DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN DETECTIVE CONAN.

CHAPTER FOUR: SHERRY

Note: Advanced apologies to everyone if the Japanese terms I inserted are wrong. I'll put up the English version in case it's hard to understand.

Thank you all for your understanding! Well, I hope you enjoy the one!

XXXXX

Inside the auditorium, there was a conference room in the first floor where Akai and the rest are having their meeting. James, Andre, Jodie, Akai, Akemi and other FBI agents were present. (Akemi is not an FBI agent. She's just present for the matter because she knows a lot about the organization. And the person they are targeting.)

There was a long wooden table in the center and around it were chairs were everyone present was sitting. In front of them is where James Black was standing and behind him was where the projection was flashing their plan about today's event.

"Sherry." said James. "Rena told us that the organization will be here to accompany an important member of the organization. They might as well treat this person like a VIP."

"Did Rena send a photo or something? What do we know about her?" asked Jodie.

"That's where Akemi will begin." James said, passing the spotlight to Akemi. Akemi was sitting in the corner when James nodded at her. She looked nervous, Akai knew that look in her face. She stood in front and stood straight, mustering the courage to speak.

"Sherry is a woman. She's about twenty three years old by now."

"How are we sure that this isn't Vermouth playing with us again? Like Jenever." said Andre.

"Not this time. I personally know who she is. She...She's-" Akemi didn't want to say it. But the reason she begged Akai to convince James to let her speak right now was because she wanted to convince them not to hurt... "-my sister."

Before anyone could speak. Akemi spoke again, cutting everyone off.

"Please don't hurt her. She- She's not that dangerous. I know her." she reasoned even without them saying anything. Akai wanted to stop her from talking any further, but he held himself back. Akemi was a strong woman. She can handle this.

"Akemi-san, your sister killed several people already." Jodie reported hesitantly. Akai shot her a glare. You shouldn't be saying that now, Jodie.

"What do you mean My sister's never killed before. Sure she made that a drug to kill people but it wasn't her intention to!"

XXXXX

Conan heard what Akemi said. His eyes widened. Akemi... Akemi has a sister... and that's Sherry. Sherry. Hearing just her codename makes me want to puke. It reminds me of every single thing I had to suffer. Sherry created that drug. The one reason that makes me suffer like this. Why Ran had to suffer like this. Conan was breathing in anger. Rage. Hatred. I will find you, Sherry. And I will make you pay.

But then his thoughts were shaken when a familiar hand shakes him by the shoulder.

"Is Conan-kun alright?" Ayumi said with a worried voice. Conan tried to gather his thoughts to normal.

"Conan, are you going to eat your food? It's getting cold." said Genta, staring at his food.

"Omu (Uhm)..." he brought himself back together before answering. "S- Sure."

"Hontoni (Really)?! Arigatou!" Genta immediately took Conan's plate and guzzled down on his food.

"Conan-kun, are you feeling well?" Ayumi asked, again looking at Conan in a very worried way. Mitsuhiko on the other hand was scolding Genta for eating so greedily. But Conan was again stuck in thoughts. Thinking.

Why did I feel that way? Akemi had always been nice to me... surely her sister wouldn't be different. He tried to listen to the earpiece in his ear but he couldn't hear anything but static. Oi Akai-san! Why did you cut it off?! He wanted to shout. Ayumi was worried seeing Conan change his expression, as if pissed at something she did not understand.

Noticing Ayumi's look. Conan shook his thoughts away. I better keep myself together before I get Ayumi suspicious of me. He told himself as he calmed his breathing and Ayumi silently sighed in relief herself.

"Conan-kun! Ayumi-chan! Genta-kun! Mitsuhiko-kun!" Ran called as she approached them. "Are you guys done eating yet?"

"Conan-kun didn't eat." Ayumi said, her voice troubled. Ran's mood shifted to worry and turned to Conan who immediately washed the serious look in his face.

"Ah Heiji-neechan treated me earlier!" he said with a nervous childish laugh. "That's why I was full."

"Oh." Ayumi and Ran said in unison.

