The Rangers, Kogoro, Nina, Ryu, the Samurai, Amuro, Jirokichi, Ginzo, and Sonoko were present outside a hospital room. All were standing but Ginzo was sitting on a chair, his face buried in his hands.
They were all waiting for the doctor to leave Aoko's room and tell them her condition.
"So Charlie was actually a criminal?", Jirokichi asked Dan in disbelief.
"Yeah, he was a hunted criminal back in New York 10 years ago. Bastard had plastic surgery, changed his whole identity with papers and all, and became a police officer.", Dan explained.
Jirokichi then turned to Ginzo and bowed. "This is all my fault, Nakamori-", He started to say, feeling guilty.
"You wouldn't have known.", Ginzo interrupted, his voice emotionless.
Dan had told Kogoro, Ginzo, Kid, and the Rangers to never mention anything about Charlie being named Cognac or transforming into a Lion, explaining that he must have been a lab rat to an illegal research lab, and those do exist, and he had encountered them before while working with the police.
"To think that a guy who is supposed to be the one capturing the bad guys, is actually a bad guy.", Sonoko mumbled in disbelief.
"Gin-chan!". Ginzo winced before he raised his head slowly to face his wife, who came running at him, her face filled with worry and panic.
"What happened to Aoko?!", Nakamori Midoriko cried, "I received your text message at work and I instantly came here!".
Ginzo found himself unable to explain. That Snake guy had clearly said why he did this to Aoko, to push him to kill Kaitou Kid, so he felt responsible for what happened to his daughter.
"Nakamori-san, let me explain.", Dan said and he explained what happened briefly to Midoriko. The woman gasped as covered her mouth with her hand before she sat on the chair next to Ginzo, crying silently. The police officer just put an arm around her, refusing to look at her.
"Nakamori-Keibu! Nakamori-san!". Ginzo raised his head to see Kaito, now wearing casual clothes, running towards him.
"I came as soon as Hakuba told me.", Kaito panted.
"Aren't you sick with a cold? You should be home in bed.", Ginzo said, also concerned that the boy he treated like a son came while he was sick.
"I took my medications before coming.", Kaito said, "I couldn't just sit around after knowing what happened to Aoko.".
Ginzo said nothing and looked ahead.
Kaito looked at the two parents who were nearly broken from what happened to their daughter, and he remembered what happened to Aoko. All of that wouldn't have happened if Ginzo was interested in Kid if Kid didn't exist.
If he hadn't become Kaitou Kid.
Kaito's thoughts were interrupted by Nina pulling him into a hug.
"It's not your fault.", She said sternly. Kaito said nothing and remained silent before he returned the hug.
"She'll be okay, I promise.", Nina said before her eyes narrowed as she thought, 'And every single Black Organization member will pay for all that they've done….'.
"I hope so.", Kaito mumbled before Nina let go of him.
"Who is that?", Makoto asked making Kaito look behind him and frown. Akako was walking towards them.
"I came as soon as I heard, is Nakamori-san okay?", Akako asked.
"Like you actually care.", Kaito mumbled bitterly making Akako glance at him. She then looked at Saguru, and she did her best not to look sad, since Saguru refused to look at her, and he didn't even comment on her arrival.
The Doctor left Aoko's room, causing Midoriko and Ginzo to jump to their feet, demanding to know Aoko's condition.
The Doctor had explained that Aoko was safe, and awake now in her room, but she received stitches for her injuries and said that she could be visited now.
Ginzo and Midoriko didn't need to be told twice, and entered the room, with Akako, Saguru, and Kaito following them.
As soon as Ginzo and Midoriko saw Aoko, sitting upright in bed, a bandage wrapped around her head, her facial expression dull, they instantly hugged her together, while the teens just stood behind watching.
"I'm okay…", Aoko assured her parents for the hundredth time, but her dull voice tone wasn't helping them. The two grabbed nearby chairs and sat next to her.
"No, you aren't, sweetie. You don't have to say they just to not make us worried.", Midoriko replied, trying to remain calm for her daughter's sake.
"Aoko, who did this? What happened?", Ginzo demanded to know.
"I don't know… I was just walking towards the bus station, but someone grabbed me and they took me into a nearby alley…", Aoko said numbly, "They beat Aoko hard because she did her best to resist them… When Aoko woke up, she was at the top of the building… they were all wearing masks and used voice distortion…".
Ginzo cursed under his breath while Midoriko swore to find those men.
"I'm so sorry, Nakamori-san. I should've picked you up.", Akako spoke up, feeling guilty for what happened to the girl. Aoko then noticed that not only Akako was there, but also Saguru and Kaito, who for some reason glared for a second at Akako.
"You said your father was sick and needed some help so you were going to be late… Aoko understands that it's not your fault.", Aoko replied before she smiled, "Aoko is glad to see all of her friends here, despite knowing they have something more important to do or are sick.".
"Ahouko, don't say such things.", Kaito said immediately.
"Nothing is more important than you, Nakamori-san.", Saguru replied.
Aoko almost giggled at the contrast between Kaito's and Saguru's way of talking.
"You know, Aoko thinks you could learn some communication skills from Hakuba-kun, Bakaito.", She replied.
"And what's wrong with my communication skills?", Kaito demanded playfully.
"Why are you talking like you actually do have them?", Akako couldn't help but comment.
