((WELP. Last chapter of Part One. I'll probably polish up part one a bit before Part Two starts to go up, but who knows.))

APRIL 8TH

In all likelihood, Edogawa Conan and Kudou Shinichi were the same person and Kuroba Kaito was Kaitou Kid. At long last, Light felt he was gaining some semblance of control over everything around him. He recognized that he couldn't kill either Kuroba or Kudou just yet but he could certainly have control over both and that would be good enough for the time being.

"You really think Conan is actually Kudou?" Ryuuk asked as Light headed back home. This late at night, he didn't really have to worry about anyone overhearing him talking to Ryuuk but just in case he glanced around the area.

"Yes. You said that you can't see his name and we know Kudou is said to be missing. Back when Conan was kidnapped, Hattori said that Kudou wouldn't be able to respond to Ran-chan's call because he was out of the country."

"But he did respond to the call, he said he wouldn't be able to make it back in time." Ryuuk pointed out-"that sounds more like he's out of the country to me." Light faltered, he couldn't really deny that Ryuuk was right-however, it was equally possible that Kudou had sent that email to Ran after he'd woken up. There had to be a way to confirm his theory.

"Maybe… but his feelings for Ran-chan lend support to the idea that he's Kudou. Not to mention we know that Conan isn't really seven."

"Well, you could just call him 'Kudou' and see if he reacts." Ryuuk chuckled. Light rolled his eyes. As if someone like Conan would ever fall for such a simple trick. No, he'd need something clever-he'd need some way to find and exploit his weakness.

"I'll think of something." Always scheming, always looking for a way out-that was his strong suit. Although, he had to admit that he wasn't sure how well his tricks would work on Conan considering how far ahead of the game Conan tended to stay. "I think for now, my time is best spent on figuring out what to do about Kuroba." He decided. After all, Kuroba wasn't offering him the same protection as Kudou and while couldn't he outright kill the thief, he could at least prevent him from being a thorn in his side.

ooooOOOOoooo

APRIL 9TH

Light should have expected it when Conan turned up at his doorstep the next day with a hardened look on his face. He didn't need Ryuk's commentary to tell him that Conan was upset about something. He invited him in and Conan didn't say a word as he followed Light up the steps and into his room, the moment the door was locked and secured the smaller turned to look at him with the most un-childlike expression.

"What did you do to Misora Naomi-san?" Conan demanded. Light's eyes narrowed at the clear accusation-not that it was unfounded. Conan's eyes weren't leaving his and gave him a very uncomfortable feeling like he could see straight through him.

"Did you meet her?" Light chanced asking, Conan's eyes somehow narrowed even further.

"What does that matter? What did you do to her?" His tone was clipped and angry. Conan knew what had happened to Misora, he just wanted to hear Light say it-wanted him to feel some form of remorse.

"I didn't do anything to her-maybe the stress of losing her fiancé was-" He didn't get to finish the statement as there was a sudden, sharp thud and he only just barely registered he was now on the ground, pressed against the door. Dazed, he looked over at Conan whose right shoe was sparking gently as he stepped closer.

What the Hell?

"Get up Yagami, stand up and tell me what you did." Light coughed, his temper starting to flare. Just who did this brat think he was?

"What do you think I did, detective? She was getting too close to the truth so I-"

"So, you killed her?" Conan demanded, just barely keeping his voice calm. "You killed an innocent woman who just wanted to know what happened to her husband? You killed an innocent woman that only got caught up in this because of you."

Light wasn't quite sure what to say, in all the months he'd come to know this brat, he'd never seen him look more disgusted.

"I thought you cared about the lives of the innocent-but if you're willing to throw them away the moment they're a little inconvenient to you-you-"

"She had worked out what had happened on the bus, I couldn't just let her li-"

"No!" Conan snapped. "You got scared. You killed her, not out of your fucked-up version of justice, but in cold blood-because you were scared-don't try to twist it into anything other than the truth. Taking someone's life is never the right answer."

Light growled as his temper started to bubble-what he wouldn't give to just be done with this pest here and now. All he had to do was write his name in the Death Note-he was probably Kudou Shinichi-but if he was wrong then Conan would know how his 'weapon' worked and more importantly where to find it.

