Chapter 2

Conan woke up the next morning to loud sounds of snoring near by. Looks like Ot-chan made it back last night he thought with a grumpy deadpan. Rapidly blinking his eyes to get the sleep out of it, he slowly dragged himself out of the futon and into the bathroom. Looking at the clock in the bathroom, it indicated that it was around 8:00 AM. Since it was a Saturday and he didn't have school today he decided that he could probably go over to Professor Agasa's house and talk to Haibara about the antidote today. Picking up the stepping stool he moved it over to the sink to begin his morning routine.

"I can't wait until I get my real body back," he grumbled under his breath as he brushed his teeth. At least then I don't have to use a frickin stool just to brush my teeth and wash my face! He thought bitterly as he rinsed out his mouth and grabbed a towel to wash his face. Heaving a sigh before he got off the stool to put it back, he gave the boy in the mirror one last glare and walked out the bathroom.

Ran was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when he had gotten to the couch where the book he was reading the night before was left. He picked up the book and put it back in the book shelf deciding that he was in no mood to read. Instead he headed to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

"Morning Conan-kun, breakfast is almost ready so just wait a little longer okay," Ran said as she spotted Conan walking in.

"Mmm, hey Ran-neechan, can I have some water?" Conan asked, as he couldn't reach the cabinet were the cups were kept. Ran nodded and told him to give her a minute to finish with the omurice that she was making. Setting the dishes of food aside Ran turned to fill a cup of water for Conan.

"Thank you Ran-neechan," he said cheerily as he took the cup from her. Carrying the cup back to the couch he just glared at it. All facade of happiness faded from his usual childlike cheer he had incorporated into the character that was known as Edogawa Conan. Damn Organization, Damn Poison, Damn Evil Scientist, and Damn Miniature Useless Body! He bitterly thought as he fixed his glare at the ceiling. Conan was so deep in his angry monologue that he didn't hear Ran calling him for breakfast after she had successfully dragged her father out of his bed and practically threw him at the dining table.

"Serves you right for being out late and drinking again" she scolded scowling at her father. Shaking her head she sighed and called Conan to come eat breakfast.

"Conan-kun come eat." She called. When Conan didn't answer her right away she turned to see Conan giving the ceiling a death glare. Wondering what was wrong, Ran walked over to Conan shaking his shoulder a little and asked "Conan-kun, are you okay?" He blinked once and then again, snapping out of his trance and turned to looked back at Ran, giving her a blank look before what she said had registered in his head.

He offered a small smile before reassuring her that he was fine; then he attempted to make his way to the table set with their breakfast. Not convinced of this, Ran blocked his way and and knelt down so she was eye level with him. Conan tried for another cheery smile before saying "Ran-neechan, I'm fine really, there's nothing to worry about. I was just thinking if I could go to Professor Agasa's house today to play some new game he invented. That's all, I'm really fine."

Liar, his subconscious scolded him. He looked at Ran with bright blue sapphire like eyes and smile brightly at her. Ran narrowed her eyes but nodded at his excuse anyway. Standing up and moving back to the breakfast table she said "as long as you finish your breakfast and you don't stay out too late then it's okay. Also called Professor Agasa before you go and call me when you're coming back. You got that Conan-kun?"

"Yes Ran-neechan!" Conan said brightly as he skipped to the breakfast table and wolfed down his breakfast. He really wanted to hurry and see how Haibara was progressing with the APTX antidote.

Sitting down at the table, Conan began wolfing down his breakfast. Looking up from his own breakfast plate, Kogoro grumbled, "hey brat! Slow down before you choke on your food, I don't want to be responsible for having to pay your medical bill for that."

"Dad!" Ran scolded him, "but he is right Conan-kun, slow down a little."

"But I want to hurry up and play Professor Agasa's new game!" He said in the most excitable childish voice he could muster.

"Che, kids," Kogoro grumbled continuing on with his breakfast.

"Ran-neechan, I finished! Can I go now?" Coan asked bouncing up and down in his seat. Ran seemed hesitant for a second, but she smiled and nodded.

"Be back before dinner time" Ran called out after Conan as he ran out the door and down the flight of stairs. I can't believe I ever thought that Conan-kun and Shinichi were ever the same person, Ran thought to herself as she started on washing up the dishes.