"I agree with Koizumi-san on that, you lack any sort of normal human skills.", Saguru added.
"Oi! No fair! You're all ganging up on me! You all are so mean!", Kaito pouted making Saguru and Akako sweat drop at his attitude.
Their interaction was interrupted once they heard Aoko. Not a fake laugh or a small laugh, but a genuine laugh, at her friends' interactions, at Kaito's attitude and playfulness.
The three teens shared a look and smiled, happy to see Aoko getting her spirit back. Ginzo and Midoriko shared a warm smile, seeing their daughter laugh again after her dull attitude.
"Say, how about a magic show right now?", Kaito said as he pulled out some playing cards from his pocket.
"Magic, right…", Akako scoffed under her breath.
"Do you walk with cards in your pocket everywhere you go?", Saguru asked curiously.
"A Magician must always be ready.", Kaito grinned before he started performing some card tricks for Aoko, and he made sure to perform cool ones, and ones that she'd never seen before.
Aoko would applaud him whenever he would finish a trick while Saguru and Akako sat on the couch in the room, observing silently.
Ginzo and Midoriko shared a look, both of them noticing the looks, the loving glint, present in Aoko's eyes towards Kaito, and the same goes for the boy.
"He really does love her, doesn't he?", Akako mumbled, as she noticed how whenever Aoko would smile or clap, Kaito's face would beam in happiness automatically.
"And so does she, and you almost ruined that.", Saguru replied coldly, refusing to look at Akako.
"Hakuba-kun-".
"Know very well that if I ever interact with you, just like now, it's for Nakamori-san's sake alone.", Saguru interrupted her, ending the conversation. Akako looked at him sadly before she looked back at Kaito and Aoko.
"Aoko seems too happy with Kaito-kun's show.", Midoriko pointed out to Ginzo, "She kind of reminds me of our dating days.".
"Don't go there.", Ginzo warned, father's jealousy evident in his voice.
"It's bound to happen Gin-chan.", Midoriko pointed out again, "And I think it's a good thing Aoko's interested in Kaito-kun, we practically raised the boy, so we know everything about him.".
"Whatever, no one is touching my Aoko.", Ginzo insisted making Midoriko sigh at her husband's persistence, before she returned to watching Kaito's small show.
It was easy for her to figure out every idea behind the trick, but now wasn't the time to show off her intelligence. This show was making Aoko happy, so there was no need to ruin it for her only daughter.
"Sonoko, come on, we have things to deal with.", Jirokichi said, as he and the Samurai started leaving now that they were sure Aoko was safe.
"Call me if anything happens.", Sonoko told Ran, Makoto, and Masumi, who nodded in response, before she left.
"Kazama, a word with you?", Kogoro said with a certain look that made Dan sigh.
"Fine, but let's head to the hospital's roof, I wanna smoke a cigarette.", He said as he walked with Kogoro away.
"We'll go get something to drink.", Ran said as she and the Rangers walked away, just as Ryu received a phone call.
"I need to answer this.", He told Nina before he too left.
That only left Amuro and Nina in the hall, standing next to each other, but staring ahead in silence.
"I honestly thought dat wid Kudo's shrinkin' dat da Organization was workin' on other weird stuff, but it never occurred ta me somethin' like Cognac.", Heiji said.
The Group was sitting close to each other, away from the crowd, in the hospital cafeteria, each holding a drink in their hand.
"Mama had infiltrated with her colleagues of a few of their research bases, years ago, after Elena-Obasan's death.", Masumi started to explain, "In order to sabotage any research they're working on. She told me that the papers they managed to recover weren't just on poisons or drugs, but on Human modifications too.".
"What kind of modification?", Makoto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Transform to an animal-human hybrid, immune to poisons, Cyborgs, Super Strength, you name it.", Masumi replied.
"De aging, or no aging at all.", Conan said as he stared at his drink, "Haibara said that the success of the APTX with me, which is shrinking into a seven-year-old, is a milestone in one of the Organization's most important research, so it must have been de aging or not aging.".
"But if that's the case, then shouldn't they have already achieved that with Vermouth? She doesn't age at all.", Ran pointed out.
"That's actually a good point.", Masumi nodded.
"Honestly, I thought the BO would be something like the Yakuza…. But they are much more dangerous than anything we have ever seen, and if they can do what they did to Cognac or even more, then I'm not surprised they've been around for decades with agents from different intelligence services around the world infiltrating them.", Conan said.
"Not anymore.", Masumi said grimly, "Mama had told me she got a call from her colleagues, they told her that the Organization had killed one of their agents along with 5 others from different agencies.".
"They're quick to find out the spies within them, but I find it horrifying the fact that Charlie was an NYPD inspector…. That means it's possible that there are BO agents among the Japanese Police.", Makoto pointed out.
"Good thing I don't trust the police then.", Masumi mumbled, recalling her incident with the human trafficking group.
"I'm with you on that.", Ran said with a farawy look making Heiji and Masumi look at her curiously while Makoto just sighed. Conan, on the other hand, held her hand under the table, and squeezed it a bit as a support.
Ran only responded by giving him a sad smile, before she changed the subject, "I'm worried right now about Kaito, he looked broken back there. Hakuba-kun not far behind.".
"What else do you expect?", Conan mumbled, understanding Kaito's feeling exactly. He was broken like that during the moments Ran almost lost her life throughout the hardest cases they've been through.