"Listen." He forced out, "She was going to go to L with the information-wasn't it you that said you couldn't have me being turned over to the police?"

"You don't know that." Conan countered. "Misora-san was a former member of the FBI, and Agent Jodie or James-san could've explained things to her-you didn't have to kill her."

Light wanted to respond to that but he found he couldn't. He couldn't argue against Conan because as it had just been pointed out, he didn't know that and somehow, he didn't think that would help Conan see it his way. He did what he thought he had to do. He wasn't going to feel guilty over it.

"What do you want from me?" He demanded. "It happened months ago-so it's not like I can change it."

"I want to know that you're sorry." Conan said seriously. "I want to know that you know that you acted out of fear-that you didn't have to kill her-that you were wrong. I want to know that it's worth it to give you a second chance."

"What?" Light felt like that soccer ball had knocked all the air out of him all over again. A second chance? For what? Did he mean that he didn't intend to turn him over to the police? "Why would you-"

Conan took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Yagami…" He faltered, watching Light a good long moment. "We're not going to have this conversation. …I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that."

"What? I'm the one that killed that woman and you're apologizing to me?" What was this child? Shinichi Kudou or not, he'd never met anyone as utterly confusing as this detective. He challenged both his and L's views of justice simultaneously. Conan just offered a ghost of a small smile.

"So, you are sorry."

oooOOOooo

APRIL 13th

"What the Hell is this?" Senior Producer of Sakura TV, Hitaro Demegawa, demanded of his subordinates.

"This is the best you can come up with? Haven't you noticed that we always have higher ratings whenever we cover the Kira case?" His team of reporters looked around each other as if to confirm the statement with each other. "The reason this show had such high ratings earlier was because we had material other stations didn't. The key here is material. Material! So, give me good material and ideas!"

His subordinates looked at one another again, trying to determine what he meant. At last, one brave soul finally spoke up. "But, no matter how hard we try, we can't get the cops to tell us anything, it's too difficult." He explained. Demegawa just waved him off.

"What a dumbass. If you can't find good material then make your own." He told them.

"But management is keeping a close eye on us!" The same employee pointed out.

"-And it's best if we stay away from pro-Kira material." Another spoke up. Demegawa regarded them with mock consideration.

"It doesn't matter, the cops didn't say anything when we showed what we thought Kira looked like. I don't think they care what we do." He finally stated. "This time we'll say that in a survey of 100,000 people fifty percent said they were in favor of Kira. We'll have someone draw up official looking graphs." He mused. "We'll even list someone specific-someone the crowd will know-draw up some Q and A's…."

"But boss, if we list someone famous as being pro-Kira then they might come out and say we were lying." Someone pointed out.

"We'll say it's someone who can't prove us wrong-someone unexpected. Who would be the least likely to come out in support of Kira?"

"…What about that Kudou Shinichi kid?" Another subordinate offered. Demegawa stared at him flatly before grinning broadly.

"Perfect!" He declared. "We'll claim he gave our station an exclusive interview and came out in support of Kira."

"But isn't Shinichi-san dead?" Someone else asked. "I heard he was killed on a case."

"No, he's just missing-that's just a rumor." Demegawa waved it out. "Chances are, he did die but since no one knows for sure we can use him to boost our ratings." Everyone in the room broke off to discuss the plan, several seemed nervous about the idea.

Luckily, the mail person came into that room and held out an envelope to Demegawa.

"Director Demegawa, this came for you." He stated.

"Ah, thank you." Demegawa took the envelope and looked it over. "Eh? No return address? Is it a bomb? Hahaha…" He joked as he pulled the envelope open, then dumped then contents out and frowned heavily. "Video tapes? How old fashioned…" he picked up the letter that was tucked in with them.

'Dear Director Demegawa,

I am Kira.

The proof is in the first tape. After you watch it and are convinced that I am Kira, broadcast tapes two through four, at the exact times specified on the second page of this document.

I want to give out predictions and then kill some people through your network to prove to the world that I am Kira and then I will send a special message to the world.

If you refuse, I will kill the president of your network.'

