to turn the conversation away from him and onto Shinichi. Kaito might have thought it wasn't obvious, but it was something Shinichi noticed long time ago. He cleared his throat, determined to get the conversation back to how it was.

"My circumstances and yours are different; you're well-received and worshiped by thousands of people, I'm obviously not."

"Don't undermined yourself." Kaito glanced over his shoulders. "You're on the newspaper several times."

He did it, again. "You mean Sleeping Kogoro."

"Nemesis of Kaitou Kid." Kaito turned and frisbee-ed the white top hat as it landed safely on Shinchi's head, much to the latter's annoyance.

Shinichi felt the brim of the hat between his fingers. "This hat is ridiculous."

Kaito said nothing, just showing a small smile that tug on his lips. "Anyway, here's the replica." He handed the gem to Shinichi.

"The craft is flawless." Shinichi breathed out as he inspected the stone, eyes both wide. "I don't think I can tell if it's fake or not."

"Of course you can't." Kaito scoffed.

"How did you make this? Or rather, how did you get this?"

"Are you thinking of quitting your detective dreams to become a fake gem seller?" He chuckled while Shinichi rolled his eyes. "And you shouldn't ask questions to answers you don't want to hear."

"I want to hear."

"One of the ingredient to make this is dog poop."

"W-What?"

Kaito snickered. "There isn't anymore time to waste. Kaitou Kid's never late. You'll stay here."

"I know."

"And it'll be over in ten seconds."

Shinichi scoffed. "That's a record."

"Well, I wouldn't mind showing some tricks, but I can't afford to waste the time I have." Kaito lowered his gaze onto the ground, a small flicker emotion that Shinichi swore he saw was gone by the time Shinichi blinked. Before he could say anything, Kaito turned back to him.

"Regretfully, I'll be counting on you."

"Regretfully." Shinichi drawled.

With that, Kaito set a hat on his head, tipping it low to cover most of his features and picked up his kit before dashing up the stairs and out of the exit door on the next floor, leaving only the echo of his steps behind. Shinichi sighed and leaned heavily against the white wall, his attire blending in perfectly.

Not just from the still air and thick suit, the nervousness in Shinichi body was causing him to sweat. This wasn't the first time jumping into danger and risking himself in situations, but this was the first time he did it in this body. It was weird to say this body, like it was something foreign when this was the real him all along.

What if I can't even last for four hours?

Shaking his head, in hopes of getting rid of the pessimistic feeling that was slowly eating his conscious, he straightened his posture and cleared his throat. If he forced his body, he could last an extra ten minutes or so, and that should be enough for him to think of an alternate plan if danger was near. Besides, the worst outcome had been thought of and plans had been done to counter it so Shinichi had no excuse to be worried.

First thing first, he decided to relax himself. Kaito had made sure all exit doors could only be open from the inside of the stairs, so there wouldn't be anyone to disturb him for now. Shinichi tried to think of Ran, which was what he always did whenever he felt troubled, but he couldn't bear to do so when it reminded him that her birthday was just around the corner.

Furthermore, Haibara didn't know he was taking the last pill now. She only gave in to his request because he explained it was for Ran's sake, and now... Shinichi pinched the bridge on his nose. There were more problems coming after he fixed this case, and who was going to fix it?

He sighed. Rather than being troubled about things that had no relation to what he had to do, Shinichi decided to recall the past few days' events that lead to today.

Although it was his idea that lead to this plan, Kaito was the one who filled up the gap that was left. And every single word that Kaito said was already tattooed into his brain. So when Shinichi closed his eyes, replaying the plan they formed three days ago, Kaito's voice flowed out like a smooth melody.

"First, Kaitou Kid will appear to steal the jewel."

Shinichi felt the cold gem pressing against his white glove.

"Afterwards, I'll execute the escape, and you'll continue from where I am as planned."

The corridors, the windows, the emergency exits, everything in the blueprints were already etched in Shinichi's mind. He got a good memory, maybe not as great at Kaitou Kid's and that wasn't something he would admit out loud, but remembering the details of the building and escapes routes was considered easy for Shinichi to handle.

"Then, I'll disguise myself as one of the squad, to know where and when the exchange will occur. I'll contact you through Bluetooth again."

Unconsciously, Shinichi tapped on his ear.

"I'll keep a look out for you; the police and the kidnappers. The latter wouldn't act alone, so once I've got a clear shot of one of their men, I'll bring in the disguise to replace him and infiltrate their gang. Of course, sleeping gas. I'm not going to provide you murder cases to solve."

Shinichi took in a deep breath.

"And that's when the fun's going to start."