A nasal canella is that small tube that is hooked up to an oxygen machine that functions in a similar way to a respirator mask, except it only goes in the nose rather than cover the entire lower face.

Japanese:

"Oyaji" – Means "father"; it's a very 'rough' and informal way of saying it

"Okaa" – Short for "okaasan", which means "mother/mom" (it's what Heiji calls his mother)


Chapter 9

White ceiling.

Beeping off to the side.

White walls…wait, there was a nightstand over there with some flowers in a vase on it.

Were those cards on the stand, too?

Shinichi blinked in slight confusion. Let's see…an IV feed, too…I'm in a hospital, then. How did I get here this time?

There was a slight throb at the right side of his head, and his left arm was immobile…

His left leg felt heavy, too, under the covers.

Shinichi felt like he had been underwater for quite some time. And, as if he was still underwater. Or, maybe in a dream.

Well, the aches and slight pains threw the 'dream' possibility right out the window.

Shinichi mentally went through what was hooked up to him besides the IV feed. A heart monitor…that's what I feel on my chest…they must have receptors hooked up…the uncomfortable tube in my nose is a nasal canella. No wonder my mouth is dry…I think there's something hooked up to my skull, too…more wires? Brainwave activity, maybe…?

It took him another moment before he realized that he wasn't alone in the room. For the life of him, he couldn't remember how he had gotten to a hospital, and what had happened. But, he did recognize the woman that was asleep, slumped over his bed.

A strange feeling of déjà vu hit him. He had stared at a similar scene when he was Conan…except then, it was Ran, and he was about three feet tall.

Right…he wasn't Conan anymore.

Suddenly, the fog in his mind cleared, and he remembered what had happened.

The Kid heist that led to the Apotoxin, the call from Akai, the antidote, teaming up with Heiji and Kaitou to take down the Black Organization…chasing the Boss…

Shinichi started to sit up, then thought better of it when pain seared through his back. He hadn't even attempted to move his left arm, and found it in a sling and bound in bandages from his shoulder to his wrist.

The teen stared at his bound arm, the thought wryly, I bet that's the source of the many cracks I heard on the way down the cliff. I'd bet my reputation as a detective that my left leg is busted, too. That's probably a cast that's weighing it down.

"Shin-chan?"

Shinichi looked over and smiled weakly at the woman, his mother, that stared at him as if she saw a ghost.

Yukiko had tears in her eyes, and seemed to be refraining herself from leaping at him to hug him. "You're awake!"

"K-kaasan…" Shinichi started, then coughed a couple of times.

"Here…" Yukiko helped him drink some water left in a pitcher on the nightstand for when he woke up.

"Are the others alright?" Shinichi didn't recall much of what happened after he handcuffed the Boss at the bottom of the cliff. He presumed that Kaitou was still alive and breathing…but couldn't be sure. That, and he didn't know what happened to Heiji.

"They're fine…at least, their injuries aren't nearly as bad as yours. You broke all the bones in your arm, Shin-chan!" Yukiko wiped her eyes.

"That would explain the bandage…I take it they have me on pain medication…"

Yukiko sniffled and nodded. He's talking…he's looking at me…he remembers what happened……it's just like they said. He'll be fine. There was no damage…

Shinichi was surprised when his mother suddenly burst into tears. "H-hey…?!"

"You had a head injury…they said there was no apparent damage to your brain, but they wouldn't know for sure until you woke up. You've been sleeping for three days, Shin-chan!"

Shinichi's expression softened. "Sorry."

"Don't……I'm just glad you came back to us!" Yukiko suddenly stood up after she said that. "I'll get the doctor! Tell them you're awake…don't fall back asleep yet, Shin-chan!"

Shinichi opened his mouth to say something, but she was already out the door. He had a million and a half questions. Did they really win? Did they get all of them? Was Bourbon arrested? How bad off were his friends?

Does Ran know?

Shinichi nearly started at his own train of thoughts. Then, he mentally shook his head at that question. No…she wouldn't know. Nobody knows I called her the day before we went after them. And, if tousan was here at all, he probably talked kaasan out of saying anything to Ran. She'll find out, though…I bet she goes to Agasa-hakase within the next day or so to ask if I'd come back yet.

Or, if she happened to see his parents walking around. Ran wasn't a detective, but she would know something was up between his phone call and then his parents moving back into their house shortly afterwards.

He wasn't aware of the fact that he was drifting back to sleep until the door opened again.

