Thanks and lots and lots of cookies go to riderpurple, Yan Takagawa, MusicDemon8, kudocchi, Sephony, Tsubasa96, Tada21, Kratos Dupres and Yin7 for the favs; belated thanks to bobbyneko for reviewing chapter 3; SSCAV, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sephony, Yan Takagawa and Silver Shadowbreeze for reviewing Chapter 4 and Jess.E.D., kirin-saga, Siren Sorceress, MysticMaiden 18, crayontesla and fiasse for the alerts since the last two chapters.

Now the thanks system is fairer because I use a randomizer instead of 'first come, further up'.

But you don't want to listen to me, so I'll see you down below~

.: Preparation :.

"So…Kuroba," Kudo began slowly, drawing the word out on his tongue, a pleased smirk on his face. He leaned closer to where Kaito was reading the newspaper and pointed to a certain, very, very noticeable article. "A Kaitou KID heist tonight, hmm?"

Kaito didn't even glance towards him, continuing to read.

"This Ice Lotus – an eighteen carat white gold piece so called because of the combination of clear and smoky quartz 'lotus petals' that makes it up…but, no, KID isn't interested in that, is he? No, he's interested in the clear, seventy-three carat trillion cut emerald in the heart of those petals, isn't he? I've heard the way the light supposedly reflects through the quartz gives it more body and depth, highlighting further the facets that are unblemished and shielding those that are." Kudo looked towards the magician almost smugly. "Yes, I think that is what he is searching for."

Kaito grumbled something under his breath irately.

"And one would begin to wonder why exactly the KID decided to disappear for eight years, then return acting like a complete amateur and seemingly stealing random things before moving on towards gems and gems only~"

"Shut up," Kaito hissed in response, even though the other's voice was carefully pitched lower as to not travel long distances.

"But of course, you know, don't you, my darling phantom thief?"

- 4 -

No sane person would stray to the line of calling Saguru Hakuba a fool. That would mean the patented Detective Glare would be turned towards them, and if Watson was with him a sharp snap of her beak (preferably somewhere painful and easy to reach, like their noses).

However, with the appearance of this Kudo Shinichi, his sudden introduction into the Task Force and the murder investigation unit and Nakamori Ginzo's illness all occurring within the span of a month, it was very suspicious.

So that was why he kept him under watch.

Obviously, it didn't always work.

For one thing, sometimes it was easy, and other times he would be lost altogether, Kudo dropping him in what seemed like a mere second.

He thought back to the conversation he had overheard a moment ago. In reality, he hadn't really been paying much attention to it, merely the last few words happened to catch his attention.

"…my darling phantom thief."

The speech abruptly changing from flawless Japanese to flawless English without a further need of breath, spoken fast enough that only those fluent enough in the language would be able to decipher it astounded him. Saguru himself needed a moment to switch his mind to process his native language, not having heard it for more than a year, at most.

A year.

And it pained him to know that he was not the one who said it.

"Mother…"

Sixteen years old, Saguru stood sadly, hair slightly tousled from the wind. He was wrapped almost head to toe in thick, dark layers obviously to shelter him against the elements, yet obviously not enough as he could feel the chill begin to seep through his scarf.

The Kaitou KID heists had briefly dwindled, a welcome relief from the many consecutive sleepless nights he once endured. It was now that he was given the opportunity to return to England and meet his mother once more.

"Much has happened this past year," he intoned, glancing away. "KID has been after varying gems that equate to a total of approximately two hundred and seventy million yen – but, I know you don't want to hear that such thing.

"I am well, if one ignores the insomnia I have gained from countless nights of continuous heists. My body seems to have adjusted to the lack of sleep and my sleeping times changed accordingly." Saguru laughed, a laugh that was slightly empty. "I think I may have become nocturnal, as they say."

He sighed. Really, it had been too long since he last visited her. Even though she was unable to respond, a sense of calm would always fall on him with each and every meeting.

Another presence approached them, and he began to raise his guard.

"Audrey…" Barely a whisper, the voice was filled with a resigned finality. "It's been a while..."

The figure brushed past him to present her a cluster of purple hyacinths, and Saguru turned away, heart pierced with another shard of guilt. His mind, trained for piecing apart and analysing each and every thing instantaneously knew the meaning purple hyacinths beared; I am sorry, please forgive me.

He berated himself repeatedly. An interest in detective work was what distanced him from his mother in the first place. It was disrespectful to think of such at the point he was at…

Desperate for something to distract him, he turned to the stranger, and eyes of brilliant blue stared directly back at him. It seemed as if his moment of reminiscence had in fact been longer than he had previously thought. He now saw that the other wore clothes quite similar to his own, except his coat's hood gave shadows over his face, meaning it was difficult to seek out other features.

