Quote: "Shut up and Die" – Brian, "Family Guy"
AN: If you know what that line refers to, you will be aware of a certain issue which comes up this chapter # snickers #
Chapter 7, Ran's New Puppy
"Well Ran, how long have you been hiding a dog in your closet?"
"I ..Uhh…….What?" Ran's brain was trying so hard to come up with a way out of this, she almost missed what her father had said.
"The dog, Ran, the one I found in your closet" Again Kogoro gestured at Conan as if there was another 'dog' in the room.
Ran almost sighed in relief. It also explain why Conan hadn't tried talking to her, he was trying to keep the illusion that he was a dog going. "Oh, that dog. He's not mine, I was just watching him for a friend."
"You know we're not allowed pets. And where's Conan?"
"He's at a sleepover." Ran fibbed "And don't worry, the dog'll be gone in the morning." And back next month, whether he likes it or not.
"Hmph," Kogoro relaxed, a lot more at ease now that he realized there wasn't another mouth to feed. "So what's the mutts name anyways?"
"…"
$S
"That was too close" declared Ran, her heart rate still nowhere near normal.
"You're telling me" muttered the werewolf. "I felt like I was in on of those bad horror movies waiting for him to open the closet door." Conan's ears and tail drooped, "I hate this stupid werewolf thing."
Ran heart sank. "I'm sorry I was late."
"It's okay, this just shows us we should have had a better contingency plan in place. This dog idea is workable for a while." He sighed, "We should probably get some props. A leash and collar, a dog tag, stuff like that. Oh yeah, Ran-neechan?"
"Yes?"
"When he asked what my name was, why did you have to say 'Shinichi'?"
"It was the first name that popped into my head." Ran explained, "I don't know why you're so upset about, I thought you idolized your cousin.
#sigh# "It's fine." And to think, not too long ago I'd have given just about anything to hear her call me that. Damn you irony.
$S
"Awwww Your dog is soooooo cuuuuuuute" cooed the pet store lady, scratching Conan roughly behind his ears.
Please get this crazy lady away from me Conan silently prayed, That hurts!
"What breed is he anyway?" she asked, blatantly ignoring all Conan's attempts to put as much distance between him and her as possible.
"He's a mixed breed, part wolf." Ran answered, half-truth's coming easier to her than blatant lies. Seeing Conan's obvious discomfort, Ran scooped him up. "About the nametag?"
"Oh right." The sales lady typed something into the computer. The nametag machine made a small grinding noise (which made Conan wince) and popped out a small tag that read "Shinichi" with Dr. Agasa's address on the back. She attached the tag to the red collar Ran had selected and snapped the collar on Conan's neck.
"Absolutely adorable! Whose a good boy?" The sales lady resumed the rough petting, switching her tone to a baby voice that grated on Conan's nerves.
He twisted out of Ran's grasp and hid behind her while Ran paid for the tag, collar, and leash.
"Oh, he's shy." The sales lady apparently did not know when to quit, "Well I know how to fix that." Out of seemingly nowhere she pulled a green rubber chew toy shaped like a bone. "A special treat for such a cute puppy." Conan took it reluctantly, not wanting to seem unusual.
"Sorry" Ran whispered apologetically as she snapped the leash around the collar. Out loud she said "Come on Shin-chan, let's go home"
Thank God thought Conan. I'm finally getting away from her.
They were almost out the door when the sales lady called out to them. "Wait, I almost forgot" She ran after them and handed Ran several pamphlets.
"What are these?" asked Ran, confused.
"Well with all the strays out there, it's important to get your pet fixed as soon as possible. I recommend Dr. Meyer, he's neutered all my pets and…"
Ran felt the leash pull out of her hand. "Co-Shinichi come back!'
$S
It took her three blocks to catch up to the panicked werewolf pup. "Conan stop. I can't run that fast"
He finally stopped running. "I can't take this anymore Ran-neechan. I can't! I'm not a dog, I'm not a wolf, I'm human!"
Ran sat down next to him and pulled him into her lap. "This was a bad idea."
"No. It was a good idea. I'm sorry too. I know I'm not human but I wasn't ready to admit it." He sighed. "Being an animal is worse than being a kid. You can't say anything if people are bothering you, you have to be kept on a leash, and …" Conan shuddered, the pamphlets obviously still in his mind. "I know there are a lot strays, Ran-neechan, but I don't think I support neutering anymore."
Ran laughed, though there wasn't very much humor in her voice. "Let's go. Dr. Agasa's probably wondering where we are. Who knows, maybe he has good news."
$S
"Where have you been?" inquired Agasa worriedly, "I was expecting you hours ago."
"Don't ask." muttered Conan, unclipping the leash around his neck and scurrying inside. "This is not something I want to have to get used to."
"Nice collar" Ai commented to Conan, who stuck his tongue out at her.
"Please tell me you have something." Ran pleaded, collapsing on the couch
"Actually I have made a lot of progress, and found something that may help." The scientist said proudly, though his pride was moderated. He never would have gotten half this done if it wasn't for Ai.