"…'If you refuse I will kill the president of your network.'" Demegawa read aloud. "Why would I refuse? If this is real, it'd be like a dream come true!" He exclaimed, gripping the document tightly. "My heart is jumping around like crazy!"

oooOOOOO

APRIL 15

"Ta-da!" Ran exclaimed happily as she stepped out of the dressing room in a cute two-piece swimming suit. "So, how is it?" She asked, cheeks a little red. Shinichi stared at her blankly a moment, his cheeks a bit red themselves as he took in her appearance. He wasn't one to force the issue-but if she wanted to show him just how cute she was in a bathing suit… well, he certainly wouldn't say no.

"It's nice!" Sera stated in approval, looking it over. Shinichi felt just a twinge of irritation.

"With this, Shinichi-kun will be madly in love with you, madam!" Sonoko joked, giggling slightly. There was no need for the jokes though, as Shinichi knew he already was 'madly in love' with Ran.

"No way!" Ran's cheeks flushed bright red. "Besides, Shinichi isn't invited to the pool, right?" She asked.

"Okay, next is Sonoko-chan's turn!" Sera decided before Ran could get an answer. Sonoko gave a determined nod and grabbed the swimming suit she wanted to try on. Ran stepped out of her way so that she could use the changing room and looked around.

"If you're looking for Aoko-neechan, she's over there." Shinichi pointed to the fourth girl who was wistfully looking through bathing suits now that she thought no one was looking. Ran frowned and moved over to her, Shinichi right behind her.

"Aoko-chan, have you found one you want to try on?" She asked pleasantly. Aoko startled a moment before coming back to her senses.

"Aha… maybe…" She looked back at the rack of bathing suits. Shinichi and Ran exchanged looks.

"Aoko-neechan, are you okay?" He asked, giving her his best concerned little kid look. She just offered him a small smile.

"Of course!" She tried to sound confident in her answer. "Aoko's just picky about the kind of bathing suit she wears." She laughed it off. Shinichi and Ran looked at each other again.

"Behold!" Sonoko declared confidently, stepping out of the dressing room wearing a two-piece with a bit of ruffle over the chest. "So?" She prompted.

"It's cool and sexy." Sera nodded with enthusiasm.

"But Kyogoku-san will be on high alert if he sees this." Ran pointed out, moving back over to the others. "'Sonoko-san, women should not show off their hips' Right?" She made sure to lower the tone of her voice to somewhat match that of Sonoko's boyfriend.

"Th-That sounds just like him!" Sonoko declared.

"Ah, so he's the typical Japanese man-type." Sera nodded. "Well, next is my turn, I guess, watch me closely!" She winked before stepping behind the curtain. Shinichi paused, had she just winked at him?

"Ne, Aoko-chan." Ran turned to the other girl to include her. "What type of person is Yagami-kun like? He always seems so well mannered." Shinichi sighed, well-mannered if you didn't count the fact he was Kira.

"He is." Aoko admitted, glad to talk about something that wasn't her. "His mom and dad are the traditional type so both he and his sister are really well mannered. Sayu-chan's much more talkative though."

"He seems to really care about you, though." Ran pointed out. "The way he just kissed you in front of everyone like that." Aoko flushed bright pink at the memory and looked away.

"Uwah~! I wish Shinichi would sweep me up and kiss me like that!" Sonoko stated in a mock-dreamlike voice and then elbowed Ran. "That's what you're thinking, right?"

"Mou!" Ran's face went red and at the same time, so did Shinichi's. "Shinichi's too busy with cases to think about things like that!"

"Aoko thinks all detectives are like that though." Aoko offered. "Hakuba-kun likes to flirt with girls but the moment there's a case he can't think about anything else."

"Eh? Hakuba-kun?" Sonoko blinked.

"That's right, I told you about him, remember? He was the other teenage Detective from London." Sonoko tried to recall the memory and just offered Ran a dishonest smile to signify she had no idea what she was talking about.

"Ba-ban!" Sera announced as she stepped out of the dressing room in a tankini with a striped skirted bottom. Shinichi stared a moment, that swimming suit… it reminded him of… something.

"Nice, nice!" Sonoko nodded her head in approval.