"She's his friend?", Masumi asked.
"Nakamori-san was the first girl Kaito met after moving to Ekoda, and since he met her, he's been in love with her.", Conan explained, "But he hasn't confessed yet, because he says he's not sure if Aoko likes him, and since he's become Kid, he is afraid of doing that.".
"Because of her father, right?", Makoto guessed.
"Yeah, and according to the text messages Kaito sent, she hates the thief with all of her heart, because he keeps her father busy, and she thinks he makes fun of her father.", Ran explained.
"She's not dat wrong though.", Heiji rubbed his temple.
"Let's get back and check on…", Conan trailed off once he saw Kaito and Saguru joining them.
"We decided to give Aoko and her parents some time alone, even Koizumi-san left.", Saguru explained.
"She shouldn't have even come.", Kaito spat.
"She's da witch, wasn' she?", Heiji deduced and Kaito nodded.
"So Magic too is real.", Masumi mumbled.
"Akako is a Magi. Magi are Humans born Mana, a supernatural force that can be controlled with spells and incantations, called Magic. People often confuse them with those who use witchcraft and sorcery like those you hear about in religion.", Saguru explained.
"Well, people call anything they don't understand Magic, and I call my tricks Magic tricks.", Kaito explained.
"How do you know about those Magi?", Conan asked curiously.
"I used to go searching for them alone, using the books written about them as a guide.", Saguru explained.
"Wonder how ya didn' get caught by dem.", Heiji commented making Saguru side-eye him.
"What's going on Kazama?", Kogoro asked once he lit his cigarette.
Dan blew out the smoke from his mouth before placing the cigarette back in his mouth and replied, "What do you mean?".
"You and I know very well the Interpol doesn't function the same way Metropolitan Police or Intelligence Services function. So how did your men, as you say, stop the bombs and snipers? The fact that they were able to do so, means they were expecting something like that, which means you already knew.", Kogoro deduced as he heavily eyed the man.
"Oh? Didn't know you can make deductions without being asleep?", Dan mocked making Kogoro clench his fist.
"My daughter and that brat were there, they could've been killed! And Nakamori is a friend of mine, so seeing his daughter in that condition aggravates me.", Kogoro snarled.
"Of course, whenever it involves your family, you become a Detective. But other than that, you remain a lazy drunk man who stares at women just to spite his estranged wife and push her away from him.", Dan said coldly, his words feeling like daggers stabbing Kogoro in his chest.
Kogoro looked away as he mumbled, "You know very well that Eri deserves someone better than me.".
"It wasn't your fault, Kogoro.", Dan insisted making Kogoro glare back at him.
"Not my fault? NOT MY FAULT?!", He cried in anger, "My brother-in-law, my best friend, Ran's godfather and teacher, trusted me with his investigations at the NPA SB and asked for my help! And yet I failed to figure out from the evidence and files that he was the target! And he was killed in front of Ran!".
"It was all planned Kogoro. You led the police to a criminal hideout at the same time Hikaru was killed. The mastermind wanted the police busy as much as possible to kill one of the best Japanese Intelligence Services agents.", Dan replied while Kogoro shook his head.
"I should've figured it out just like I knew about the hideout… I failed Eri and Ran in the worst way possible… None of them know about our investigation… What do you think Eri would do once she finds out the truth? And Ran? Who was never as great as she was at Karate after Hikaru's death?", Kogoro said solemnly.
Dan sighed and decided to leave this discussion at that point. No matter how many times he tried to convince the man the opposite, he still believed he had failed his family.
"You haven't answered me yet.", Kogoro asked, his tone now normal.
"I have an inside source in the syndicate that chases Kid. They were supposed to appear at the exhibition day, but Cognac changed plans immediately. Besides, I've had my men around since day one, when I found out about the bomb.", Dan explained.
"Again, Interpol wouldn't fight like they did. You said all were dead.".
"5 of the agents implanting the bombs were killed. The others, by the time we arrived, they seemed to understand that they'll be caught, so they bit off a small jewel of a ring they all wore. Apparently, it contained Cyanide, because they all died instantly. The snipers, we definitely killed them.".
"For the last time Kazama, who are we?".
"That's a secret.".
"Don't tell me you're gonna quote that actress you were secretly in a relationship with for years before her death.", Kogoro deadpanned.
"Nah, I'm not gonna steal Vineyard's trademark.", Dan chuckled as he blew out a smoke before saying with a faraway look, "What a woman.".
"And I thought my relationship with Eri was complicated and weird…".
Ryu stood outside the hospital as he said, "Hey, Shiho.".
"How's your friend?".
"Devastated, his girl was pretty much beaten up and used as bait by the Organization.".
"Understandable… I can't believe I was literally in the same room with Cognac for seconds and I didn't feel it.".
"You were too preoccupied with my handsome face, sweetheart.", Ryu said smugly.
"Pedophile.".
Ryu yelped in horror before he frowned, "Oi!".
"I'm now 8-9 years old, in case you have forgotten.".
"Well, work on another antidote then! Until we figure out where the first one disappeared…".
"You still haven't told me what do you exactly work as?".
"Ever heard of something called FAUSD in the BO?".
"Only among the higher-ups… it's basically a united force for all Earth against threats inside the Planet, and outside…. But I honestly thought it was just a rumor…".
"Still thinking like that even seeing the Power Rangers and the robot monsters that come out of nowhere?".
