When the Cows Come Home

Chapter 2

"Why are we going to Agasa-hakase's again?" Mitsuhiko asked his friend.F

"Well, Ai-chan seemed a bit melancholy so I thought we could go and cheer her up," Ayumi said thoughtfully, putting her finger to her chin.

'She always looks that way,' both Genta and Mitsuhiko thought simultaneously.

As the three turned the corner they froze in their tracks. It took them a few seconds before they were able to take in the whole picture. Haibara was lying on the ground...

...surrounded by a large pool of blood. Ayumi's scream pierced the silence and brought the other two back to reality.

Mitsuhiko rushed to Haibara's side while Genta tried to get Ayumi to stop screaming.

"Haibara-san! Haibara-san!" He shook her shoulders delicately.

No response.

He felt his chest tighten as her bangs shifted to reveal her cold, pale face. With shaky hands he reached down and placed two of his fingers on her neck, just under her jaw.

He let out the breath he had been holding as he felt a pulse. It was weak, but not gone. With that, he whipped out his phone and dialed for an ambulance.

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'Why?' Ran asked herself for the uptenth time in the past half hour. She slowly made her way down the old wooden stairs, eyes dodging left and right as if reading some imaginary manuscript hovering just in front of her. Being an easy target for stressing herself out, she knew she would be needing a few excedrin when she returned home.

Home.

He would be there.

She felt an involuntary shiver go up her spine. How would she confront this? How would she confront him? She absent-mindedly chewed the tip of her thumbnail.

Deeply lost in thought and all senses failing her, she hadn't noticed how close to the edge of the step she was. Then that sudden prickling feeling appeared in her head. She watched her vision go from stairs to ceiling. It wasn't until a few seconds after she stopped that the flooding sensation of blood traveling to the back of her head hit her. She automatically placed her hand over it, putting pressure on it. Boy, did that sting.

"Ran! Ran you all right?!" She distantly heard her friend calling her name as she rushed to her side from the kitchen. Ran let out a slight groan before Sonoko helped prop her up.

"Y-yeah." She took a deep breath, which seemed to release a bit of the pain as she exhaled. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. I just wasn't paying attention and I slipped." Not a lie.

She laughed it off and rubbed the spot on the back of her head where it felt as if it were throbbing.

"Jeez. You're such an airhead," Sonoko sighed. "Here. Let me take a look."

Reluctantly, Ran removed her hand and turned so the back of her head was visible to Sonoko. Her friend brushed her hair back a bit, making Ran wince at the touch and make a slight hissing sound.

"Ouch. That's gonna leave a bruise. Come on. Let's get back to your place so we can put some ice on it." She offered a hand, which Ran took gratefully, pulling herself up. Sonoko began to walk towards the door. She peeked over her shoulder to see Ran staring down at her feet, a very confused, if not worried, expression on her face.

"Ran?" No response. "Yo, Ran," she called, a bit more forcefully. Her head snapped up, a look of surprise replacing her previous one. Sonoko raised an eyebrow "You sure you're all right? I can call an ambulance to carry you away if you feel you're gonna keel over." She smirked as she saw a light blush tint Ran's cheeks.

"I-I'm perfectly all right. I was just thinking," she countered, crossing her arms and puffing out her chest a bit. Sonoko shrugged and continued advancing towards the entrance way.

"Sure sure. Hurry up or you're walking home on your own." Ran trotted up to her friend's side, not quite cleared of thoughts but a bit better. At least now she was smiling.

Locking the front door followed by the front gate, they followed the sidewalk around the corner, only to find the road blocked by a few police cars and an ambulance.

"Hey, Ran." Sonoko jabbed her in the side with her elbow. "I think they're here for you," she joked, making Ran's face adopt a redder hue.

Ran averted her attention back to the scene in front of her, taking careful note that there were three children standing near the side of the ambulance. Three very familiar children. But Sonoko beat her to it.