Conan rounded the corner as he dashed around the corner slowing down to a speed walk as he headed toward the Professor's house. He arrived there some 15 minutes later and immediately made his way down the pathway and rang the doorbell. Come on Haibara, Hakase, open up! Conan thought impatiently as he rang the doorbell again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," muttered Haibara as she got up from the kitchen table where she and the Professor were having breakfast. When she opened the door, if she was surprised to see Conan there she didn't show it, hiding it behind her usual cool and aloof demeanor. Frowning a little she allowed him entranced to the house and grumbled "what are you doing here."

"To discuss something with you," Conan said with a bright smile. Haibara only gave him a deadpan expression in return.

"Ai-kun, who is it?" Asked Professor Agasa as he came near the entrance of his home. When he saw Conan, he smiled, "oh, Shinichi! Good to see you! Come in and join us, we were just having breakfast."

"Ah, thanks Professor, but Ran already made me eat before I came over." Conan explained as he and the others walked further into the large house.

"And to what special occasion do we owe the presence of the great detective Kudou-kun?" Haibara said once they had finished their breakfast and were seated on the Professor's couch.

"Do I need an excuse to visit?" Conan deadpanned. Haibara gave him a sharp glare before she said "you would if you said it was something you wanted to discuss to me about." She gave him a condescending glare and then quirked up a well manicured eyebrow as a thought occurred to her.

"Did you find some more information on the Black Organization? Or does this have to do with the APTX antidote?"

She got her answer when Conan let out a small 'geh' at her second question. "Bingo" she muttered and fixed him with an unreadable gaze.

"Come on, Haibara I just want to know how you're progressing with it. I mean it's practically been a year since you came up with the antidote; even if it was a prototype." Conan sent her a pleading look. She only shook her head.

"Kudou-kun, genius takes time you know. I'm not magical, I can't just whipped up and conjure the Apotoxin Antidote out of thin air. Just give me more time to come up with a longer lasting antidote. Besides, even if I do end up coming up with a full antidote, there's still the organization to deal with. You're in danger the moment you come back to being Kudou Shinichi."

"But when we take down the organization, I'm useless in this body. I have a better chance in taking the organization down in my original body." Conan argued.

"Yes, because you did so well the first time and got yourself stuck in a child's body!" Haibara shot him another glare.

"Now, now, Ai-kun, that was a bit harsh don't you think?" The Professor said trying to ease the tension between the two.

"No Professor, Haibara is right; it was my fault for running into that alleyway and spying on them that day." Conan said looking down on the ground not meeting anyone in the eye. His bangs cover his eyes as he continued to stare at the ground. Then after several tense minutes, he snapped his head up with new determination in his bright blue eyes and said "yeah, it may have been my fault, but that's the more reason why I should prove that I'm not someone who they could erase so easily! I'll show them what's like to mess with me. Besides I'm not a Kudou for nothing. Just think of what I can do to drive them crazy."

At this Professor Agasa sweat dropped, he knew the kinds of pranks Shinichi's parents could come up with. Haibara had to hide the small amused smile that began to creep along her lips. Nodding her head in comprehension, she looked Conan straight in the eye in all seriousness, "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into. But okay, I'll work on another prototype and see if I can make it last more more than two days; since that was the time limit for the first prototype considering it shortened every time you took it afterwards. If I can find a way to fix that, then perhaps I can make it permanent." She said the last part more to herself than the other occupants in the room. Hearing that Conan brightened up considerably and gave a genuine happy smile.

"To warn you though, there is no guarantee that it will actually work or if I'll actually be able to do this." Haibara said as a forewarning not wanting to raise Conan's hope up too much.

"As long as you can come up with something." Conan said giving her a reassuring smile. Haibara nodded again and excused herself to go to her lab, there were somethings that she wanted to look over since the thoughts were still fresh in her mind. Conan watched her go into the lab and then he sank back down on the couch, all signs of a smile disappeared and replaced by a frown instead.

"Shinichi, are you okay?" Professor Agasa asked. Conan just shook his head.

"I want my life back Professor, they took away everything from me the moment that bastard Gin poisoned me." He grounded the words out bitterly.

Haibara didn't come out of her lab until some three or four hours later and found Conan sleeping on the couch. The Professor had left to go into his mechanic lab probably working on some new experiment. Just then, the phone rang. Sighing, Haibara went to pick it up.

"Hello?" She said into the receiver.