"So Aliens are real….".
"Yup.".
"And you've dealt with aliens….".
"Aha.".
"I wanna see one. Do you have labs or anything? And-".
"Take it easy, Miyano-hakase.", Ryu joked, "I'll take you someday to our HQ, but I need you to be back in your body for that.".
He heard Haibara chuckle, "That nickname brings back memories. Anyways, I'll see what I can do.".
"Is there something wrong?", He asked, sensing something was wrong in her tone in the second sentence.
"Family issues, if you can name it as such.".
"Tell me everything.".
"I-What? Hakase! Oh come on! I'm not really a kid!".
"What's wrong?", Ryu asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Agasa Hakase doesn't want me to talk to you any longer until he meets you…", Haibara sighed tiredly.
"As your guardian, I should meet that guy!". Ryu heard Agasa saying firmly in the background, and the boy couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay okay, tell him when this whole Kid heist is over and the exhibition, I'll come to his house!".
"You better, Ryu-kun!".
Ryu ended with a chuckle before he remembered one of the days he spent with Shiho during his 4-months imprisonment with the Organization, the day he first called her Miyano-Hakase.
"I've been asking you some questions and you haven't been answering me.", Ryu groaned in boredom as he sat cross-legged on the metal table, his hands cuffed behind his back.
"Do you think this is an amusement park?", Shiho replied. She was giving him her back as she examined the test tube filled with his blood sample.
"I mean, I did survive some of the poisons you gave me, so I think I deserve a reward.", Ryu shrugged.
"Those weren't actually the ones that could kill you, they were supposed to make you weaker, but for some reason, you weren't affected.", Shiho then turned to him with a raised eyebrow, "Were you a lab experiment as a child?".
"What kind of question is that?", Ryu deadpanned, "Nah, I just exercise a lot!".
"Exercise…", Shiho deadpanned as she walked towards him with a scalpel. "How come can exercise do this?", She asked as she cut the skin of his chest diagonally and slowly, creating a small line cut. Blood poured from the cut before it instantly healed itself, regenerating new skin.
"You have healing powers, so it's not just your immunity.", She deduced with a raised eyebrow.
"When did you figure that out?", Ryu blinked in surprise.
"It took me lots of drugs to make you sleep. And whenever I would inject you with a syringe, I would see the wound healing itself. I thought my eyes were lying to me, but now it seems it's real.", Shiho said as she walked back, placing the scalpel on the table, before walking towards Ryu.
"What?", Ryu asked once he saw her staring at him, arms crossed.
"So how can you actually do that?", She asked, "Genetic mutation? Experiment? Radiation?".
"Are you actually asking for the Organization or because you're curious?", Ryu asked with a smirk making Shiho raise an eyebrow.
"What makes you think I would ask you something not beneficial to the Organization?", she asked.
"Maybe… it's the fact that you were slacking in your research?", Ryu smirked making Shiho's eyes widen, "I had woken up from the drugs early but I pretended to be asleep here, so I saw you working at the computer, and heard you mumbling to yourself how you don't want to do this or want to delay it, and how you want to escape with your older sister, Akemi. You even said, "Screw the Miyano legacy, I don't want this.". And one day your sister actually came to your lab, and I heard her calling you Shiho.".
"So that means your name is actually Miyano Shiho!", Ryu said with a wide smile at his deduction before he felt a hand around his neck.
Shiho glared intensely at him, "If you babble with those words to anyone, I'm really going to kill you!".
"Relax, you can see perfectly that I can't go anywhere outside your room, except the bathroom and you escort me there.", Ryu shrugged, not affected by Shiho's attempt to shock him.
"So by Miyano legacy, your parents were working here too, and they are now gone.", Ryu said solemnly, "Sorry if I brought up bad memories, just wanted to get to know you.".
Shiho sighed as she released him before she grabbed a chair and sat across of him. "Why do you want to know me? I'm just a scientist who is performing experiments and tests on you for a criminal organization, and you might die…", She said.
"Good point, but if you were an evil scientist, you would've entered the extreme tests right away. And I'm bored, you're my only company, so I just want to know you.", Ryu simply explained.
"I don't know why I'm really surprised by your words.", Shiho shrugged, "You were literally captured with 4 other teens who were homeless. Anyone can tell from your clothes and appearance that you don't live like them, that you have a family and a home. What were you doing there with them?".
Ryu sighed heavily. "Those guys were known in Beika City as the best thieves. They were teens like me. I usually spend my time in the streets than at home, so I met them. We definitely got into a fight, but they were impressed by the fact that I was able to beat them all at once. When I got to know them, they were just victims of circumstances.".
"One was a mistake, the other lost his parents and his family threw him, one escaped from an abusive orphanage, the other his father forced him into this. So they found each other on the streets, and started thievery as a way of living.".
"I started telling them to change their ways and that I could help, and after a few talks they agreed. They promised that they would never do thievery again and will be good citizens. Using my father's connections, I was truly gonna give them a new home, have them start education, find a job, but….".
"The Organization abducted you all.", Shiho finished his sentence with a solemn tone.
"And according to you, they all died at the hands of other scientists, 2 weeks after we were abducted, and here I am, still alive a month after abduction.", He nodded, looking away from Shiho.
"Don't you…. Shouldn't you hate me or blame me for their deaths, since they mean something to you?", Shiho asked with a guilty look.