"Hey, aren't those the glasses brat's friends?" There was actually a hint of worry wavering in her voice. Both girls turned and made eye contact, each face mirroring the other's grim expression. Without another word they both half-jogged, half-sprinted towards the scene, until a police officer stopped them. They assured him that they knew the children and he let them pass with a solemn nod.

"Ayumi-chan!" As Ran drew near the girl's side, she looked up from the child's hands, where her face was previously buried. Her face was flushed, her eyes red from crying, and her cheeks were stained with tear streaks. Ran found a lump caught in her throat. 'Surely it wasn't...'

"A-Ayumi-chan. What happened here?" The girl sniffled and was silent for a few seconds before she slowly shook her head. It seemed more like trying to shake something from her memory rather than an answer. Ran turned her eyes towards the two boys standing next to her. Their heads were hung and faces paled. She suddenly couldn't find the words to speak, a dread growing inside her.

What seemed like an hour passed before the tall stick-like boy, Mitsuhiko, piped up.

"Haibara-san.... she was shot." All it took were those words to remind her of what she had been trying to forget, and Ayumi started up again, burying her face into her hands once more. Mitsuhiko continued.

"We found her l-lying here. Sh-she was covered in b-b-blood." His voice wavered and he looked as if he were on the verge of tears, himself. "They said she's in bad condition... and they don't know... if she'll make it... to the hospital in time." His fists were clenched tight enough for the blood to have drained, making his knuckles white.

Although the news was quite startling, Ran couldn't help but release the breath she didn't know she was holding. 'So it wasn't him...'

The paramedics closed the back doors to the ambulance and roared down the narrow streets, screeching sirens slowly becoming fainter with each passing moment.

'Wait. Ai-chan... he usually walks with her.' Ran's heart skipped a beat at the realization. 'Where is he?'

"Hey. Have you guys seen.... Conan-kun?' Her voice faltered a bit as she spoke his 'name'. All three of them looked up at her with innocent, questioning eyes, before shaking their heads simultaneously. For a moment, Ran felt oblivious to the world; like she could see all that was going on, but was not a part of it. A flood of emotions began to fall upon her already-aching heart. Her mind couldn't bring itself to decide whether she was angry at him for lying or worried from the fact that he was apparently missing.

"Ran-neechan." Ayumi's childish voice brought Ran back into the world of the living. She turned to meet her eyes. She looked quite distressed and pale, which seemed odd on her youthful face. She forced herself to stop crying so she would be able to speak properly.

"I-I want to go... wait for Ai-chan to wake up.... will... will you walk with me?" Ayumi shuffled her feet anxiously. Genta and Mitsuhiko declared they were going as well. Ran looked over to Sonoko, searching for her opinion.

"I can't. I've got a date with my chemistry notes." She waved her hand in front of her face with an exasperated look on her face. "Don't you forget to study as well!"

Mockingly, she bopped Ran on the nose with her index finger and went on her way, but not before turning back with a more serious expression. "Let me know how the kid's doing later, 'kay?" Ran nodded solemnly and began walking the opposite direction, the kids following close behind.

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'It's too bright...' was the first thing that came to Ai's exhausted mind. She felt like shit, to say the least. Shit that had been trampled on. Her sense of hearing was the next to return to her. There was the monotonous sound of beeping that seemed to echo in her eardrums, aiding to her already terrible headache. She sucked in a deep breath of air, only to break into a coughing fit. Damn was her throat dry...

"....." 'Huh?' Her coughing ceased and she could begin to hear noises in the background. At first, just an echo, but it slowly became louder and clearer until words, then sentences, sprouted up from the low rumble of noise.

"Ah!... think... coming to... get... doctor..." It was distinctly a female's voice. Older, but not adult. Summoning up her weakened will power, Ai forced her way back into the present world of light. She blinked off the burning sensation in the back of her retinas, allowing her vision to clear up. Using her original deduction of where she was by that oh-so familiar beeping sound, she tied it together with what she saw. She was currently half-sitting, half-laying in a bed, undoubtedly a hospital bed, surrounded by off-white walls and metallic machines she recognised from her days as a scientist.

