A/N: I'm back everyone! I'm sorry for the long absence. Nothing has ever been able to get on my mind lately. And school is making me busier and busier each day. I've been reading Sherlock Holmes recently, and I have to say; the stories are awesome! I'm currently on The Sign of Four and would be reading onwards as time goes by. Here's the story, I don't want to hold you from having to read this story. Just a heads up, this story won't be a one shot but an actual story where there are many chapters and a near to canon storyline.

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It was a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon. The temperature and coolness in the atmosphere felt perfect for a fun play time outside, and Shinichi had deemed it perfect as well to finish his book. Ran, however, felt it was a day for them to do something resourceful and chase after every moving creature their eyes could rest upon on. After capturing a fat, green caterpillar, she caught sight of another insect whose wings had started to fly about in unusual patterns. Ran grinned, setting the caterpillar on a jar she brought with her and ran towards the butterfly.

It was rare to see such butterflies like these in Shinichi's backyard. All she's ever encountered where bugs she despise, caterpillars she can grasp on, and spiders she hate the most. It brought her joy on the inside on having to see the butterfly flying around, bringing excitement on her heart and her soul.

"Shinichi, look! There's a butterfly flying at your backyard! We have to go after it!" Mouri Ran shouted at her companion who sat by the footsteps of his home, Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' sitting upon his fingers.

The little boy wore an expression of frustration on his baby faced features when he heard her call out to him. His eyes scanned on the tiny little Japanese characters printed on the book, taking note on the last sentence of his page. He doggy eared the page he is currently on, closed it, and placed the book which marks his seat.

Ran giggled like the little child she was and ran after the orange and black colored butterfly. Unbeknownst to her, Shinichi sent glares at her retrieving back, annoyed and irritated at her sudden disturbance. He was just about to get to the good part of the story until she showed up, smiling and laughing and asking him to come with her and chase after a stupid butterfly.

Green and grass evaded the backyard, the tall grass that had not been trimmed for how many weeks finally outgrew its height limit. Shinichi reminded himself to tell his mother to trim them. Numerous flowers Ran couldn't recognize stood rooted to the ground arranged in rows. She fingered the colorful petals and bushes as she ran, feeling Nature connect to her senses. She giggled.

The insect landed on a blue orchid which hung on one of the flower pots Shinichi's mother had placed. Ran tried to reach as high as she could, but before her little fingers could rest upon the vase, the butterfly fluttered away, leaving two children as its wings set flight onto the next flower at the next house.

Ran pouted, making Shinichi, who was trailing behind her, chortle.

"What's so funny?" she crossed her tiny limbs, her brows furrowing deeper as her expression caved.

"It's you who's funny. You couldn't catch a slow flying insect like a butterfly." Shinichi spoke boisterously, teasing Ran just like he usually does.

"We could've caught the butterfly if it weren't for your slow walking!" Ran huffed, stomping her foot against the clay soil. She gave a powerful glare to Shinichi, who snorted and glared back at her.

"We? What do you mean 'we'? You could've caught it all by yourself, you know." The boy retorted and silted his eyes down into narrow slits of a menacing scowl.

He sauntered back to his tree and his book, and by Jove, how delighted was he when he rested his little bottom on the tall grass and leaned his back against the tree trunk. Prying his pages open, they were closed again by Ran's fingers, her hands rested gently but with force that made the book close.

Shinichi casted his eyes at their touched fingers and blushed a bit by their interaction.

"I want you to catch butterflies with me next week. Meet me at Beika Park on Saturday afternoon. If you don't show up, then I'll kick you so hard on the toes." Ran gave him one last stare before retreating to her home. Shinichi rolled his eyes.

"You forgot something, Ran." He called out to her, holding the jar with the caterpillar in his hands. Ran took the jar off of his fingers rather powerfully, gave a 'humph', and headed back towards the gate.

Such harsh upbringing had the child brought fourth upon her male companion. Shinichi watched her form open and close his gates before muttering to himself on how stupid women can be and never letting them speak their response. Shinichi read the remainder of his book and entered his home before night fell.

. . .