Ryu looked at her confused, "Were you the one who ordered to abduct us? Were you the one who experimented on them and killed them?".
Shiho shook her head.
"So why should I blame you then?".
"Your family must be looking for you.", Shiho said, changing the subject.
"Absolutely, Touchan and Kaachan are probably all over the world looking for me. Neechan was injured during her job so she was staying at home with her husband and kids, but she'll definitely ignore her injury and look for me.", Ryu replied.
"So which one of them has a healing ability like you?", Shiho returned back to the topic she wanted to know.
"Only if you answer my questions, Miyano-hakase.", Ryu grinned making Shiho look at him bewildered.
"Miyano-what now?".
"Miyano-hakase! Aren't scientists called Professor? And it sounds better than Dr. Miyano or Professor Miyano in English. I'll be calling you that when we are alone.", Ryu said, the same grin on his face.
Sherry blinked at him a few times before she snorted. 'This boy, he spent the last month determined to know everything about me and he hasn't given up.', She thought in amusement.
"Alright, since you survived with no effects from the previous tests, I'll answer some of your questions.".
"Fate seems to force us to face each other no matter what.", Amuro said, breaking the long silence that was present.
"You think so? Because I don't see a reason for that.", Nina snorted, "Last time I checked, we aren't friends anymore, Zero.".
"Since you disregarded what happened to Date and Natalie lightly, it's only fitting that I don't associate with you.", Rei replied in anger.
"Disregard? Disregard?!", Nina hissed, "I too killed all the members of the group who were responsible for their deaths! And the leader was pregnant! What?! You wanted me to kill her with a child?!", Nina snarled making Rei look at her in anger.
"You know very well that isn't the main problem! It's the fact that you called me a lonely orphan who wants to prove he was loyal to his friends by killing their murderers!", Rei growled in return.
"I said that as a reaction to you calling me a spoiled brat who wouldn't understand because I have a family already! And that it was not surprising for me to defend a killer since Kaachan is one!", Nina growled back.
Both adults eyed each other with intense hate before Rei turned around to leave.
"I'm leaving, I have some work to do at the NPA SB, and so do you so don't slack.", He said bitterly.
"You're calling me standing with my little brother a slack?", Nina scoffed, "If only I could avoid you at the NPA SB headquarters the same way I do at FAUSD.".
"That makes the two of us.", Rei snorted.
Nina then answered a phone call as she started walking away, "Took you long enough, Kaachan! Where were you? I didn't see you…. Oi, I was focused on the mission! You want Ryu and I to meet you? He's probably outside the hospital".
Rei just rolled his eyes before he started walking, only to almost bump into Masumi. She and the other Rangers had returned from the cafeteria.
Rei's attitude immediately changed.
"Oh sorry, I almost didn't see you.", Rei said with a friendly smile, no challenging or teasing in it as usual, which made Masumi raise an eyebrow.
"Yeah… Whatever…", She said.
"I was actually gonna look for you to talk to you.", He said as he pulled her from her arm away from the Rangers.
"Hands off me, or I'll break it.", Masumi threatened, not really liking him touching her without her consent. Kaito had heard her words and a gut feeling told him to record this, so he pulled out his phone and started video recording.
"You weren't that offended back in the alley nor in the elevator.", Rei said with a teasing glint as he let go of her.
"You caught me off guard and it was embarrassing! In both situations!", Masumi hissed. She was trying hard to forget both moments, but here he was, reminding her of the most embarrassing moments of her life.
"You said your aunt and uncle were called Elena and Atsushi, their family name wouldn't happen to be Miyano now, would it?", Rei went straight into the topic.
Masumi raised her eyebrow in suspicion, "And why are you asking about that?".
"Because if that is true then that means, they are the parents of my friend, Miyano Akemi. She also had a younger sister named Miyano Shiho, who became Sherry in the Organization.", Rei explained and looked into Masumi's eyes, waiting for any change in reaction.
Masumi kept a cold blank face as she said, "I still don't see whatever made you think that I'm related to this family you're talking about.".
"I might be able to help you avenge them and find your cousins if you tell me.", Rei pushed, wanting Masumi to say the truth from her mouth.
"No thank you.", She replied making him blink before he frowned.
"You can play dumb all you want, but I know that you're related, or else why were you interested in the girl that looks like Sherry, the one named Haibara?!", He insisted.
"You think I'm going to trust you with family information after trying to hand in my brother to the Organization?", Masumi asked with a raised eyebrow, "Besides, I noted admiration in your eyes when talking about this Miyano Elena, but you were willing back on the train to hand her daughter back to the Organization.".
"And how do you know that? Last time I checked, Vermouth had knocked you out with a taser while disguising as Shu-nii.", Rei asked with his arms crossed, a smirk on his face.
"Shu-nii told me.", Masumi said before she stretched her arms and she said with a faraway look, "Which reminds me of something- Oh! Subaru-san!".
Amuro looked behind him instantly making Masumi smirk devilishly.
She kneed him right below the belt.
Amuro groaned hard as he knelt over while wincing in pain.
Ran looked at Masumi in disbelief. The boys just paled, feeling Rei's pain for a second.
'Oh God! First Nakamori-keibu and now Bourbon! I feel awful for them, but I'm so glad I filmed this!', Kaito thought as a sheepish grin appeared on his face.