Now becoming more aware of another presence in the room, she turned her head to investigate. Her eyes suddenly widened and her poker face dropped. 'O-oneechan?' Slowly the image of her sister warped into the familiar figure of Ran. 'That girl.' Her face returned to its usual indifferent gaze as she half-glared at her. Ever since she had first met Mouri Ran, her presence had always rubbed her the wrong way. Way too perky, highly emotional, motherly... beautiful... oneechan... She abruptly turned to stare at the closed window, unable to handle the sight of her any longer. There was something about that girl that brought back those painful memories.

"Ai-chan?" Her 'name' seemed to roll from Ran's mouth like a delicate wave, drawing Ai's eyes slowly back to her. "How are you feeling?" Again, the sight of her brought about a wave of nausea, but she held it back. If she weren't a scientist, she would have sworn this girl was other-worldly, or something God had stuck into her life so she would never forget her past. If it was the latter, damn them.

Ran grimaced at the motherly smile plastered on Ai's face. Wait, plastered? She made notes of her key facial features. Yep. Definitely a mask. So what was really going on in that head of hers? Ran glanced behind her, noticing the door was ajar. She stood and briskly made her way towards, it putting her hand on the knob. There was a loud bang as she slammed the door, making Ai jump slightly and stare at the girl's back. She stood there for a moment before slowly pivoting. Ai couldn't hold back a shudder as she made eye contact with a now pissed-looking teenage Ran. If she could have, Ai would have shrunken away with each step the girl took nearer to her. Now standing at her bedside, she lifted a water bottle from the small table and held it in front of Ai's face.

"Drink," she said coldly. Ai blinked, dumbfounded, but obediently took possession of the bottle. She was thirsty, after all. Pushing herself up into a more comfortable sitting position, she felt fire shooting up from the nerves in her abdomen. 'Ah. That's right... I got shot.' Her eyes widened for a split second, but it was long enough for Ran to catch the slip up in her mask.

"Now. You're gonna tell me what happened, right?" There was a smile on her face, but it was anything but a friendly one. It was that face she put on when Shinichi did something to piss her off, right when she was about to thwack him upside the head. Feeling a wave of obstinance building up in her, she glanced down at the water bottle, which she was tipping idly back and forth in her hands.

"No." She flatly put out with no emotion in her voice. A small smirk found itself upon her face as she saw the corner of Ran's lips twitch. 'I'm acting like such a child.'

She let out heavy sigh, letting the bottle fall onto her lap.

"What would I gain from not telling you? It'd be stupid of me not to tell anyone." Ran leaned forward on her toes, obviously a bit interested to hear it was story time.

"But... that's not what you wanted to ask me. Is it?" Ai inquired, and was not surprised at the girl's startled and flustered reaction. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"W-what is your connection... to Kudo Shinichi?" Ran chose her words carefully. Ai's eyebrow perked up, but her expression remained steady and solid. She was curious to know where this was coming from. She decided to go the route of innocence.

"I've never met the guy, so how could I have a connection to him?" She shrugged softly to avoid moving any muscles in the region of her abdomen. Ran's face turned to a scowl as she reached into her pocket and waved an envelope in front of her face.

"Then I guess what's written in here is just a prank then?" Ai immediately recognised the writing as her own. Her eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.

"And when did you make it a habit to sneak into others' houses and go through their stuff?" she commented dryly, making Ran's face flush with both added frustration and a little embarrassment.

Ran's eyes narrowed. "So you do know something." She put her hands on her hips. There was definitely an I'm-pissed-off tone to her voice, so Haibara thought it in her best interest not to poke fun at the gullible girl anymore. Well, not like she'd do anything to her anyways. Physically, for that matter.

"Just who exactly are you? This letter here says that YOU wrote it, and I don't know about you but I've never seen a detailed scientific examination written by a first grader! There's just no way someone you're age should be smart enough to-" She stopped when she realized what she was saying. Slowly, she looked from the letter to the 'girl's' eyes. Haibara returned her gaze with a -somewhat- evil and confirming smirk.