"Sporty and cute!" Ran agreed. Sera grinned proudly.

"Ever since I was a kid I'd wear something like this." She plucked at the top. "Honestly, I'm more attracted towards the micro-bikini type, but…"

"Right! It's good you didn't go that way." Ran and Sonoko said together. Shinichi tried to place where he'd seen that swimming suit before-was it a pool or at the sea?

"It's scary!" a voice surfaced in his memory.

"Who are you?" Another, this one familiar-like Akai's voice.

"...Possessed by a shinigami…" The image of a blonde woman wearing sunglasses and beach hat came to the front of his mind and then-

"A wizard!" What had to be Sera's excited voice flooded into his mind.

"Come on! Next, next!" Sonoko cheered, looking over at Aoko and last girl to try on a swimming suit.

"Uh-Aoko's not-Aoko's okay." Aoko quickly held her hands up, cheeks a little red. Sonoko and Ran looked at each other and missed that Sera seemed focused on Conan.

"C'mon, it's fun." Sonoko told the other girl. "And we'll be sure to help you pick out one that looks great! No need to be self-conscious!" Aoko took a hurried step backwards.

"That's okay-Aoko doesn't really want to-"

"S-Sonoko… if she doesn't want to then we shouldn't force her…" Ran tried.

"Let's see… your name is Aoko, right?" Sera asked. "So, I bet you'd look super cute in anything blue."

"Yeah! Blue would definitely be your color!" Sonoko agreed.

"I really doubt that…" Aoko said sheepishly. Sonoko and Ran froze at her words. They sounded innocent enough but there was something sitting just on the surface. Finally, Ran chanced speaking.

"…A-Aoko-chan… do you-do you not think you're cute?"

"Eh? It's-Aoko means-" The way she didn't deny it told the real story and Sonoko and Ran frowned at each other.

"Why don't you try this one on?" Sera held out a blue and white tankini. "It's pretty modest so it'll just look like a dress." Aoko's face fell as she stared at it.

"Oooh! It's like Kid-sama's colors!" Sonoko nodded in approval. Aoko pushed the swimming suit away.

"No." She said firmly. "Aoko doesn't want anything to do with that bas-" She looked down at Shinichi. "…jerk." Shinichi blinked, what had her so upset? Sonoko looked like she was about to ask but Ran cut her off and picked up polka dotted, dark blue tankini and held it out to her.

"Th-then, how about this one?" She steered the conversation away from Kid. Aoko looked at the swimming suit skeptically before she took it and disappeared behind the curtain.

"…Ne, Ran-neechan." Shinichi moved over to her. Ran looked down at him with a small smile.

"What is it, Conan-kun?" She asked in her sweetest 'neechan' voice. Shinichi looked back at the changing room and frowned.

"Why is Aoko-neechan so sad?" He chanced asking. Ran frowned and knelt down to be level with him.

"Aoko-chan… is going through a rough time right now, that's why we have to do our best to cheer her up." She explained.

"That's right!" Sonoko said determinedly, joining the conversation. "She doesn't think she's cute, we have to convince her she's wrong. We'll take a picture and send it to her boyfriend and he's sure to respond with hearts!" Shinichi looked up at her. Clearly, Sonoko had never met Yagami.

"You better not." Ran said warningly. "I don't think Yagami-kun would appreciate it much. He told me she's been depressed lately. He'd just get mad at you for making her uncomfortable."

"T-Tada…?" Aoko's voice was weak and small as she stepped out of the dressing room and the other three girls all looked her over approvingly.

"Yes, this one is perfect for you, Nakamori-san." Sonoko nodded. "It's cute and shows of your figure and childish side really well!"

"Eh?" Aoko looked down at herself and Sonoko grabbed her wrist to pull her in front of the mirror.

"Don't you think it's a perfect fit?"

"…You don't think that… Aoko's too small… do you?" Aoko asked.

"No way." Sera waved the question off. "I've got practically nothing and I like to rock the micro-bikini. This looks like it was made for you."

"Mm! It's really girly and cute!" Ran offered. "Just like Aoko-chan!" Aoko's face immediately went red and she looked in the mirror again, this time looking a little more closely.