"Ah! Ai-chan! We're going to park tomorrow to play with Mitshuhiko-kun's new basketball tomorrow, do you want to come with us? Also can you tell Conan-kun too? I called the detective agency earlier and Ran-Oneesan said Conan-kun was there." Ayumi babbled excitedly on the other end of the receiver.

"That does sound like fun Yoshida-san, but I'm a bit busy for the time being, maybe next time okay? And as for Edogawa-kun, how about I let him answer if he could go or not." She said with a smirk as she made her way to the couch.

Conan had already woken up and was staring at his phone screen when she got there. Looking up from the screen, he gave her a nod of acknowledgement before returning his eyes to the screen.

"Yoshida-san wishes to speak to the resident great detective." She said thrusting the phone in front of his face.

"Mm busy," he mumbled before looking at his phone's screen once again. Covering the handphone's speaker so Ayumi couldn't hear their conversation she nodded towards the cellphone in his hands, "that's your other phone right? Is something wrong? Is it important?"

"Somewhat," Conan mumbled again. The he looked up and said "just tell her I'm busy or something."

"Nope, I'll give you the honor of doing that yourself Mr. Modern Day Sherlock Holmes." With that Haibara removed her hand from the receiver and shoved the phone in Conan's face again.

Grumbling and giving Haibara the evil eye as she walked off probably to make lunch, he muttered into the receiver "hello."

"Conan-kun! What took you so long?" Ayumi complained.

"I was sleeping," he said rather grumpily.

"Geez Conan-kun, anyway I was going to ask if you could come with us to the park tomorrow. Mitshuhiko-kun got a brand new basketball from his aunt and we wanted to play with it. You're coming right Conan-kun?" She asked after her excited rambled once again.

"Actually, I'm busy tomorrow so I can't go." Conan said with an apologetic smile although she couldn't see it.

"Aww! Conan-kun you're not taking a case without us are you?" Conan could practically see Ayumi narrowing her eyes with suspicion at him.

"O- of course not!" Conan assured her.

"Hmm okay, but you better come play with us next time!" Ayumi said and hung up with a click.

"Those damn kids" he muttered sinking himself lower into the couch if that was even possible. After his silent moping, he got up sighing and went to put back the phone in its right place.

"You're not going?" Haibara asked amused as she fixed a salad in the kitchen. Conan shook his head in response. Then he saw the meal she had prepared and smirked.

"Is the Professor even going to eat all this healthy stuff?" He chuckled.

Haibara looked up momentarily and muttered "he'd better." Then, a little louder she added "you want to stay for lunch?"

"I suppose" Conan said with a shrug. Really though, he just wanted to see the Professor's reaction to lunch.

"In that case help me set the table" Haibara said handing Conan a set of plates and silverware. As she added the finishing touches to the caesar salad, Haibara inquired curiously, although she didn't show it in her tone, "who was that earlier? You seemed focused on the screen."

"Huh?" Conan blinked a few times at the question looking up at the ceiling before it registered to him.

"Oh, that it's nothing really. Just some code Ran wanted me, actually Shinichi, to decode."

"Hmm, so your girlfriend wants you to decode a code for her?" Haibara said smirking knowingly at Conan.

He turned to give her a scowl before muttering "she's not my girlfriend." Then turning his attention back to setting the table, he thought I'm not so sure that I want Ran to be my girlfriend anymore actually. So much has changed; to Conan she's an older sister. Wait, does that mean that I see Ran as a sister? But, I...Do I? Do I still love her like that? Conan froze and stared at the table in his inner turmoil, wondering how he should act if Shinichi ever comes back or even if he temporarily comes back. Ran… he thought sadly.

"Udou-kun, Kudou-kun," he heard Haibara calling him after he came to from his momentary reverie. Haibara gave him a questioning look, "what happened? Don't go off daydreaming on me." She narrowed her eyes at him although she could pretty much tell who he was thinking about just then.

He gave a sheepish smile muttering "sorry bout that." He said it somewhat absent mindedly. Haibara gave him another look that said she didn't believe him one bit. Raising his hands to his face and waving them, he tried to wave of her suspicious and possibly worried looked -he couldn't tell since it's Haibara he's dealing with, she would probably deny being worried- assuring her it's nothing.

"Really, I was just lost in thought, you know how much I want to return to being myself," he attempted for an excuse. Nodding in affirmation although she wasn't entirely convinced, she told him to help her bring the food to the table instead.

"Can you get the Professor from his lab?" Haibara asked placing the last of the meal she made on the table. Conan gave her a nod of confirmation and headed towards the Professor's lab.

