CHAPTER 7: Waiting

Title: Grimmori

Author: the wonderful person that is me:3

Fandom: Detective Conan with some Magic Kaito

Rating: T

Pairings: Conan/Ran, Heiji/Kazuha, Kaito/Aoko

Disclamer: I don't own Conan. I don't own Kaito. I don't own any of these characters. Please don't sue me. I have no money and I really don't want to go to jail.

Announcement: I was reading over chapters 1-6 today and didn't realize how much they sucked! I'm going to revise them (nothing major!) and make them decent.

Anyways, I hope y'all enjoy this extra-long chapter!


"Where is he?!" yelled Ran as she ran through the hospital doors. She charged in her heels through the hospital lobby towards the frightened intern hiding behind the front desk. "Where is he? Is he ok? Is he in surgery yet? Can I see him? Is—"

"Mouri-chan!" yelled Kaito, grabbing the girl by the shoulders and spinning her to face him. "You need to calm down. Conan-kun is in surgery right now. You can't see him. The doctors are taking care of him, alright?"

Ran, tearing up and bodily shaking, numbly shook her head. She was happy that Conan was alive—overjoyed, in fact—but the fact that he was alive in another life-threatening situation made Ran as panicked and anxious as ever.

She allowed Kaito to guide her to a chair in the waiting room where Kazuha and the others were gathered. She sat down but couldn't keep still. Her anxiety made her fidget.

Heiji paced in short steps along the wall. It was the first time in a very long time that he was fearing for Kudo's life, and he couldn't bear to just sit and wait for results that were beyond his controlling.

Heiji glanced at the fidgeting Ran sitting near him. Sighing to himself, he stepped over and plopped down beside her, arms crossed in front of him and head leaning back against the wall. "Ya know, Nee-chan," he said slowly, "that he's gonna' be ok. He's been through worse and still managed to come out alright." He glanced at her through the edge of his vision and saw that his words held no weight in calming her down.

He sighed again, "One thing I know for sure's that that brat is more stubborn than an ass." He gave a light chuckle, "Yeah, he's gonna' make it. He somehow made it this far and won't allow himself to go like this."

Ran managed a fake smile. She knew Heiji had only good intentions in talking to her, but if anything he just made her more anxious. It's true that Conan had been kidnaped, shot, thrown over a building, and caught in an avalanche and still managed to hold himself together better than most grown men would, but this was different. This is something that occurred over three months.

The hours ticked by as the group waited through the night and into the morning for news of their young friend. Sato left temporarily to retrieve the abandoned Kogoro from the police station, and officers who were not as well acquainted with Conan went home. It wasn't until the afternoon of the next day that they finally heard news.

Ran was the first to her feet when the red light of the surgical room turned off. The doors flung open and a surgeon staggered forward to the waiting room, throwing off his surgical mask and cap before collapsing into the closest chair he could find.

Ran was upon him in a matter of seconds, burying him under a flood of questions about the child. Her friends soon surrounded her and the surgeon as well. Kazuha placed her hand on Ran's back, indicating that she again needed to calm herself, and the girl quieted down.

The surgeon, casting Kazuha a grateful glance, said, "I cannot answer your questions, miss. Frankly, I have questions of my own about this child I would like answered. It is a pure miracle that he is alive right now. The injuries he has and the scares of injuries that he used to have would have killed any normal man, let alone a child. I cannot tell you if he will survive, because I do not know how he has made it thus far."

"Can we at least see him now?" asked Kazuha with pleading eyes.

"No. He must be kept in isolation for now to ensure every chance of his survival. He is very weak right now, and any exposure to harmful bacteria would be devastating. I am sorry. But if you come back tomorrow, provided that his condition has improved, you can see him."

"Thank you so much, doctor!" exclaimed Ran. She clasped her hands together and grateful tears sprung into her eyes.

The group, seeing that they could accomplish nothing by waiting where they can't even see Conan, left the hospital, deciding to go home, sleep, go to school, and then meet up again tomorrow to see Conan.