"We can see what your boyfriend thinks." Sonoko giggled, getting her phone. "He's sure to blush for sure."

"S-Sonoko!" Ran objected.

"Aoko doubts it-not much could make Light-kun blush." Aoko shook her head, not at all offended by the suggestion. "He's pretty stoic."

"If he wouldn't like something like that, what kind of person is he?" Sonoko frowned.

"He stays pretty focused on other things-he can have a bit of temper though, and he's kind of a blanket hog." Aoko explained. Ran, Sonoko and Shinichi all turned red.

"B-blanket hog-you mean you've slept in his bed?" Sonoko asked. Shinichi shook his head to get the thought out-poor Kaitou Kid was going to be heart broken.

"N-Ne, Ran-neechan… I'm going to go to the toy section, okay?" He told her. Ran frowned.

"Oh, was this too boring for you, Conan-kun? We'll go eat when we're done here, okay?" She offered cheerily as Conan stepped away. The moment he was out of the dressing room he heard an irritating 'psst!' coming from off to the side. He turned to see Kaitou Kid dressed all in black and black cap looking all for the world like peeping tom. Shinichi sighed.

"What are you doing here?" He asked the thief. Kaito just glanced towards the women's changing room.

"They let you in there?" He asked, envy slipping into his voice.

"I'm seven." Shinichi replied, tone dripping into annoyed at the idea of Kid thinking about Ran changing. "Now answer the question before I call Ran out here."

"I-It's just a coincidence, I just happened to be-"

"AAAH! RAN-NEECHAN! SOME WEIRD GUY IS LURKIN-" Shinichi started as several emotions flashed over Kid's face and instead of running away he moved to cover the detective's mouth just in time for Ran to come around the corner in another swimming suit along with the rest of the girls.

"Get away from Conan-kun!" She shouted as she gave chase and landed a quick kick to the side of Kid's face. It was more satisfying than Shinichi would ever admit to see him hit the ground. Though he did feel just a dash of sympathy-that had to hurt.

"Sorry, sorry!" Kid quickly apologized. "I didn't mean-" In the impact his hat had fallen off and Ran stood frozen a moment.

"Sh-Shinichi?" Shinichi just shot a look her way. As if he'd ever be caught sneaking around the women's department.

"K-Kaito?" Aoko recognized him. Shinichi sighed, at least that theory was confirmed. Kid froze and looked up at her. Oh, Kid was following her around like some kind of weirdo.

"A-Aoko…" He looked over at her. "I uh… didn't know you were having a girl's day…"

"Did you follow Aoko?" Her tone flattened out and Kid winced.

"N-No!"

"You know him, Aoko-chan?" Ran asked. Aoko sighed.

"Yes. He's Kuroba Kaito, Aoko's-" She stopped. "…Next door neighbor."

"That's harsh." Kid rolled his eyes. "I'm her best friend. I just got a little worried, I guess… since she hasn't really… talked to me lately." He looked over at the girl who seemed to be just glaring in his direction. Slowly though, her face began to crack, a smile fighting to get free and before anyone was even really aware of what had happened, Aoko was cracking up, holding her sides and laughing as hard as she could.

"You-You look like an idiot!" She managed between laughs.

"Oi!" Kid objected.

"All dressed in black and-did you really think no one would notice?" She just kept laughing, though the look on Kid's face softened.

"What else was I supposed to do?" He asked in mock offense as Aoko tried to calm herself down and only laughed harder.

"You didn't even try to blend in. Kaito's so stupid." Shinichi looked up at Ran who looked like she might be fighting back a laugh of her own just because Aoko was so tickled.

"Well excuse me, how exactly was I supposed to blend in with women's clothes." Kid crossed his arms in defense. Aoko grabbed the nearest thing on the racks and held it out to him.

"Here, this matches your eyes, Bakaito." She told him.

"Pfft! No way, it's not even my size, Ahouko." Kaito waved it off and then reached for a nearby dress. "This is much more my style." He stated, getting the other girls to start laughing as well. Shinichi sighed. Well… at the very least, Aoko didn't seem nearly as depressed as she argued with Kid over which dress would look best on him. It was too bad everything was cut short by a sharp scream coming from a nearby scream.

oooOOOooo

APRIL 17th

"So?" Shinichi asked as Hattori stepped passed the turnstile at Tokyo Station. "How was Osaka?"