"Hey Professor, lunch is ready" he said jerking his head towards the kitchen area. Professor Agasa hummed in acknowledgment before he looked up from his project. Conan gave it a scrutinizing stare before he inquired wearily "what is that?"

"A cream or some kind of gel that can burn through solid objects. I thought it might come in handy, although I don't know what you can use it for to be honest." He said sheepishly putting a hand behind his to scratch it.

"Hmm, that's neat, maybe if I'm tied up I can use something like that." Conan said with a mischievous smirk. Professor Agasa sweat dropped at that. Then he ushered Conan out to go eat lunch.

Once they had finished eating, which consists of a lot of complaints from Professor Agasa who receive a ton of death glares from Haibara and more threats of a diet; Conan decided to bid them goodbye and head back to the detective agency. On his way back, he used his Shinichi phone to text Ran the decoded message.

-Ran, the note says that he will be stealing the Elven's Emerald at 8 PM tomorrow night from some guy called Suzuki.-

As Conan was walking home, his phone buzzed indicating that he had just received a text message. Opening up his Shinichi phone again, he saw Ran's response. -Ah that's right you've never met Sonoko's uncle. He's the one who challenge Kid to steal the jewel. Btw thanks Shinichi, the police said the note was so cryptic that they couldn't figure it out and they sent it to dad since the jewel is being displayed in Beika.-

I already know that it's from Sonoko's uncle, Conan thought monotonously. However, this should be interesting, Kid hasn't held a heist in Beika for a few months now. Smirking to himself he sent Ran a reply text.

-Kid? That infamous thief who's also a magician? I remember passing by on one of his heist before. It was interesting.-

-You've been to a Kid heist? Since when Shinichi?! If you have time to go to a thief's heist then you should have time to come back or at least visit more often!- Ran's reply came in less than a minute of his last text.

-Ah! That was before I got caught up in this case! It was nearly more than a year and a half ago really. About two years ago I think.- Conan frantically replied panicking and dying inside a little. He groaned internally, it's not like he wanted to shrink and disappear for a full year and a half.

-Speaking of cases, I have to get back to this case, I'm onto a possible lead. I'll see you Ran.- He sent her another text before pocketing the phone, not even wanting to see what Ran texted him. It would make him feel even more guilty if he looked at it now anyways. Heaving a long heavy sigh, he trudged back to the detective agency.

Well, at least I have the Kid heist tomorrow to look forward to he thought with a small smile. If he was honest with himself, and that was rare, he actually like the flamboyant thief's heists; not only for their challenges but because it's fun. And he would never admit it out loud but he actually like some of the tricks the magician does. Even though he's more interested in solving the trick than just admiring it like most of the people at Kid heists. And as much as he says that he thinks that Kid is just some thief and is annoying, they sort of formed a bond of trust with each other, a strange friendship between a detective - a magician's greatest critic, according to the thief himself- and a magician. In all honesty Conan would have considered the thief an actual friend and not just frenemy rivals, if Kid wasn't a criminal.

In higher spirits than he had been in all day, he entered the detective agency and smiled calling out "I'm home!"

"Welcome back Conan-kun! We got invited to a party tomorrow!" Ran exclaimed looking extremely excited.

"A party? Tomorrow?" Conan asked intrigued and tilting his head to one side.

Ran nodded in confirmation. The look in her slate blue eyes just screamed excited and was that pride Conan saw flash through them just then.

"Remember how dad got a case yesterday?" Conan nodded not sure where she was going with this.

"Well," Ran continued not really noticing Conan's questioning and somewhat judging look, " the lady turns out to be this wealthy man's niece, and she invited us via her uncle's approval to come to his 68th birthday party. She said that her uncle wanted to meet dad since he's the great Sleeping Kogoro."

Conan nodded thinking to himself as Ran was talking, I see, so it's the typical we get invited somewhere and something happens he thought a bit too bitterly. As an afterthought occurred to him, he sweat dropped a little, I probably just jinxed it. I may not believe in luck but please let nothing bad happen tomorrow. He silently prayed to God hoping his prayers be answered.

When Ran finished talking, he gave her one of his most brightest well long practice smile while jumping up and down excitedly while exclaiming "Wow, we get to go to a party tomorrow! This is going to be so fun Ran-neechan!"

"What was Ot-chan's case anyway?" Conan ask a little curious as Ran smiled down at him enjoying his enthusiasm.