Masumi knelt to face Rei's now sweaty face. "Just because you took me and told me you trust me on a mission doesn't mean I'll 100% trust you and start telling everything to you.", She said before she grabbed his nose and pinched it, making him glare at her hard.
"And this, was for the embarrassing moments you caused me, disguising as my brother, making Vermouth use a taser on me, and trying to hand in my brother.", She said before thinking, 'And for trying to hand Shiho to the Organization.'.
She let go of his nose as she said cheerfully, "See you later, Amuro-san!".
Rei slowly stood upright as he glared at the back of Masumi's head before he smirked. 'I've underestimated her just because she's a teenager, but now she's just made me even more interested in her.', he thought before he walked away.
"What was that all about?", Ran asked as soon as Masumi joined them.
"Nothing, just getting my revenge on him for what he did to my brother.", Masumi said but she gave a Ran look that made her understand, that Masumi would discuss the situation with her in private, away from the boys.
"I filmed it!", Kaito said proudly making Saguru raise an eyebrow.
"Why would you even do that?", He asked confused.
"Moments like these don't happen a lot in life, you know, so you have to be ready.", Kaito explained making Saguru roll his eyes in response.
"Send it to me, I want to show it to Shuu-nii!", Masumi said gleefully.
"And send!", Kaito replied with the same gleefulness making the Rangers sweat drop at their attitude.
"Guys!". The Rangers eyes widened once they heard Static's voice. They looked behind them to see not just Akira and Static were in their civilian, but so was Kaiden.
"Sensei!", Ran said in disbelief, "What are you doing here?".
"I had to come and support my students.", Kaiden replied with a smile. "From what I know, Nakamori-san is Kaito's love interest and Saguru's friend, so I understand how painful that is for them.", He said.
"You guys are our friends, so we have to be with you, in good and bad.", Static, now called Daichi, said with a thumbs up.
"I feel awful that I was at my civilian work and couldn't be there to help you, so forgive me.", Akira bowed in apology.
"It's a good thing none of you came then, you would've been exposed to the public as Aliens and that would've made things more complicated, but thank you for caring.", Conan replied with a smile.
Kaito and Saguru remained silent however, thinking about the same thing.
Saguru had texted his father his investigation with Kid's heist, and then that he'd be late today because he was visiting a friend who was injured, to receive no reply at all, which Saguru had expected, but he wished that his father could be caring like he used too, before his mother died. It was only his family butler, Shikibe Kashiko, who truly cared about him.
Kaito was the same. He had lost his father 8 years ago, and his mother decided then to move with him to Ekoda, away from his childhood friends, saying it was for his sake. And then said woman would end up traveling to Las Vegas nearly all the time, leaving Kaito in the care of the Nakamori family and his assistant, Jii Konosuke, who were literally the only people to care about him, alongside his godparents, Nina, and Ryu.
So for both boys, seeing those three coming to be by their side, even if for a short time, meant so much to them.
Kogoro and Dan returned with the second immediately recognizing Akira, and then he locked eyes with Kaiden.
'Well, I'll be…', Dan thought, 'What would an Edenian and a Dragonian be doing with teenagers, even including a shrunken one? Seven teenagers… just like the seven Rangers...'. He smirked at his deduction then he looked at Daichi and thought, 'This must be a disguise because he can't have had his body back already.'.
"Who are those people?", Kogoro asked gruffly.
"Relax, Otousan, no need to be rude.", Ran replied.
"You must be Ran's father, nice to meet you, my name is Kaiden Orionson, and I'm your daughter's martial arts teacher.", Kaiden said friendly as he raised his hand for Kogoro.
The former policeman scoffed, "Since when do you have a new teacher? And why don't I know?".
"Because you're too busy looking at women, drinking, and playing mahjong to notice.", Ran grumbled making Kogoro glare at her. Kaito then slowly applauded Ran, making Conan side-eye him while Kogoro glared at him.
"What's with the sudden change? You haven't had a teacher since Hikaru's death.", Kogoro pointed out making Ran look away, a cold expression on her face. Masumi, Heiji, and Saguru didn't miss his Kaito, Conan, and Makoto looked at Ran with pity while Dan just slapped Kogoro from behind his head.
"The guy is waiting for you to shake his hand.", He reminded Kogoro. The latter just shrugged as he shook hands with Kaiden.
Once he let go, Dan immediately shook hands with him. "Nice to meet you, name's Kazama Dante, but everyone calls me Dan, I'm Kaito's godfather.", He said, "And being from the Interpol, I must ask, what's your relation to the boys behind you, and my godson and his friends?".
"Akira and Daichi are my sons. Akira often helps me in teaching martial arts, while Daichi is there to help with the equipment and cleaning. I have a small private Dojo. Ran and Makoto took some classes with me, and Ran brought Masumi and Heiji with her often. I also met her boyfriend, Kudo Shinichi, because he often walked her home, so he suggested my classes to Kaito, who then told his friend Saguru. And Conan-kun would often to see his cool sister train, so that's how we all know each other.", Kaiden lied with a confident smile. His eyes and tone could fool anyone and make them believe he was telling the truth.
'Looks like dis isn' da first time for Sensei ta lie.', Heiji deduced.
Dan smiled back at Kaiden as both men eyed each other, knowing very well what the other was thinking.
Dan then shrugged, "Well, if my godson trusts you, that's more than enough for me.".