Itami inwardly winced from where he was positioned, kneeling in front of his pacing master. Gin was, to say the least, VERY displeased.

"How the HELL did he escape!" exclaimed the silver-haired man.

"Gin-sama," said Akuma, "Based on the way he just vanished, we've conclude that he most likely used a teleportation spell."

Gin slowed his pacing, "He is progressing faster than I anticipated," seethed the silver haired seishin, "To learn and be able to execute a perfect teleportation spell by pure instinct…"

He turned on his heal and angrily continued his pacing. Tongues of magic flame whicked from his balled fists.

"But, Gin-sama," began Chi in a monotone voice, "if you just give us the command we will retrieve him before nightfall…"

Gin slowly stopped his pacing and let out a hissing sigh.

"Yes," continued Itami, "he is still weak, and even if he were in full condition he wouldn't stand a chance against one, let alone all eight, of your devoted servants."

"No…," said Gin as a smirk grew on his lips, "we will leave him for now."

"B-But, Gin-sama if we—" started Kanashimi.

"Do you dare question my orders!" yelled Gin as he lunged forward threateningly.

"N-No! No, Gin-sama, I would never!" stuttered Kanashimi as he quickly lowered himself to the ground.

Gin straightened up and continued his pacing.

"But, Gin-sama, I am intrigued," began Itami in a submissive tone, "what brilliant plan do you intend to employ by leaving the child to recover?"

Gin's lips thinned, "I wish to observe the full extent of his powers. While here, his limits were pushed because I kept him at a constant weakness, but outside," Gin turned and ascended the three steps that led to his 'throne' in the center of the room, "I will be able to see the fruit of his training when he is at full strength."

"How, sir?" asked Itami.

Gin sat in his throne, legs crossed and his fingers interlocked in front of his face, "Simple," he smirked," I will deploy…a test."


THE NEXT DAY...

"Ran! Wait up!" yelled Aoko as she sprinted down the street.

"Yeah! Our legs ain't as long as yers! Slow down, would ya!" yelled Kazuha as she followed close behind Aoko.

Right after school the next day, Ran took off towards the hospital, leaving her friends in the dust. She knew she would have to apologize later, but right now, all she cared about was seeing Conan.

How dare Heiji and Kaito ditch school to see Conan without telling me! seethed the karate champion, I swear, when I see them, I'll beat them to a pulp!

Ran rounded a street corner and sprinted up the walkway to the hospital, nearly running into the automatic sliding doors at the entrance. In her rush, however, Ran failed to see the man behind the door, and so she and he were both thrown backwards as they collided.

"Watch where yer going," grumbled the thickly accented man. Ran looked up and was about to apologize before she recognized a disgruntled Heiji.

"YOU!" fumed Ran as she stood up, not bothering to unruffled her skirt, "How could you! You could have told me you were ditching school to come see Conan! I would have come with you!" yelled Ran as she stomped towards him, picking up the Osakan by his front collar.

"And that's exactly why I didn't, aho!" replied Heiji, rubbing his aching head, "You're worried about the kid enough as it is! I didn't need ya to be freaking out when you see him all bandaged up and stuff!" retorted the frustrated detective.

Ran said nothing as she glared at him, shoulders still shaking in anger. Behind her, Aoko and Kazuha finally caught up and were bent over panting beside their friend, "Don't….leave…us….like that…ever…again," panted Aoko.

"Sorry," apologized Ran curtly.

An older nurse approached the group of teenagers to see what all the yelling and falling over was all about. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"Yes!" said Ran eagerly as she dropped Heiji back onto the floor, "We came to visit a boy, Edogawa Conan. He was admitted last night, and the doctor promised we could see him today."

"Alrighty," said the small woman as she awkwardly stepped back from the too-close teenager who was looming over her, "I just came from checking on him. He's in room 142, I believe," said the lady.

"Thank you very much!" exclaimed Ran as she took off down the hall, doctors and nurses dodging her as she whisked past.

Kazuha helped Heiji to his feet, "I coulda' told ya that", he mumbled before following after her with Kazuha and Aoko.

