Hi!

I decided to cut a lot of unnecessary chatter in this chapter and so now this chapter is extremely short but at least the plot is moving along than from what it wasn't before. I also added something in to make it more appeasing but I won't really know if I was right until what not. Sorry again for the short chapter, I'll make it up soon!

Thanks – enjoy!

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Chapter Four: Her Realization

Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan

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If there was ever a time to feel lost, now would be the perfect moment. Ran had never felt so unsure in her life, and it bugged her that her mind kept insisting on the fact that Conan-kun was Shinichi. She still was in shock in what she said to the boy, she told Conan-kun that she would give up on Shinichi but that was far from the truth.

Ran let out a bitter laugh, her mind was always thinking about Shinichi no matter the situation she was in. It was kind of pathetic but that's just how much she cared for him. Guilt swept over her rather quickly too. If it was Shinichi, what did he think of her now?

The brunette pulled out her cell phone and opened it up eyeing Shinichi's phone number. Maybe she should call him and apologize? Ran shook her head, closing her cell phone, with a sigh. Shinichi wouldn't understand why she was apologizing because he wasn't Conan and she'd probably be bugging him in the middle of his case.

There was no way Ran was going to bother Shinichi, she wouldn't call him unless it was an emergency because she wanted him to hurry up and get done but what if…What if Conan-kun would tell Shinichi that she would give up on him?

Guilt turned to panic as Ran snapped the phone open and pressed in the digits to Shinichi's phone number. Ran anxiously awaited his voice on the other line but it simply rang and rang leaving Ran only to deflate in sadness as she finally let the cellular shut once more.

Busy again, Shinichi was always busy because of his case – or he was simply avoiding her as his identity as Conan. Ran placed her cell phone back into her jeans and glanced up to finally see where she had ended up at.

At first it was hard to see at first with so many people around. In truth it was almost like she was living in a maze, seeking out answers that were out of reach. Ran shook her head, what in the world was she thinking? Nothing was making sense anymore. When Ran finally escaped through the crowds of people she found herself in a familiar place. This place - it was the diner where she had witnessed a murder case unfold a long ways back when she pretended she was going on a date but actually just going to see her mother. It wasn't the best place in the world but at least if Ran sat down she could think things through without earning a headache in the end.

Ran reached for the door but as she did she bumped hands with someone. Ran raised her head to quickly apologize but mouth fell agape in surprise when she saw a much missed familiar face.

"Jodie-sensei?" Ran called out still in shock after seeing the undercover FBI agent back in Japan again. Jodie was actually Ran's old English teacher up until a long while back when she was sent to America to find her "treasure," or criminal whom Jodie was searching for. The blonde haired woman quickly smiled upon seeing Ran's face.

"Ah Mouri-san it is good to see you again! It has been quite a while, hasn't it?" Ran nodded in agreement, she had really missed having her sensei around. "Are you planning on eating here too Mouri-san?"

Ran nodded again, she just couldn't find the words to reply. Jodie-sensei always had a way of putting Ran's mind at ease when Sonoko wasn't available to talk to. In fact her teacher had become more than a friend than anything else. "Good!" Jodie replied happily with a cheerful laugh, "I missed having con-ver-sa-tions with Mori-san!" Ran returned eagerly with a smile, her sensei's Japanese was still as bad as usual.

Jodie lead Ran inside, they both sat down at a table near a window and the two talked about school for awhile until finally the conversation turned sour at the mention of Shinichi's name. Ran's glowing happiness suddenly flickered and the brunette became silent almost immediately. Jodie tilted her head as she continued to watch Ran play with the straw in her drink by flicking it about with a sad expression on her lips. "Mouri-san?"

Ran snapped up at the call suddenly feeling stupid, her mind went back on the thought of Conan-kun and Shinichi's real identities. If only she had some way to prove her ridiculous theory!

"Sensei…"Ran began cautiously in a low whisper, "D–do you think it's possible to shrink people?"

Jodie's eyes widened at this—could she be talking about…? Jodie couldn't help but smirk as she hadn't expected something like this to come from Ran of all people. The blonde haired woman tapped her cheek and finally the answer came to her in an instant. Another curved smile appeared on Jodie's lips while Ran waited patiently for answers.

"Well Mouri-san anything is possible just like a certain person who never ages." Ran blinked in confusion and Jodie simply continued to grin on happy that she was able to throw her hidden message out there. Yet Ran still completely oblivious took it as a teasing joke.

"Sorry I knew it was stupid question." Ran muttered scratching the side of her head and leaning back in her chair. "I don't know what I was—"

"Mouri-san," Jodie called, cutting off Ran's potential rant. "What happened to your finger, did you cut it?" Ran paused, gazing down at her hands – they looked fine but this time something felt off and the karate champion just couldn't place why she felt this way.

"W-where?" Ran stuttered out, she was so zoned out by her doubts that she couldn't find any sort of deception. Jodie-sensei reached for the straw she had left wrapped for her soon to arrive refreshment and tore off the paper covering it. Jodie dunked her straw in Ran's water than placed her thumb over the top of the straw and pulled it very slowly out until it was fine to move it over to Ran's right hand.