Ran stared up high in the blue sky were the clouds flowed freely in their own accord. Her mind had wandered off on its own, bringing back the memories she made with Shinichi as a child. She was currently on a butterfly ranch, and the owner announced to the visitors they were allowed and permitted to catch the butterflies that flew from flower to flower. They were handed nets to catch the butterflies with, and the Detective Boys along with Agasa – hakase set off to catch the lovely things. Ran remained where she had seated and glanced around the flowers.

Such a coincidence it was for her to remember such little details at a butterfly ranch.

Her mind vaguely remembered the moment she chased after a butterfly with Shinichi. How nostalgic it was to remember such memory. How long has it been then? Seven? Eight years? She wasn't sure. All she could remember was Shinichi trailing behind her with a forlorn expression while she chased the butterfly.

It reminded her of how she yearns to catch Shinichi and entrap her within her touch until she could fully trust for him to fly again.

"Ran – neechan! Ran – neechan!" a shrill, female voice brought Ran back to her senses, blinking her lids numerous times before setting her gaze on Ayumi. She smiled at her and fiddled with the net she held.

"Are you feeling okay Ran – neechan? You've been staring at something for nearly twenty minutes." The child asked her in worry, but Ran shook it away and assured her she was feeling fine.

"I had a sudden flashback of when Shinichi and I were kids. We were catching butterflies just like today, but I was the one who chased after it. In the end we weren't able to catch it, and Shinichi went back to reading a book he brought outside with him." From a far distance, Edogawa Conan stood ten meters away from the two girls, and having heard the sound of his name, looked at where it had come from and saw Ran and Ayumi conversing. His ears perked with curiosity, and he couldn't help but listen to what conversation the two were having.

"I made him catch butterflies with me a week after that. I waited for him for hours, but the idiot never showed up. I gave him a beating after seeing him at school and scolded at him for not showing." Ran sniggered at the memory, having a clear vision of Shinichi's expression as Ran gave him a kick by his shins.

"I gave you my word right? I told you, if you don't show up, I'll kick you hard on the toes!" Ran shrilled in complete fury while Shinichi nursed his foot with gentle touches and blows. Perhaps the little boy regretted standing her up for no person can withhold Ran's strength. He begged her with pleading eyes to stop. He vowed to himself to never leave Ran alone when she plans their little play dates.

Ayumi gave out a loud laugh. "Shinichi – niichan is so stupid! He should've known you'd beat him up for not going!" she hoisted herself beside Ran and looked at her knowingly, her childish eyes gleaming with delight.

Such an unlikely place to reminisce with such an unlikely person to share it with. Ran watched as Ayumi kept giggling either at the memory or at Shinichi's stupidity. In the eyes of the beholder, Ran can see the childish but pure happiness she once had as a child. Free from any responsibilities, free from anything holding you back, free from all the worries. You enjoy the moment as you live it, and nothing or no one will ever hold you back. Ran wished she'd return to a child and be as unrestricted as she can be.

She giggled along with Ayumi, and the two broke into a cheerful laughter.

Shinichi, or rather Conan, frowned inwardly at the comment. He pouted slightly, jutting his lip upfront and crossing his arms by his torso. Well, sorry for being so stupid.

Haibara Ai coughed from behind him, signaling her presence. It startled Shinichi, and he jumped slightly before looking at her. Knowing Haibara, you'll never know when she'll be here or when she'll get here. Mitsuhiko, Genta, and the professor were behind her. Recollecting himself from the startle, he faced them. Each of them held a container full of butterflies, the tiny but strong and colorful wings of the butterflies flapped about in the box. The professor held an extra container of the butterflies, presumably Ayumi's. Shinichi spotted an orange and black colored butterfly on her case, and he smiled at the insect.

"We've brought the butterflies. Call Mouri - san and Yoshida – san. We'll be having lunch at the cafeteria beside the park." Haibara spoke in her usual deadpanned voice, and left the spot where she had once stood. The others followed her like puppies on leashes, chattering about how many butterflies they caught today. Agasa – hakase stayed, wanting to be with the shrunken detective to speak about some things he had in mind. Conan rolled his eyes at her.