"Oh, ya know, Kauzha gripin' at me fer transferin' without tellin' her. My pops realized I was workin' fer L an' he's been less than supportive." Hattori voiced before pushing the thought away. "I heard there was another murder case ya got wrapped up in-How many ya got for this month so far?"

"…Four?" Shinichi answered after a moment of thought. "Of course, it's only the middle of the month so it could still go up. You?"

"Just two." Hattori sighed. "I don't get much time to solve normal cases runnin' aroun' doin' things fer L."

"And L's not willing to solve the regular cases." Shinichi sighed. Hattori readjusted the bag on his shoulder and headed towards the door to leave the station.

"Any word from that woman yet?" Shinichi didn't need to ask what Hattori was talking about and he'd just assume not mention Vermouth by name in such a public place.

"No, not yet." He admitted. Though, considering she'd given him until May, he doubted he'd see her again until then. She wasn't exactly an easy person to reach and he couldn't go through Amuro without exposing him as a public safety officer.

"Well, in any case, let's get somethin' ta eat, I'm starvin'" Hattori stated.

"Can't yet." Shinichi shut him down. "I have to wait on someone else." Hattori frowned as Shinichi checked his watch.

"Who?"

"Shin-chan!" The overly excited voice of Kudou Yukiko hit their ears. "There you are!" She moved over to them both and dropped to her knees to pull her son into a hug that Shinichi could have done without.

"A-Aa… Nice ta see ya again, Kudou-san." Hattori offered small bow. Yukiko stood up again and engulfed him a hug as well.

"Heiji-kun! I think you've grown since I've last seen you." She said fondly. "I'll treat you both something yummy since you were just complaining about being hungry."

oooOOOooo

APRIL 18th

Light had to admit that Kudou Yukiko had impeccable, if not expensive tastes. He looked around the restaurant and noted it was without a doubt the most expensive in Tokyo. How in the world had this woman managed a reservation on such short notice?

Apparently, 'Conan' had told Yukiko about him and how much he'd been helping with cases recently that Yukiko had wanted to meet him. She'd mentioned earlier that her son would be joining them but because of a case he was running a little late.

Naturally, Light was highly suspicious of this meeting because he was fairly certain that Conan was her son and Conan was sitting quietly with his nose in the menu wearing his jacket and turtleneck sweater. He didn't look like he was up to anything but if he thought he could pass Kaitou Kid off as Shinichi again then he had another thing coming. He glanced over at Ryuk, knowing that if Kuroba Kaito walked through that door as Kudou Shinichi then Ryuk's reaction would undoubtedly give it away.

What was really bothering him though were Conan's words from the other day. 'So, you are sorry.' What made him so sure about that? He hadn't given any indication that he felt even a little remorse for what had happened to Misora, had he? He hated that this brat had him questioning his own feelings. He did what he had to. There was no reason to feel guilty over it-and why was he trying to hard to convince himself he wasn't guilty?

"So, Light-kun!" Yukiko's voice pulled him out of his own thoughts. "Conan-chan says you've helped solve a few cases for the police lately." Yukiko addressed him. Light pulled his gaze away from the Shinigami and offered Yukiko a small smile.

"Yes, Conan-kun insisted I help a few times." He explained. Yukiko giggled like a teenager might and nodded, Conan sighed.

"He's really persistent-he wouldn't leave Shin-chan alone about teaching him the art of deduction until he agreed." She explained. Light looked from her to Conan. If what she was saying to be believed, Shinichi had taught Conan how observe and deduce. It brought forth a few questions considering he knew that Conan wasn't really seven-what he didn't know was just how old Conan really was.

"Haha, persistent is a good word for it." Light laughed good-naturedly. "Thank you for treating us to dinner like this, though."

"Oh, don't mention it-Yu-chan will make the bill up royalties by tomorrow-haha." Yukiko waved it off. Light resisted the urge to sigh at this woman's flippant nature. Was this really Kudou Shinichi's mother?