Ran watched with curiosity as her sensei's thumb released the straw and soon water droplets fell down on her index fingers. Astonishment appeared on Ran's facial features when an odd mixture of colors smeared with the water and before Ran could get a better look, her sensei dapped over that finger with her napkin. It was almost like watching a magic show but usually as a little girl Ran would be pleased at the ending results yet this was a completely different story. After all now Ran had a clear view of the truth that had been hidden away before.

The karate champion felt her teeth grit angrily. Just thinking about the fact the truth had been in front of her all along made her feel extremely unpleasant. If only she hadn't dismissed it due to the carefully placed make up! At least on the bright side, Ran knew Shinichi was Conan-kun and while there were some doubts in her mind, Ran ignored them. After all that one day where Conan-kun and Shinichi appeared in the same place at the same time, there were some little odd details about that day that made her a tiny bit suspicious. One suspicion being that Conan-kun was oddly cold to her that day. Sure Conan was sick, but there had been many incidents before when the tike was running a fever and begged that she stay by his side. It never made sense that he would suddenly start ignoring her the day Shinichi made his grand entrance.

This indicated that Conan-kun just had to be an impersonator covering for Shinichi while the real one gloat about in his normal sized body. While although she couldn't explain the growing and shrinking process – Ran was positive the mystery was finally solved.

There was a wave of relief that crossed Ran's mind because at least she knew she partially wasn't insane and that sometimes things like this are possible but extremely rare. All Ran could do now was confront a certain mini-sized detective and make him turn back once and for all. IF she could because she really did miss that stupid detective freak.

"Mouri-san, are you alright?" Ran blinked up and was surprised when she felt water roll down her cheek.

All this time had she been unconsciously crying ever since she had watched the truth been uncovered?

It seemed her mind was aware of things way before she grasped it...How strange.

"Yes, yes," Ran said quickly to dismiss the concern in her sensei's tone as she wiped away the tears. "This was nothing I simply cut my finger earlier this morning. I had forgotten that I tried to hide it with makeup was all."

"Oh okay!" Jodie replied with a big smile. "Mouri-san is so cute sometimes." Ran blushed in embarrassment from what Jodie said as it almost sounded like her sensei was secretly laughing at her. If only she could tell her sensei the truth but even if Jodie was an FBI agent there must have been a reason why Shinichi kept telling Megure-keibu not to involve him in any case.

Ran desperately wanted to see Shinichi again because there was so much to do. One of course that she wanted to hear the truth from his lips now more than ever before and two…Ran's face suddenly turned white.

Just how many times had she let Conan-kun see her naked? And just how many more times had she secretly confessed to Conan-kun about loving Shinichi? Those tears she had felt before suddenly sizzled, Ran felt like a spark of fire had been lit deep inside of her and boy was she furious!

All this time Shinichi had made a fool of her and playing with her emotions when he knew well how she felt about him! Ran wanted to kill Shinichi Kudo at this point – she would kill him!

"Ah!" Ran exclaimed grabbing her phone and looking at the time on her cell phone to seem dismissive towards the FBI agent. "I need to go home and prepare lunch for Conan-kun later, sorry I wish we had more time to talk Jodie-sensei." Jodie shook her head, signaling it was fine and told Ran that she had her own work to do as well. Ran went into her pocket to find money but realized she hadn't grabbed anything other than her phone upon leaving the agency. "Oh no I left my—"

"It's okay Mouri-san I'll cover the bill." Ran felt horrible but had no other choice but to accept the offer.

"I promise to pay you back soon." Ran announced as she bowed her head and then stood up to leave but Jodie-sensei caught her arm. Ran was surprised how rough the grip was, and it was strange that when she turned to look at Jodie-sensei an image of a rainy scene appeared in her mind. In that rainy scene and blurred image that Ran just couldn't picture out at the moment.

Ran blinked a couple times before the image faded away and she was left staring at Jodie-sensei who held a much serious expression than her light usual one. It nearly sent chills down Ran's spine. "S-sensei?" Ran stammered out of fear.

"Mouri-san just remember one thing, 'A secret makes a woman, woman.'"

And that was that, her sensei let her hand go and returned her expression back to its bubbly happy one. "Take care of yourself!" Ran had no choice but to nod slowly while dismissing the eerie feeling growing inside her heart and thanked her sensei once again before parting ways out of the store.

Just as Ran disappeared out of sight, Jodie's drink and meal finally arrived and the blonde haired FBI agent smiled taking it as she lifted it up to her lips for a small sip. Jodie than placed the cup down on the table and glanced over at Ran's spot.

"Anytime," Jodie replied softly as she stared at Ran's glass with appreciation. "Anytime at all...Angel."

It was then her own phone rang in a melodic way that finally made "Jodie-sensei's" scornful scowl finally appear on her face as she knew well who was calling her.

Gin.

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End Chapter 4!

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