A/N: Individual review responses (in order of posts)! Thanks to all reviewers!
aria sunset - Yeah, definitely... Mitsushiko/Ai is
a little gross.
Annitha - Wondering about your fic, too... hope to see it soon!
Shredding Veils of Illusion - Thanks for your support... I think the main reason
a lot of people don't like this is because it's not S/R, and DC has just debuted
in the US like a month ago, so most authors who know English well don't know
much about it.
SR4ever - ...interesting, but if you're going to say S/S supporters lack brains,
it would be a much more convincing argument if you learned to capitalize and
spell first.
mysteriousangelgirl - Thanks for reading and commenting on (and not flaming)
this even though you don't support S/S.
cvbh - ::laugh:: ...so do I!
Me - I've had all types of comments before, but that has to be the sweetest
review I have ever gotten.
Spede - You are a god! Waking up and finding so many reviews in my inbox
was the best thing ever!
Anna - Uh... yeah. What gave it away? (Or was it that A/N about the Chinese
version of the manga?)
The Quandary
Chapter 7
Entr'acte - Conan's Diary - Saving Ran
21.06, 12:34 AM
I don't know... I tricked Gin into planning to kill Ran by starvation. Now I'll
have the maximum possible amount of time to plane and execute the rescue; I'll
need every second. The plan must be perfect, flawless... I must not fail.
Basically, it happened like this: I was following Gin after sighting him in the
crowds, and shadowed him until he entered an old, abandoned building. I tried to
get closer, but he saw me. His expression was that of genuine shock, so he
didn't notice I was following him. However, it quickly changed, and I knew
something was wrong from the way he smiled, but had no idea what. We began
exchanging words - threats, demands, insults, and curses, when the strangest
expression flit across his face, as if he had just become totalitarian dictator
of the world. And then he brought Ran out.
I'm sure it wasn't previously planned, because he was genuinely surprised that I
was in the stupid shack. ...that means that shack is where they're hiding Ran,
since they were able to bring her out in a second's notice. They'll expect me to
expect them to find a new location, so they'll stay in the same location to
trick me. Even if they do move her, I put a tracer on both Ran and Gin, so I can
track them easily. All I need is a recorder, and maybe a knife to cut ropes.
21.06, 2:26 PM.
Gathered all materials today, planning routes. I'm going to do this tonight.
23.06, 11:43 PM
That... didn't go so well. I mean, I've known since Ai told me there was no
cure, since Ran went off to college six years ago that there was no hope for us,
that it was best just to forget her, and I have, but... I still consider her a
friend, and I just messed up pretty badly back there... They... they hid in the
shadows, and when I approached, they jumped out and shot her, right in front of
me, I...
The text cut off with a heavy gash across the page.
How could I let my guard down enough to let them triumph over me again? It
happened at Tropical Land, with Ai's sister, on the train, with the briefcase,
with the game designer, and at the film party. I...
The text ended abruptly, as if Conan's fury at having been outwitted once again
by the Organization was beyond words and expression.