Kaito's phone then rang and he took the call.
"It's been a while, Makiba.".
"Ah, sorry I haven't contacted you often, I was busy traveling with Kaasan, and you know how strict she can be.", Makiba Daisuke replied.
"Yeah, you told me before.", Kaito said as he walked a few steps away from everyone.
"How's Aoko?".
"She's slowly getting back to her old cheerful self, but I think she'll have PTSD.".
"Sorry I couldn't be there for you. Kaasan's tired from her job and I needed to be with her.".
"You said she often changed jobs, so what's she working as right now?".
"You know I told you before that she likes to remain anonymous.".
"Yeah yeah, she's paranoid to the point that your best friends don't know what she looks like or what's her name… But at least you can tell me her job, since she'll change it later on as she usually does.".
"Teitan Elementary School Teacher.".
"I can't blame her for being tired, be a good guy then, and stick by your old woman.".
"Funny how you are the one telling me to be a good guy.", Daisuke said dryly making Kaito laugh sheepishly.
"I'll talk to you later then, Kuroba. Kaasan's calling.".
"Right, see ya later Makiba.".
Kaito returned back to the group to see Dan smiling at him.
"So how's Aoko?", He asked.
"Slowly getting back to her cheerful personality, but she'll probably have PTSD.", Kaito repeated his previous explanation, "Her parents are going to stay the night with her.".
"Well, that's good to hear.", Dan said as he stretched his arms above his head, "I'll be leaving now, duty calls. Call me if you need anything.".
"Will do.", Kaito replied as the man waved while walking away.
"Ran-", Kogoro started but was interrupted by Ran.
"I'll go home later with Conan-kun, Otousan.", She said.
Kogoro shrugged before he too left, leaving the Rangers with their mentors.
"Do you think Dan figured out who you guys are?", Conan asked.
"I won't put it past him, even though the last time I met him in person was 20 years ago, but neither of us has changed.", Kaiden shrugged, "I'm not worried about him figuring everything out, he might be actually the only person that can be trusted right now.".
"You know, I wonder if anyone around us has figured out our identity as the Power Rangers.", Ran said.
"Haibara has been eyeing me heavily the last few days. I think she found out that the antidote was taken, and she suspects me.", Conan said.
"Well, she doesn't exactly have any evidence.", Daichi pointed out.
"You mean other than the fact that the antidote disappeared around the same time the first five Rangers appeared, or how I'm suddenly friendly with Masumi, or talking to Kyogoku more often?", Conan pointed out dryly making Daichi grimace.
"You.. do have a point. Sorry about that.", He said.
"Don't worry, I personally want her to face me so I can know why she kept that hidden from me.", Conan said.
"So what's going to happen now? Apparently that Organization you're facing isn't to be underestimated if they were able to make a Human transform into a humanoid Lion.", Akira asked.
"I'll put the training on hold for a day or two, for the sake of what happened to your friend.", Kaiden said, "But then we'll increase the intensity, especially with Saguru and Kaito. If every time this Organization appears will be like what happened with Cognac or worse, you must be ready.".
Agasa's Residence,
Haibara held a calendar in her hand before she narrowed her eyes at a day she marked with a marker.
'This was the day I last reviewed the papers and checked that the antidote was still in place.', She thought before she moved her hand to the next day.
Her eyes narrowed further, 'This was the day the first five Rangers appeared.'.
She placed the calendar away as she sat on the couch, thinking silently.
'Before that day, Kudo-kun would mostly spend time around us, Mouri-san, Suzuki, and try to avoid Sera. But after that day, he started spending more time around Mouri-san, and the signs of guilt when thinking that he was lying to her disappeared, and he became friendly to Sera. Suddenly, he starts spending time around Suzuki's boyfriend, who all of a sudden, stopped traveling a lot for his tournaments. He even started mentioning Hattori more often.'.
'And if the technology of the Rangers exists, and the rumors I heard about FAUSD from one of Rum's agents are true, so it's possible for a device that can help in disguise exist. And the Rangers are capable of teleportation too.'.
'Kudo-kun, after that day, wore another watch other than his stun gun one, and a bracelet too. I even saw that watch on Sera's hand.'.
Haibara smirked grimly at her deductions, 'No doubt about it. Kudo-kun, somehow, took the antidote and used a disguising device to continue his role as Edogawa Conan. And he, Sera, and Kyogoku are definitely Power Rangers. And most likely so are Mouri-san and Hattori.'.
'But that leaves the two new Rangers… but if one really notices how most are teenagers, prodigies in fighting or high school detectives, most likely Hakuba Saguru is one of the two… But who could the last one be?'.
Haibara then remembered when the news showed the first battle involving the two new Rangers. And she remembered how the White Ranger was jumping acrobatically around, using his crossbow professionally, just like a certain phantom thief.
Haibara groaned as she rubbed her temples, feeling a headache. 'Don't tell me the last Ranger is Kaitou Kid.', She thought in exasperation.
Somewhere unknown,
Gin, Chianti, Korn, Vodka, Kir, and Bourbon stood watching the scene ahead. There were a few agents around them, with two guarding the door. Snake was on his knees, shivering in fear.
"What's going on?", Kir asked.
"Probably his punishment for failing too many times.", Bourbon replied.
"Not just any punishment.", Vodka snorted.
