Keeping Secrets

"Hey, Ai…I've got a question for you." Ai looked up to see Conan leaning casually against the door to her laboratory.

"Mmm?" She swung back around on her chair to resume working on…something. Conan neither recognized it nor wanted to. With Ai, it was often better not to know.

Conan scrubbed a hand through his bangs, irritably pushing them out of his eyes. "Well, I've been wondering…You know how if the organization found out I was still alive, they'd come back and kill me and everyone I care about et cetera, et cetera?"

"I am…intimately familiar with the situation, yes." Ai never looked up from her table, reaching for a pair of tweezers. Something twitched. Conan shuddered and turned away.

"And that's because, hypothetically, when the baddies find out and bring out the cavalry to 'fix their mistake,' they'll 'erase' everyone who knows about them."

Ai was puzzled for a second, and then she looked up, her eyes flashing in anger. "Kudo, you didn't…"

"You're entirely right. I didn't do anything. Anyhow, here's what confuses me; how would the Black organization know whether or not I told everybody?"

"What?"

He sighed, and briefly closed his eyes. "What I mean is, if they come for me, wouldn't they just kill some people anyhow? Because they can't be sure I haven't mentioned anything…."

Ai shrugged. "I suppose. And if they reveal themselves to ask, then it's redundant. So, I guess it's a good possibility. Especially with those closest to you…"

"So why am I not telling Ran that I'm really Shinichi?"

Ai rolled her eyes. They'd been over this a million times. "Because if the Black Organization comes after you they'll kill everyone who….Oh."

"Exactly." Conan pushed himself away from the wall and headed towards the door. Ai became aware of sounds drifting in from the living room. It sounded as if Agasa was having tea with someone. Her guess was confirmed when Conan, already through the door, called out, "Oi, Ran…We need to talk."

Disclaimer for this and all following chapters: Yeah, so don't own. If I did, Magic Kaito would be longer than four volumes.