Luckily, Conan's room was on the first floor, so the group didn't have to go too far to find him. Seeing room 142 to her left, Ran swung open the door and half walked, half fell into the room from the momentum of her running.

Ran was slightly surprised to see Kaito was already in there, sitting on a short stool next to the hospital bed, before she remembered he came early with Heiji. Inspecture Meguire was also there, standing in the far corner of the room, hands tucked in his pockets. Ran's eyes quickly focused on the small frame resting in the hospital bed.

Looking up, Kaito put a finger to his lips and motioned for Ran to come and take his seat. She did so, all the while never taking her eyes off of the boy who lay pitifully on the bed. He had an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, an IV in his right arm, and several strange wires on his bandaged chest. He had thick bandages wrapped around his head, neck, right forearm, and entire chest. His left arm was bent in a sling that looped around his neck. Ran could hear his soft breathing over the buzzing and beeping of the machines in the room.

He was quite the pitiful sight. As Ran sat there watching his labored breathing, she started to cry. She was so happy to see him alive again. I've missed you, Conan-kun.

Suddenly, Conan started to fidget in his sleep. His eyes closed tightly and he moaned in unseen pain. It appeared that he was having a nightmare. Ran extended her left hand forward and cupped Conan's right cheek. Conan instantly stopped his struggles and snuggled into her touch, a look of serene peace gracing his features.

Kazuha, Aoko, and Heiji all entered the room. "He looks like he's healing pretty well," whispered Kazuha from behind Ran.

"What do ya mean, aho? Can't ya see—" Heiji was cut off as Kazuha elbowed him hard in the stomach, "I mean *cough* he looks great! A lot better than he did earlier." He glared at Kazuha, and she glared back until Heiji turned away, grumbling.

There was a knock at the door and the surgeon from the other day stepped in, "May I speak with you all? It's regarding the boy."

"Sure," said Kaito.

The doctor came in, closing the door behind him, and walked around to sit in the chair on the opposite side of Conan. He was holding a clipboard and something in an opaque bag.

"I told you before that I didn't know whether or not this boy was going to survive. I have come to tell you that I now know that he will. But," he said before the whole room erupted into cheers, "there is no medical evidence to support this claim of mine. I say this because of how he is healing," the doctor grew a face of awe as he turned towards Conan, "This child has healed overnight what would have taken an average man two to three weeks to heal. He now only wears half of the bandages he wore last night, and the scars he had from surgery are nearly healed."

"Why is he healing like this?" asked Kaito in wonder and confusion.

"I do not know. It is a medical phenomenon that I simply cannot explain. But, if he continues recovering as he is now, I would venture to say that you can have him home in a few days."

"That's fantastic news!" Kazuha exclaimed, hugging Aoko.

"But that is not all that I wanted to discuss," said the doctor ominously. He fidgeted his thumbs as he contemplated how to word his next couple statements, "This boy…has been through hell," he said with a white face.

"Well we can all see that. That's why he's lying on a hospital bed right now and not home doin'…whatever he does," exasperated Heiji.

The doctor shook his head, "No, you do not understand. I have seen countless patients during my career as a doctor and I have never seen someone so…brutally tortured as this."

"Tortured?" whispered Ran in a small voice.

The doctor solemnly looked at the girl sitting across from him, "Yes, tortured. The wounds he has were most obviously not sustained by any natural means. And what's worse is the excess in which it was done," putting the bag he was carrying beside his chair, the doctor unclipped a small x-ray he had on his clip-board and walked over to the wall with the x-ray viewing light. He slipped the x-ray onto the device and flicked on the switch.

All on the x-ray, which as a near full chest, leg, and arm scan of Conan, were multiple thick white lines on his bones. They crisscrossed everywhere and were in the strangest of places. "What are they?" asked Kazuha tentatively.

"They are places where Edogawa-kun has had broken bones," stated the doctor grimly.

"That's impossible," stated Meguire from the corner of the room, "Conan-kun was gone for only three months. He couldn't possibly have broken all of those bones and then somehow healed in that amount of time."