"Is something bothering you, Shinichi?" he questioned him. Shinichi gave out a low whistle and placed his hands on top of his head.

"Ah, nothing's bothering me professor. Just heard Ran and Ayumi – chan talking about the butterfly Ran and I found but unfortunately didn't catch when we were kids." He spoke in a bored manner, but on the inside, he was still embarrassed by the comment Ayumi said of him earlier. The professor nodded, smirking in recollection.

"Agasa – hakase!" Ayumi called out to him and waved in order to be spotted. Conan glared at the professor so he wouldn't make a remark, but the old man only shrugged. Tiny limbs stretched out on the professor's stomach. Ayumi laughed and poked at his stomach.

Ran followed the little girl from behind and watched as the sight unfolded in her sights. Conan side glanced at her smiling face and smiled altogether at the light atmosphere she was giving. He loved seeing her smile like that. An aura he'd always be familiar with, the bright smiles which made his insides twist, the happy gleam in her eyes as it shined with a contented glow. The little boy approached her.

"Ran – neechan." He greeted her. Shinichi wanted to say her name once again, without the honorific present. He'd aimlessly call her 'Ran' at times, but the word comes out of his mouth almost every day when he was still in his previous form. 'Ran – neechan' might have been used so frequently now that he was Conan, but he'll never forget and will always get used to calling her 'Ran'.

"Hello, Conan – kun. Did you have fun today?" she asked him.

"Yup. Though the other kids had more fun than I did." He answered carelessly and it alarmed Ran. She raised a brow.

"Kids? But you're a kid too, Conan – kun. Why, you spoke it in such a manner only an adult can speak in." She countered. His eyes widened, a wide blush of clumsiness and embarrassment covered his features.

"What I meant to say was the others were kidding and I had more fun than I thought I would have."

Ran hummed, but she was still suspicious. She wasn't convinced by his answer. Her shoulders shrugged. "I'm heading to the restroom. I'll see you back at the car, Conan – kun, hakase." She waved at them before running towards the restroom. Conan nodded and almost forgot to tell her about lunch.

"Ran – neechan! I forgot to tell you we'll be having lunch at the cafeteria." He screamed loud enough for her to hear. She gave him a thumbs up in response.

Shinichi watched her run from a distance, then a strange gut feeling bubbled up inside him. He clenched his stomach and told himself it must have been from the curry he ate for breakfast this morning. He assured himself to that, but no. He could feel it. Something bad was about to happen. An occurrence he'll probably not know but will in sometime. He scrunched his eyebrows and immediately thought something bad will happen to Ran. Shrugging, he brushed it off and went to the cafeteria. It's pointless, anyway. With Ran's brute strength, who could possibly harm her?

Unwittingly, something bad was about to happen. Somewhere near the restrooms where Mouri Ran had just washed her hands.

The course of the streaming water landed on her soft fingers as she scrubbed them in between spaces. She was oblivious to everything that was happening around. The water calmed her as the liquid and the soap merged together.

Behind her, a man in black holding a white cloth creeped towards Ran. He had found his target; a target who was as strong as her enemy. A target who's kind nature had warmed the hearts of some captured prisoners. A target who is the weakness of many of her close friends, especially Kudo Shinichi. He grinned menacingly, and it would have brought chills to even Jack the Ripper.

She had just turned the faucet off. Ran flickered the excess water when a sudden chill ran down her spine, sensing a presence from behind her. Her heartbeat had already fastened its pace, a nervousness corrupting her consciousness. A somewhat dark, empty, and murderous aura glowed. Its peek was in between secrecy and identification.

Ran turned towards her back in her karate stance, ready to take on her enemy. A foot sprung, but the cloth made it to her mouth and nose before she could connect her foot with the invader's stomach.

Large, rough hands wrapped around her waist and hoisted her by their shoulders. Chloroform, Ran concluded. She fought back the sleepiness that took over her, but it was impossible. Her eyelids were half – closed, then closed entirely as the figure began walking.

Shinichi.

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A/N: I'll update as soon as I can. Please rate, comment, subscribe and favorite the story. Thanks!