It wasn't the doctor, though.

Shinichi found a smile form on his face as he looked at the other teen that stood there.

Heiji was dressed in hospital garb, and was on crutches, but otherwise seemed fine. He even had a big grin on his face as he closed the door behind him and limped over to Yukiko's vacated chair.

"Hey, Hattori," Shinichi greeted his friend.

"Hey, yourself. Not look'n too bad if we ignore those things hooked upta ya. I heard yer mother run'n down the hall, cheering that you were awake. Thought I'd sneak out and come see ya."

"Appreciated…how about your own wounds?"

Heiji waved his hand. "Barely worth mention'n. Couple broken ribs and that bullet to my leg were the worst. Since there seemta be no complications, they said I could leave in two days."

"Your parents know, yet?"

"Oh, yea. I'm surprise we didn't wake ya with our argue'n. That, and our parents all nearly got themselves thrown outta the hospital fer be'n loud."

Shinichi chuckled. "Why am I not surprised…?"

"Seems like your folks are putt'n mine up at their house. Oyaji can't stay, of course, since he's still got work…but, okaa has taken up the offer."

"I'm actually relieved to hear that…I can't imagine what sort of plots our fathers would cook up when put in the same room together. Let alone the same house."

Heiji laughed. "True, true!"

"How's Kuroba? Kaasan just said 'fine' for everyone."

"He'll be here a bit longer'n me…and, he's confined ta a wheelchair cause they want him to keep his leg straight. Me, I just hafta stay off mine. He totally messed up his right leg. Tore his knee worse, and broke both bones in his lower leg. He got lucky bout his right eye…plenty of damage ta the area around it, but noth'n to his actual eye."

"Ouch…"

"Speak'n of 'ouch', you ain't in pain?"

Shinichi quirked an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? I know they have me on medication, and whatever it is they have me on is in such a high dosage that I'm surprised I'm lucid."

Again, Heiji laughed.

"We got them?" that question was softer.

Heiji's laughter stopped, but the smile remained. "Yea. We got them. Bourbon ran inta the trap we set, just as you predicted. One operative managed ta get past Interpol, but Nakamori-keibu caught 'em. Speak'n of the police…"

Shinichi blinked in confusion.

Heiji picked on one card that sat on Shinichi's nightstand, then put it back down with a grin on his face. "Apparently, one Megure-keibu was really ticked off that you went and did all this without tell'n him."

"Does he know…?"

"About Conan? Nope. We haven't said a word 'bout it. Hell, Kuroba won't even tell anyone else about what happened up at the cliffs."

Shinichi frowned. "I suppose I can understand why…from what I picked up on my way to the top, he was…"

"…be'n hunted, is what you're gonna say, right? Yea. He hasn't even told the investigators bout it. Just the basics…that some total ahou came fly'n out of the forest and nearly got himself killed."

Shinichi grinned innocently.

Heiji sighed. "Then again, I woulda done the same thing, so I can't really condone it."

"Kuroba said something similar. Though, he also said that if I did it again, he'd find a way to bring me back to life just to kill me for doing it."

Heiji laughed. "That sounds like him, alright."

"Speaking of, does anyone know he's Kid? I don't remember much after I cuffed the Boss, but I think he was still wearing his Kid outfit…"

"Well, since they picked him up when he was wear'n just the outer shirt and pants, they didn't make any connections. Your father prolly kept anyth'n else hush-hush."

The two fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments.

"We really did it…"

Heiji nodded at his friend's statement. "Yea. Kuroba had a hard time believe'n it, too. Hell, even I did."

"It feels like it's been years…I…"

"I know. Ya dun hafta say anyth'n."

Shinichi smiled, but it was a relaxed smile. He knew he would have to face Ran about it, but for now, he relished in the fact that it was over.

Just then, the door opened, and Yukiko and a doctor stepped through.

"Oh! Heiji-kun!" Yukiko smiled at the other boy. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks." Heiji grinned.

It was obvious to Shinichi that the teen still felt some pain, probably from his healing ribs, but said nothing on it.

The doctor, however, sighed. "You're supposed to use a wheelchair due to your ribs, Hattori-kun. Where did you get the crutches this time?"

Heiji scratched his head sheepishly. "I…uh…might have hidden a pair under the bed the last time the nurse threatened ta burn 'em…"

Shinichi stared incredulously…but at the same time, found it something that was completely like his friend.