"You're kidding, you found a cure!" exclaimed Conan. For the first time in a month true hope shone from his eyes.
"Not quite." The light quickly faded from Conan's eyes "But I did manage to isolate the virus."
"Virus?" Ran and Conan asked in stereo.
"The 'curse'," Agasa explained, ignoring the interruption, " is actually a virus transmitted via saliva. Now when most viruses enter a host cells, they simply replicate until antibodies attack and destroy the virus. This virus actually rewrites the host cell's DNA before replicating. After the virus saturates the victim's body, it dies out except in the victim's saliva. Then when the host bites someone, that person is infected and so on. That's part of the reason I had so much trouble finding it's before. The change is genetic."
"Rewrites the host cell's DNA. That doesn't sound promising for a cure," said Conan doubtfully.
Agasa's smile deflated completely. "To be perfectly frank, a cure is probably impossible-"
Conan slumped down, his ears and tail drooping.
"-but now that we know something we aren't helpless. In fact, I've got a little something that will help." H pulled a test tube holding a brown liquid out of his pocket.
"Smells like chocolate" said Conan.
"That's because I mixed it with chocolate to improve the taste. It's a serum that will effectually kill the virus in the host's saliva. One dose each morning, and you won't have to worry about accidentally infecting anyone."
Conan snorted, "I wasn't planning on biting anyone."
Agasa fixed him with an uncharacteristically hard look, "And the Monster wasn't planning on you surviving. Things happen that we don't expect. A scuffle gets out of hand. A suspect tries to keep you from making noise by clamping his hand over your mouth, and you first instinct is…"
"To bite" Conan admitted.
"I'm also working on a calming agent. Something that might help stop you from changing if you're scared or stressed out. I should have it ready soon"
"Thanks Doc." Said Conan gratefully. "For everything"
$S
Conan yawned. As Ran had predicted, they had been up most of the night. Still he was back in his human skin and that was what mattered. The leash and collar were stored in a shoebox at Dr. Agasa's. At least till next month.
"We need a better plan" he pointed out, "We can't go hide at Agasa's every full moon."
Ran yawned back, "We can think about that later. Right now I'm so tired I – Conan, what's wrong?"
The young werewolf had stopped dead. He sniffed the air purposely.
"Ran, I smell blood. Lots of blood" Without another word he took of for home as fast as he could.
$S
Werewolves Ran mused were very fast. "Conan what's wron-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Ran collapsed at the bloodbath that was the Mori Apartment. There was blood splatter on all the walls and the furniture. The upholstery was shredded and the chairs and tables had been smashed.
"Oh my god dad, DAD!"
"He's in here!" Conan called from the adjoining room.
$S
Inspector Megure shook his head. "Okay doc, what can you tell me."
The doctor looked at his notes. "The subject was subject to severe mauling, characteristic of claws.. He lost a dangerous amount of blood and sustained some organ damage and broken bones. And the amount of alcohol in his system isn't helping."
Megure bit down his urge to flinch. "So we're dealing with a wild animal, like the "Monster".
The doctor shook his head. "First of all, the Monster, being a wild animal, only attacks in rural areas, not an urban setting. Secondly, there were no bite marks, a staple of Monster Attacks. I think we're dealing with a human copycat."
The inspector's eyes narrowed "You seem to know a lot about the Monster"
The doctor snorted, "After the attack on Conan, I made it my business to know. I was worried the child would need psychological counseling." He sighed. "If he didn't before he certainly will now."
"Anything Mori can tell us?"
"I don't think you quite understand the extent of Mr. Mori's injuries. He's going to be in IC for sometime. And the only thing he said before he went under was "He wants the cub"
$S
"It's me," Conan whispered.
"W-What?" asked Ran, her face red from crying.
"I was listening in on Megure and the Doctor." Conan answered, horrified. "The Monster came here because he's looking for me!"
$SS$
AN: In case anyone's reading this who hasn't read Shift (you should), the Media got a hold of Conan's nickname for the werewolf that attacked him (though official consensus is that the attacks were made by a wild animal), which is why Megure and the doctor are also referring to him as the "Monster"
Also for those not familiar with 'Family Guy' Brian is the family dog. The quote was made in response to a commercial he saw about getting your dogs neutered #snicker again#
$S
DiamondSappire – At least I'm improving. # sheepish grin #
Psycho King – Here's to not being typical #cheers#
Flava Sava – Well he always seems to be angry at Conan over something…
YumeTakato – heh heh heh # hides #
Inumaru12 – eee mini-skit kawaii! Yeah, I've had the same problem with pop-up blockers
Engelina – I will continue to endeavor to make good chapters!
Jewely – I'll try to keep it up
starfruit-22 – Glad you ike the story and thanks for the well wishes, I could use all the luck I can get
anomaly – It won't be forgotten. If nothing else I'll finish this story and Cracked Reflections.
Snickerer – "Big Bad" was a lot of fun. And you know, I never thought about Ran flaking out as karmic retribution on Shinichi. Is true though. And yeah, you guess right about the puppy thing.
Juli-chan – Always glad to see a reader come back. Sorry I took so long on this chapter.