"I know. This goes back to what I said before about this boy's unnaturally fast healing process," responded the doctor.

"That's so weird…he was perfectly normal, in regards to recovering, before he um…died before," said Aoko.

"That's also very strange. How in da world did he survive that blimp? We all saw how stuck he was. There is no way he could have gotten outta there," said Heiji.

"We could ask him when he wakes up—," suggested Meguire.

"No!" exclaimed the doctor, "I might not be a psychologist, but I know enough from being in my field that you should absolutely not ask this boy about what happened to him. Not under any circumstances. I'm sorry, Inspector, but the psychological damage that can be reaped on this child by remembering whatever it was that he experienced, would undoubtedly traumatize him into madness."

"I see," said the Inspector slowly, "However, at one point or another, he will have to be questioned. Whoever did this to him obviously had some sort of motive or grudge against him, and until they are caught, these criminals might do this to somebody else."

The doctor nodded, although he didn't seem too happy about the Inspector's proposal. "There is one more thing I would like to talk to you all about," said the doctor as he reached for the bag beside his chair, "I found some things on Edogawa-kun that I would like to show you."

The doctor pulled out of the bag what appeared to be two halves of some sort of large metal ring and a picture. "This collar was removed during surgery from the boy's neck. I had to use a small power saw to cut it in half to take it off of him. It is filled with wires and other things, but I cannot conclude what its purpose was." The doctor handed the clear bag to the Inspector who examined it carefully, "And also, before the boy was admitted into surgery, one of the nurses took a picture of his back. I don't remember seeing this marking on Edogawa-kun the last time her underwent surgery, and I didn't know if any of you recognized it." The doctor handed the picture to Ran.

Ran stared at the picture and her friends leaned over her to see it also. On Conan's entire back there was a very large and very black tattoo. It extended from his mid-neck, to the edges of his shoulder blades, all the way down to his lower back. The tattoo was extremely intricate, with all sorts of signs and letter characters that Ran didn't recognize. On each shoulder blade there was a large round circle with a David's star in the center, surrounded by more of the intricate images. In the middle and edges of the tattoo there were little details of feathers, small stars, animals, and other little images. Any empty space that wasn't occupied by these images was filled with strange tribal markings and glyphs. Extending from the circles on his shoulders were magnificently drawn wings, feathers drawn in such detail that Ran almost assumed they were real. The part of the tattoo that extended half-way up his neck, however, was a deep contrast of the beautiful and almost heavenly design of the wings. It was a dragon head. With black scales and narrowed eyes, its face menacingly pointed towards the crown of Conan's head. Just looking at the beast sent a shiver down Ran's spine. Extending from below his shoulder blades all down the center of his back, dominating most of the tattoo, was a large sword. Its handle was gracefully decorated with several masterfully drawn curves, crescents, and jewels, and there was some sort of word written down the blade of the sword, but Ran didn't recognize the characters, so she couldn't tell what it meant.

"Whoever kidnapped him must have put that on him for some reason," said Kaito.

"Some bad reason," mumbled Aoko.

Ran handed the picture back to the doctor who then handed the bag and the picture to the inspector, "I don't know how useful these will be, but I believe that they may be used as some form of evidence in finding whoever did this to Edogawa-kun," said the doctor.

"Arigato," said the Inspector who took the items, "Well, I think I'll head back to the station. Keep up the good work doctor." The inspector started marching out the door.

"I think it's about time we got goin' too," said Kazuha, "We have that test to study fer finals, remember?"

Aoko nodded and Kaito groaned. Ran looked very reluctant to leave. Everyone was sure she would have loved to bomb the exams just so she could stay with Conan for a few more hours. "Can we come back tomorrow and see him?" asked Aoko, seeing her friend's reluctance to leave.

"Yes, but for now, I must ask you to leave. Visiting hours are over." Said the doctor.

The group left the hospital.


Dun nan na!

Like I said, the next chapter is almost ready, and will be up soon!

ARIGATO!

R&R please!