"Well then, let's go. The event's about to start." Ran said and the kids followed her.

"Ran-neechan, I have to go to the bathroom first." one of his favorite excuses.

"Hey Conan, the event is about to start, we can't wait for you!" Genta said but Ayumi defended him, saying Genta ate Conan's food and for Genta to at least show politeness.

"I'll catch up with you guys." Conan added.

"Okay. Be careful." Ran said and she and the kids walked happily towards the main hall.

Conan just waited for them to go far and ran towards a different direction.

XXXXX

Akai was at the hallway, leaning at the end of it, waiting for the four-eyed boy to come.

"Why'd you cut it off? I have to KNOW more!" he demanded.

"That was before Akemi mentioned the drug." he said.

"Why not? I have the right to know what kind of drug it was. Or if there's a cure. And for goodness' sake, I have the right to know who made that darned drug!" he shouted. "I wouldn't hurt her you know? I just want an antidote!"

"There's more to it than that. It's not just simply asking for the antidote or setting up for the sisters to meet."

"If you're not going to let me in on this secret, why'd you have to let me listen to your meeting in the first place?" the boy seemed annoyed. He's down reaching to the road of desperation when suddenly there was a spark of hope. He now knew who created the drug. He knew a cure was possible. He knew that in the near future he'd return to Ran at last. But Akai... Akai was keeping him from something.

"I'll tell you about it later. For now, I want you to focus on what I have to say. Sherry isn't the person Akemi think she is. She's changed since we left her five years ago." Akai started.

"What are you talking about?" Conan couldn't put the pieces together knowing Akai intentionally left out important details of the story.

"For now it's a secret. But after all this, I'll tell you everything."

XXXXX

Conan arrived at the main hall at last. He was looking where Ran and the others were. But there were too many people. The crowd was thick. Children were walking around, jumping on their seats, family and friends talking to each other as they wait for the event, everyone was excited. Conan was distracted by the crowd until he spotted a familiar face at last.

"Hattori!" he called.

"Hey K- Conan-kun! At last you showed up!" he said smiling. But Conan knows that behind that smile was something else.

"Sorry. Something came up." he explained, his voice was serious again. And Heiji figured that Conan ran into one of those men in black. Or at least sensed them. Just a hunch.

"I already found him. He's asking for your help first before he offer his help to you." Heiji said, changing the subject.

"Good." Conan smirked. His smirk didn't last when he remembered something. "Oi Hattori, do you know where everyone is?"

"Front seat. First class." Heiji said, leading the confused boy in front.

"How did they get the front seat? Hakase's ticket only managed to bring us to a third class seat.

"Ran happened to meet one of the famed scientists around and befriended her."

"Really?"

"Oh speaking of 'famed scientists' look." Heiji pointed at a woman whom Ran was talking to.

The woman wore a white lab coat where a tag was hanging on the left side of the coat. Conan froze recognizing that woman from earlier. Only smaller. She had the same mid-neck length hair. That auburn hair. That wavy auburn hair. That woman. Haibara Ai. I bet she lied to me about her name. But how is this possible? Masaka! Masaka! (No way! No way!) If she can shrink herself and grow back to that form... then she... It can't be! It should be a coincidence.

Conan tried to fix his thoughts. Heiji saw him trembling with the sight of the scientist. And this made him wonder a lot. Who was this woman that can make Kudo tremble like this?

Conan was surprised when the woman turned to his direction, grinning at him. He could tell it was her. That grin. It was meant for him for sure. She knows who he is. And right now she's talking to Ran. Ran... you're in danger... because of me... I- I have to do something!

XXXXX

I'm really sorry if it's boring. And if they are OOC.

And sorry if Akai seems to have the upper hand against Conan. I was thinking that maybe Akai may temporarily wins this one but once Conan discovers everything himself, he'll be the smart one again.

And the part with Jenever, I just made it up. Vermouth pretended to be another member of the organization, someone special because she wanted to make sure if there was a mole (because every time they move, the FBI knows.)

Well if you have questions feel free to ask! I hope you liked this!