It was curious, and he impulsively sparked up with lists of odd behaviour to add in case a crime occurred. Like previously, he tamed it with thoughts of sorrow and realized he never even knew the other's name.

You are Saguru Hakuba, answered the stranger when he posed the question, before continuing. Who I am is of no concern.

With those words, it seemed as if tears came to the stranger's eyes. The other's eyes told everything that was on their mind, and if the slight displeasure and extra alertness flickering in them was true he wasn't one to freely display emotion in public.

"Why are you here; what relation do you have with her?"

Inwardly, Saguru winced at the harshness the statement came out, but his gaze remained steady and firm.

The silence that stretched between them then was long and chilling, the stranger turning away and trying to blink his eyes dry. Trees rustled from the heavy puffs of wind and hair fluttered, but neither of them moved.

It was almost an eternity later in which the pause was broken, and the stranger faced him to speak again.

"You may call me Sabra…and as to whom I am to her…" his voice shifted abruptly; changing tones as if what he said was really that simple. "I was the one who killed her."

The wind picked up with those words as if on cue, and instinctively Saguru raised his arm to shield himself from the flying leaf litter and debris. The moment he turned back to face the speaker, to demand answers, he was gone.

Sixteen years old, Saguru stood sadly, his mother's gravestone mocking him behind nature's veil.

- 4 -

He looked around their pre-determined meeting place, eyes seemingly relaxed but alert with a calm serenity as they surveyed all possible factors. At this time of day, the corner of Beika Park with the masses of trees off the soccer fields was quite deserted, the lone people drifting around quickly shooed away either by his glares or irritated pacing. At eleven in the morning, school was still on, students and adults alike absorbed in their jobs, whatever they may have been, so it was a good time to initiate a meeting, but…

Nariaki frowned.

The other person was most likely late, as usual, probably apologizing profusely to the unlucky soul they bumped into. He pitied them and their clumsiness, he really did, but such accidents were common when around someone of that sort.

A shout to his right made him turn, and Nariaki's twelve minutes of waiting paid off.

"Ah, Minori!"

He bowed his head in slight greeting. Eisuke's face distorted disapprovingly in reply, feminine features acting against him.

"Geez, lighten up, Kudo..." Suddenly, he seemed to remember where he was and what he was doing at the look the other sent him, and his voice lowered to a whisper. "Right. She got a message through to me two days ago."

Nariaki's eyebrow rose a fraction at this news, and he looked at the Hondou's face sceptically with a hint of curiousness. "Your sister?"

An affirmative nod was his reply.

"It wasn't very long, but she just said that they seem to be going through trouble. Apparently there's uproar in the inner workings of the org –" He briefly cut himself off at the look he received, a different one of apology in his eyes. "– in their inner workings. Apparently anokata is refusing every request they're receiving from their members and not giving any answers, and because of that many members are irritated, annoyed and confused. Gin's restlessness is showing through and he's colder than normal - how that is possible I don't know at all - and that Belmont is acting strange."

What? Nariaki couldn't understand why the Organization, after being so tightly-knit and discrete could suddenly be overwhelmed with a torrent of emotion threatening to rock their entire foundations off themselves. Their leader losing all control over the subordinates of this international syndicate...it wasn't right, it was just so so wrong...

A thought flickered across his mind. How could he not have considered that now...but first...

"Does Jodie-sensei know about this?"

Eisuke shook his head. "No. You're the first person I've told." He blinked cluelessly, as if he had no clue what he was doing. "Should I have told her?"

"No. It's fine."

The tone was final, and Eisuke took it as that. He didn't have any experience with dealing with these matters, as he was just the messenger. Neither of them were prepared for the next words to come out of Nariaki's mouth, least of all the speaker himself.

"It's time we made our move."

A/N: And the plot thickens! Dundundun~

Sorry for the wait...really...D:

About Kudo Nariaki/Edogawa Minori: He is my Conan-replacement. The only OC that'll play a part that's not a one-use thing, necessary because this also follows the DC storyline not just MK. You'll learn more about him later...(I felt really really bad typing his name in the story. I guess I'm not used to using OCs...I don't like it.)

*insert dramatic music here*

See you...maybe...soon?

I now have this section on my profile detailing the likeliness of updates and the current status of written chapters as well as a whole load of other factors. Because I'm a bad updater like that.

Next Chapter: Should be Shinichi meeting Nariaki. And Saguru continues to get closer to TEH TRUTH~ (I think this is what happens. I misplaced my plan for the next chapter.)

Do it. Nao.
(I'll write faster~!)
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