Conan was home at last after a long day at school putting up with loud and highly obnoxious children.

"Hello?", he called. "Is anybody here?"

Conan could hear foot steps around the corner and called out again only to be interrupted by a squeal.

"What in gods name..."

He turned the corner to see Ran fascinated by some sort of paper. He could tell by the expression on her face that either she won the lottery or she got the letter he sent her as Shinichi.

"What is it Ran-neechan?"

"Oh Conan-kun! It's a letter from Shinichi! I haven't heard from him in months..." A tear came to her eye.

He smiled, acting surprised and said, "Oh! What does it say?"

"Well he wants me to meet him in the park on Saturday. His case has ended so he'll be around for a while."

Conan drifted off into a day dream. He was excited to finally have an opportunity to tell Ran that he loved her and have a whole weekend to get it right. It was perfect. He couldn't thank Ai more for another experimental antidote.

"What time will he meet you?", he asked, collecting the information to sound oblivious to the plan.

"It says noon! Oh Conan I'm so excited! That ass hole better have a present for me for being away so long...", she made a fist and Conan gulped, well aware that he had neglected to contact her for far too long.

***

"Conan-kun get over here damn it! I need your opinion on this!"

Ran was a bit stressed from having put off all of her planning until the morning before her meeting with Shinichi. She hadn't quite picked out anything she wanted to wear yet.

"Yes, Ran-neechan!"

Ran mumbled, "Why do I even care what I look like? I'm just going to mess it all up with I kick him in the face..."

Conan once again gulped and scratched his head.

"You look nice Ran-neechan!"

She only gave him a piercing glare that sent shivers down his spine.

Ran spoke through her teeth, "Don't you have some where to be?"

"Ah! Yes Ran-neechan!"

He bolted out. Women were so confusing to him. Hadn't she just called him over? She was right though, he did tell her that he had plans to meet with the detective boys to solve a mystery although it was a complete lie. He was simply going to Dr. Agasa's house to take the antidote.

As he arrived he rang the door bell and Dr. Agasa let him in with a big warm smile. He could see Ai around the corner working away on her computer.

"Ah hello Shinichi-kun! Here for your pill?"

"Yes, yes I am. I'm am so ready to be back to myself for at least a little while.", he sighed in relief.

So Conan was handed the pill and took it right away. It wasn't long before he felt the familiar excruciating burning pain that meant he was changing back. He collapsed briefly but when he came to finally he could sense how different his body was. He looked at his hands and felt his face to see if it was true and indeed it was. Shinichi smiled and walked confidently towards the park.

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***

Ran sat on a park bench checking her watch often. The sun was bright and wisps of clouds gathered at the horizon. She could hardly wait for Shinichi to show up. She had so many things to confess after being apart for so long; if only he would finally stick around long enough to hear what she had to say. Well, either way she'd kick his ass if he tried to escape again.

"Hello, beautiful girl."

Ran heard a familiar voice and looked up to see someone walking towards her. Could it be Shinichi? Damn guy is always fashionably late she thought and made a fist, ready to pound him.

He stood over her and reached a hand out with the smirk so familiar to Ran. She took his hand and he pulled her into a long hug.

"I've missed you Ran." he whispered in her ear.

"I... I've missed you too Shinichi", Ran said, a bit shocked at his bluntness.

"Let's go; I have some plans for us today"

Ran was lead away into the city.

***

Shinichi looked at his watch and said, "Where is she? She's never late for anything."

He sat down on the park bench where he was supposed to meet her. She was hurrying on her way the last time he saw her. Something wasn't right about it. He decided to try and call her cell phone. He pulled out his phone and dialed then listened to it ring and ring until it went to her message machine. He looked around to try and understand.

"I've got to start some where..." he whispered to himself.

He began to look around the bench for anything suspicious. Nothing seemed out of place at all. He traced the path she must have walked; looking for any sign to no avail.

Still relatively calm he knocked on the door to her house. Korogo answered, half drunken as usual.

"What the hell do you want?", he slurred, his eyes rather glazed over.

"I was wondering if Ran was here."

"Uh no...", he said as he closed the door on Shinichi.

He pushed on the door in response and said, "Well can I come in for a moment to look for her? I can't find her anywhere."

Korogo's attention shifted to another pack of beers. Shinichi rolled his eyes and walked in.

"Crazy old man", he said to himself.

Shinichi searched the couch, her room, the bathroom, and everywhere without finding a single trace of her. He began to panic.

"I've looked everywhere... There is nothing pointing to her being anywhere but where she was supposed to be!" he muttered.

***

Ran opened her eyes and focused. Nothing seemed particularly familiar to her until a face came into view. She watched the face come closer to her and even closer as the figure the face belonged to bent down and smiled.

"Shinichi... Where am I?"

The face simply smiled and said "Paradise" and offered her a hand once again.

She took it and was pulled up off of a soft bed of pillows. Everything was brightly colored and appeared to be soft and touchable. A small breeze blew into the window and fluttered the thin curtains. It was salty and cold; was she by the ocean? She was being lead out of the door and into a long hallway with many doors. Suddenly she felt the urge to pull away. She felt out of place or that something else was.

"Don't fret, Ran. I'm here for you."

She jerked at the sound of the voice and stopped being lead. Ran looked the face directly in the eyes and stared. This wasn't Shinichi.

"Who are you?", she said firmly.

"Ran? Are you okay?" the voice said, sounding concerned.

Ran frowned and sternly said, "You are not Shinichi. Who are you?"

The face smirked, "You're smarter then you let on. I'm surprised you caught on. Who am I? My name is Kaito Kuroba, I don't believe we've met."

He stuck out a hand, prompting Ran to shake it. She did not respond to his gesture and instead frowned deeply, obviously angered.

"What's the matter Ran? Were you expecting a date?"

Ran didn't respond yet again and instead turned around and ran back into the room and to the window. She looked out; defiantly by the ocean. She began to brace herself to jump out of the window to escape but as she jumped a hand caught her foot, holding her from falling. Ran screamed to be set free but was instead pulled up.

"I guess you could do that, but you wouldn't get anywhere. This is Paradise; you can't leave, girl." He smirked.

"How is that possible!?", Ran demanded an answer.

"Magic."

Ran turned for the window again but when she looked out there was a mirror image of the room she was standing in. The colors, the softness, everything was the same. Ran gasped and fell to the floor and sobbed.

"Shinichi..."

***