"Sorry I'm late." The voice of Kudou Shinichi himself had Light turning to face him as he took a place beside Conan. "That case I was working on took a little longer than I thought." He was saying as he picked up his menu. Light glanced discreetly over at Ryuk who looked rather amused.

"Looks like you were wrong, Light." Ryuk voiced with a chuckle. What? Ryuk wasn't one to choose a side so, there was no reason for him to lie. Did that mean that he could see the name and lifespan of Kudou Shinichi? Then who was Conan? He wanted to ask but not at the risk of calling attention to the fact it would seem he was talking to himself. He glanced over at Conan and then back to Kudou.

"Shinichi-niichan, you took too long." Conan informed the older. Kudou just looked sheepish.

"Like I said, ran into a few complications-but I'm here now." He offered. What was going on? How had been so completely off the mark?

oooOOOOooo

Shinichi tried hard not to watch Yagami too much, he had to give the impression that he was meeting him for the first time and any additional staring to see if the plan was working would only serve to tip him off.

"Oh, Shin-chan, you haven't met Yagami Light-kun, have you? He's Conan-chan's new friend." His mother explained. "I think he might replace you."

"Yes, nice to finally meet you." Yagami offered his hand which Shinichi took. "I've heard nothing but good things."

"Aa. Likewise." Shinichi stated, sounding somewhat distracted. "Although, if I'm not mistaken, Kid was disguised as me a few times."

"Aa…" Yagami offered, watching him closely.

"Mom, don't get me wrong, I'm glad you can visit but did we have to come to such a fancy restaurant?" He turned his attention back to his mother. "And how did you get a reservation so fast? I tried to book a table for-well… they said the waiting list was about three months in advance."

"The restaurant manager just so happens to be a fan of mine! When I offered him an autograph he was happy to get me a table." Yukiko explained cheerily. Shinichi sighed. Let it never be said that bribery got you nowhere.

"Hm?" He felt his phone vibrating in his right jacket pocket and frowned before pulling it out see Hattori was calling him. "…Excuse me, I have to take this." He stood up and moved away from the table.

"Kudou!" Hattori's frantic voice came through the moment Shinichi accepted the line. "You need ta check th' Sakura television news. It's bad."

"Hold on." He told the other detective before moving back over to the table. "Conan-kun, I need to borrow your phone."

"Aa…" the disguised Haibara agreed, reaching into her jacket pocket and handing Shinichi 'Conan's' phone after unlocking it. Shinichi took it and switched to his news app.

"And contains a message to people all over the world-" A news anchor was saying with a monitor in the background with the words 'Message from Kira, four terrifying videos' on the screen. His co anchor handed one of the messages over and they put it into the tape player.

"Do ya see it?" Hattori asked.

"The time is now 5.59PM, you are going to see Kira's video." The anchor explained.

"What do ya think? Is it real?" Hattori asked as the image of the word 'KIRA' showed on the screen in gothic font, not unlike the font L used for his announcement-except these were clearly handwritten.

"I am Kira. If this video is aired at exactly 5.59PM then the time is now 5.59.38..39..40…" It was hard to believe Yagami would ever do something this crude-and the choice to use regular tapes left a higher risk of leaving fingerprints-Yagami would know that. "Please switch to channels to Nichiuri TV. The news anchor Kazuhiko Hibima-san will die of a heart attack at precisely six p.m."

"Hattori!"

"On it!" Hattori switched the channel. "Fuck!" The Osakan's inelegant language told Shinichi all he needed to know.

"Hibima-san has consistently referred to me as 'evil' in his new reports. This was his punishment. But one demonstration alone does not serve as absolute proof. I will present you with another, my next target is a commentator who has also condemned me repeatedly. He is scheduled to be appearing live on the air at this time…"

"What do ya think? Is it Yagami?" Hattori asked, tone serious. Shinichi bit his lip, trying not to think solely about the fact the organisation was undoubtedly watching this broadcast and think instead about the likelihood that Yagami was behind this. From everything he knew of Yagami it didn't fit.

"No. I don't." Shinichi admitted. "I don't think he even knows this is going on."

"But Kudou… if it's not Yagami then who is it?"