"Do you really think I would be here for some bad words or ear pulling?", Gin said before a bloodthirsty grin appeared on his face, "I'm here to see what Madeira would do.".
"Madeira?", Kir repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, we haven't told about her, have we?", Chianti asked.
"She wouldn't have asked if we did.", Korn pointed making Chianti glare at him before she looked back at Kir.
"Madeira is the head of the Scientific Division in the Organization. She's known to do all sorts of experiments, just like how Cognac turned into a humanoid lion.", Chianti explained.
"She did this on him, a member?", Kir asked.
"He had failed too many times, so she did this and told him if he failed again, he'd be food to her mutated dogs.", Chianti said nonchalantly.
Kir kept a passive face, but deep down she felt nothing but horror and disgust, when hearing about how far the Organization could go.
"Sometimes, when we expose a spy from the law enforcement among us, we just hand him to her. Some of our successful research and drugs had spies and NOCs as lab rats.", Chianti explained further, "If you hadn't killed Hondou and Akai hadn't killed Scotch, this would be been their fate.".
Chianti completely missed the quick look of horror that appeared for a second on both the faces of Kir and Bourbon.
"And Akai-".
"Akai was mine to kill.", Gin interrupted harshly, "Just like I killed Akemi and Sherry.".
"Something I'm not pleased about.".
Snake shivered even more at the cold sultry female voice that spoke up. From the dark hall ahead, emerged a tall pale woman, with two large dogs behind her. The dogs were double-headed, fangs coming out of their mouth, and their eyes were red, growling harshly.
The woman wore a white lab coat over a shirt, pants, and shoes. All black. Her cold emotionless eyes were pale violet, with purple eyeshadow around her eyes, and purple lipstick, and her shoulder-length hair was dark green.
"I wanted Port and Sherry… especially Sherry, to be my lab rats.", Madeira explained with a sick grin plastered on her face.
"You're seriously calling Akemi with her code name?", Gin snorted.
"Doctors are important too, Gin, and she was a lab assistant at the end of her days. Don't forget, that she had inherited her code name from her father, while her little sister inherited it from her mother.", Madeira pointed out while Gin just scoffed in disagreement, but didn't say anything.
Madeira then noticed the shivering Snake.
"Well well…", Madeira started, "What have we here? Snakebite who always fails.".
Snake gulped before he gathered any courage he had left as he replied, "I did succeed in many missions, and I killed the first Kid-".
"Those many missions can be done by anyone, nothing special. Besides, you succeeded in killing the first Kaitou Kid with the help of Vermouth.", Madeira then smirked, "Ain't that correct my dear cousin?".
Everyone almost jumped in their places once they heard Vermouth's voice. "Indeed.". The woman was leaning on a nearby wall with her arms crossed and eyes closed, a lit cigarette in her mouth.
Gin growled once he saw her while Chianti just glared silently.
"I never even felt her presence…", Kir mumbled.
"Don't be fooled by the bitch's act around us. The Organization's boss often likes a high agent to be present around the lesser ones. She's making sure we're doing our jobs, but in reality, she's the head of the espionage and reconnaissance division in the Organization, and one of our top assassins… which isn't surprising being one of them.", Chianti explained in a low voice.
"Who is them?", Bourbon asked.
"The first agents to survive the top Organization's experiments, and-".
"I appreciate the fact that you know our history, my dear Chianti.", Madeira interrupted making Chianti close her mouth, "But I need some peace and quiet here while talking to Snake.".
"Hai.", was all that Chianti said.
"Now what should I do to you?", Madeira wondered out loud making Snake lose his composure.
"Wait! Give me another chance! Kaitou Kid will appear on the exhibition day! I'll succeed then! Please!", Snake begged in horror.
Madeira remained silent before she shrugged, "Alright.".
Snake sighed in relief while Gin growled in annoyance, having wanted to see Snake punished.
"But, your actions with Cognac almost exposed us, even if you were wearing a mask and the girl wouldn't recognize you, and the media never mentioned Cognac. This was still risky.", Madeira pointed out as she pulled out a syringe from the coat's pocket, filled with red liquid.
Snake then got up and turned to run away, only for his face to meet Gin's boot, which kicked him back to the ground, and the dogs pinned Snake's body while growling at him.
"No member should escape punishment.", Gin explained his reasons with a bloodthirsty grin.
"Ever a loyal member, Gin.", Madeira complimented as she knelt near Snake and inserted the syringe in his carotid artery.
"You'll thank me later, Tanaka Yamato.", She whispered as she inserted all the liquid in him before pulling the syringe out. She stepped back with her eyes still on Snake.
The man then started to groan in pain as the dogs hopped off him and stood behind Madeira.
Snake slammed his fists multiple times on the ground as he started crying in pain, his voice echoing on the whole room as he transformed.
Bourbon and Kir's eyes widened in horror. While Vodka and Chianti smirked, Korn remained passive, while Gin was still having the bloodthirsty grin on his face. Vermouth just stared coldly at him.
Snake now was wearing nothing but torn pants. He was now a large muscular Snake humanoid. His chest was beige colored from the front but the scales of the rest of his body was brownish green. He had sharp claws instead of nails, a long brown tail was present, and his head was now shaped like a cobra's head, with his black eyes now snake-like.
Madeira stared at him like someone would stare proudly at an achievement he'd done with his own hands.
"Now, you truly deserve to be codenamed Snake.".