At Conan's question, she put a hand over her mouth in a delicate manner to stifle a laugh -which Shinichi would have thought as cute if he had never shrunk and lived as Conan pretending to be her adopted younger brother- she kneeled down to Conan's height and looked around her conspiratorially, she smirked and said in a whisper, "he found the lady's pet parakeet." This time she didn't bother to stifle the laugh that threatened to bubble out of her.

So the great detective Mouri Kogoro goes bird watching, he smirked inwardly.

"A parakeet?" Conan parroted. Ran stopped her fits of giggles to answer "yeah, according to dad, the parakeet is very special to her, so when dad found it, she was really grateful and she wants to invite us to the party as a thank you. Although I'm sure she's thank dad enough last time." Ran said the last bit with a frown. Conan could only agree with her.

"Oh! That reminds me dad said that the lady would bring her parakeet to the party tomorrow. It's that great Conan-kun? We get to see it." Ran exclaimed once again her eyes lighting up brightly.

"Mmm! I can't wait to go!" Conan said in all childish cheer as he jump up and down excitedly while Ran squeal in excitement as well. Just then, one Mouri Kogoro walked in and just stared at the scene before him.

What are they all squealing for? He thought grumpily. He still kind of had a hangover from last night and the noise wasn't helping his poor head. Seeing her dad at the doorway, Ran dragged him over and told him that Shinichi had decoded Kid's message.

"Che, I could've done that myself you know. I didn't need you to ask that detective brat for assistance." He grumbled sitting down at his desk.

"Yes, but you were too hungover at the moment and I'm sure the police would want the note decoded straight away and Shinichi is a good detective." Ran argued with her father putting her hands on her hips and gave him a look that clearly stated he cannot argue further on that point. Grumbling, Kogoro muttered "so, what did the detective brat say?"

I'm right here old man Conan thought to himself giving Mouri Kogoro a judging look which thankfully he didn't notice.

Pulling out her phone she read the first text that he had sent her earlier that day. Kogoro nodded then picked up the phone to call Inspector Nakamori about the note to Kid's latest heist.

He hasn't responded to my text, although I can't blame him for being busy with his case. Ran thought looking at her phone with a sad miniscule smile that would've been missed had one not been paying attention. And of course Conan didn't miss it, so he tugged at the hem of her shirt and looked up at her with concerned bright blue eyes that darkened in the least bit with worry.

Smiling down at Conan thinking of how sweet he was for being concerned, she just shook her head to indicate that she was fine and announced that she was going to make dinner.

Conan watched her go with a dejected look and wished there was something that he could do to make her feel better but his options weren't really good ones to begin with. He walked over to the couch he was at that morning and picked up his book to continue reading it.

Staring at the wording on the page his mind travelled to mull over his options.

One- He could tell Ran his secret identity so she would know that he really is alive and well, minus the part where he's in the body of a seven year old. But then again there's so many things that could go wrong with that. She could hate him for lying to her all that time or she would think that he is either joking or insane. The other issue would be that she would know about Shinichi hiding as Conan and that would put her in danger with the organization and he didn't want that for her. Telling her the truth could and probably would most likely destroy his friendship with her too so Conan decided to forget about the idea, filing it away in the far corner of his mind.

Two- He could always continue using the antidote or 'borrow' some from Haibara to use from time to time, but if the organization doesn't kill him, then Haibara would for taking it without her permission.

To say the least all his options suck and there's nothing he could do about his current situation but wait for an antidote or if there will even be one. He heaved a dejected sigh wondering if he should just let Ran go if he can't return to his own body or if even if he returns, what will still be there for him considering how much has changed since he's been gone.

Conan fell asleep on the couch with that last thought in mind. His evening nap was the direct opposite of a peaceful slumber to say the least.

A/N: The second chapter yay! Yeah I know, still pretty uneventful. Hopefully Kaitou Kid makes an appearance in the story soon though. Also, sorry if I'm butchering their characters, because to me I feel like they're pretty out of character lol. On another note, the cream/gel thing that Professor Agasa made I got the idea from the Alex Rider series. It's a pretty good series hehe. Mmm, I know that Agasa usually makes gadgets and not chemical substances like the gel but hey maybe Haibara helped him with it considering she's a scientist and good with chemicals and all. Anyway I'll stop rambling on about pointless things now and hope you all enjoyed this chapter lol.