Just as Ran was about to say something (after moving her jaw up and down a few times like a fish), the door clicked open and in came the doctor, a fine, dashing, young man, perhaps early in his career, as well as three of the five Detective Boys.

"Ai-chan!!!" Ayumi was the first to run over to her bedside. The little girl peeked over the side at the faux little girl. "You're ok! Oh my god! I was so worried about you!" Tears were brimming in her soft, azul eyes. Genta and Mitsuhiko joined her by the bedside.

"They said you were in critical condition..." Mitsuhiko noted, looking down solemnly.

"But it's a good thing you found her when you did," the doctor piped in merrily, as he looked over a few papers on his clipboard. "If she had gotten here even 10 minutes later it might have been too late. By the way, I'm your doctor, Mizuruna Hidan," he added in, giving her a friendly smile. He wasn't half bad looking, actually, and he had the angelic, yet strong, voice to match. Ai was curious if he had ever considered acting or modeling. She quickly cast that thought aside as the conversation moved along. Ran glared at her all the while.

"Haibara-san, what exactly happened?" Genta asked, his brows furrowed. Ai twitched in remembrance and Mizuruna-san took note of it, quickly changing the topic.

"Now now. I have to give her another examination to make sure she's moving along to a full recovery." He looked between his clipboard and the monitors of the machines around her before writing something down. "How are you feeling?" he asked without looking at her.

"A little sore. It twinges a bit." She lightly rubbed where she had gotten her stitches. Ran's glare didn't let up for a second and Haibara caught her gaze, sending her another unchildish, demonic grin. Ran couldn't help but shudder.

"Ah. That's probably due to the pain medicine wearing off. Here," he pulled out a syringe from his coat pocket and put a hypodermic needle on the end. "I'll give you a bit more, but it'll make you sleepy." He flicked the end a bit, letting the air bubble float to the top. "I hope you don't mind going to sleep again." he said while injecting the clear liquid into the IV.

Haibara faked a yawn. Ran popped a blood vessel.

"Well then, you can talk to her again when she wakes up later." He began to usher the three children, who moaned in unison, as well as Ran, out the door. "Pleasant dreams, Haibara-san." he said as he closed the door behind himself.

Haibara let out a sigh before slumping down into her bed. Keeping up the innocent act was a lot more challenging than one thought it would be, especially with her personality. She had to refrain from making several sarcastic remarks throughout all of that. Daylight was giving way to night and this time, she covered her mouth as a real yawn forced its way out. 'I'll have to notify Hakase of Kudo-kun's situation... after I wake up.' Her breathing became a bit more ragged and uneven. 'Th-there's really nothing... I can do at the moment...'

She suddenly felt her chest tighten and she let out a loud groan of agony. W-what was going on? Again, her heart felt as if it was being bewitched by some witchdoctor.

This time she grabbed onto her hospital robes just above her heart. The pulse rate machine was going haywire next to her; the beeping only stimulating her hysteria even further, like a drum. She face was pale and she was covered in sweat. Gasping slightly, she looked up to the IV bag.

'I-it couldn't be...' Her heart gave one final lurch and a muffled scream echoed through the nearby hospital rooms.

Bleh. Yeah, I know I really need to update more often :/ But hey! I made up for it by making this chapter 700 words longer than the last (that would mean this one is approx 3100 words)!!!! XD

And yes. I left you another clif hanger.... AND YOU DON'T GET TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TILL NEXT YEAR HAHAHAHHAA!!!

No really.

I'm totally booked for my winter vacation till I come back for school in January, so till then, sorry. No updates.

But don't fret! I will probably have planned out what I'm doing for future chapters by then! (which means updates sooner XD)

NEXT CHAPTER!!!!

Takagi and Satou make an appearance! Along with Ran they find a mysterious person in Agasa's house! Who is this teenage girl?! And for the love of God, what has become of our dear sweet Conan!!! NEXT TIME: Prints

THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO MY SUPER DUPER AWESOME FRIEND Hela Kaede FOR EDITING MY STORY!!! CHECK OUT HER DETECTIVE CONAN FANFICS AS WELL!!!

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