"Speaking of your favorite nurse…I believe she's scouring the halls for you once again. I recall her muttering something about strapping you to the bed…" the doctor raised an eyebrow at the teen.

Heiji paled. "Really? She was serious? I thought she was kidd'n about those restraints!"

Shinichi couldn't help it, and started to laugh.

Heiji threw his friend a dirty look. "This is your fault, Kudou! I snuck out ta see ya since you were finally awake!"

"Yea, but it sounds like this isn't the first, or even the second, time you've snuck out of your room." Shinichi snickered.

Heiji scowled at him, but stood up carefully and took his crutches. "See ya around, then, Kudou. I gotta get back before that scary nurse finds me outta my room…"

When he limped out, Heiji wondered idly if he was some sort of comic relief, since now his other friend was laughing the same way that Kaitou had been two and a half days ago.


Shinichi grinned at the two teens across from him. He still didn't dare to sit up without assistance, and was still hooked up to the IV lines, but at least the monitoring equipment was taken off. It still sat in the room just in case of an emergency, but since he was able to breathe on his own and his brainwaves and heart-rate were normal, they deemed it safe to disconnect the machines hooked up to him by the next morning.

Heiji grunted at Shinichi's grin. "What?!"

"We just figure that you didn't sneak out this time," Kaitou chirped as he sat on a wheelchair in front of the bed. His right leg was extended and in a cast from the knee down, and the amount of bandages on his face had lessened. With assistance, he was allowed to be around in a wheelchair.

The parents had decided to let the three teens sit together in the same room since they technically couldn't visit each other (though, Heiji had broken that rule more than once).

"So, the scary nurse won't be after you again!" Shinichi grinned at the Osakan detective.

Heiji snorted and propped his elbow up on the armrest of the wheelchair he was in, then rested his chin in his hand. "Leave me alone bout that scary neechan…I swear she has me bugged or some'n…"

Shinichi and Kaitou exchanged an amused look, then laughed.

"Alright, alright…" Heiji interrupted after a few seconds of laughter. "Ya got yer laughter outta me."

"Speaking of you, I hear you're set to be released from the hospital the day after tomorrow…you going back to Osaka?" Kaitou glanced at Heiji.

"You kidd'n? You two are still in the hospital…" Heiji looked away sheepishly.

"Aww…we love you, too!" Kaitou laughed.

"I'm gonna hurt you…" Heiji's eye twitched.

Shinichi snickered. "Please don't…I'd rather not have to declare my friend a murderer."

The other two teens chuckled at that one.

"Thanks, though…" Shinichi said to Heiji.

Heiji waved it off, especially when Kaitou agreed with Shinichi's sentiments. "Your folks have offered ta put me up with okaa till things settle. Hope ya don't mind, Kudou."

"My room is off-limits, just so you know," Shinichi said with a half-moon glare to his friend.

Heiji held up his hands in a placating gesture, then turned to Kaitou. "What about you? They won't keep ya in here for long, either…"

"Three days after you is when I'm scheduled for release. They're afraid I'll mess up my knee worse than it is if I'm released sooner. Though, I think Kudou will be here for a while."

"A couple weeks, probably…" Shinichi sighed in defeat. "They want to make sure I have no lasting damage to my brain…then there's my arm…"

"Yea…the one you totally wrecked…" Heiji glanced at the arm the teen had in a sling.

"Couldn't help it…"

Kaitou grinned. "Ya know…this feels oddly refreshing."

"Eh?" came the response from the other two.

"Just talking like normal kids our age. It's almost weird. Surreal. Like none of it happened…" he grimaced in pain a moment, then added, "…well, almost…"

"Oh…" the other two agreed.

Then, the magician laughed. "I just stumped the two great detectives! I deserve a hand!"

"You'll have to use Hattori's, because my left isn't moving anytime soon."

"You kidd'n? Kazuha would kill him." Heiji snickered.

"Speaking of, I'm surprised I haven't heard you two screaming at each other yet. You somehow get her to stay in Osaka?" Shinichi raised an eyebrow.

"For the weekdays, she had school…"

"What about yesterday?" Kaitou inquired.

Heiji shifted in his chair. "Erm…well…she doesn't have anywhere to stay, since neechan doesn't even know about Kudou yet, and…"

Shinichi gave him a flat look. "You didn't call her."

Heiji flushed. "Why should I!? We're alive, the bad guys are down, and on Monday, I can trade these nasty pajamas for my street cloths!"

"She's seen you in a hospital, before…" Shinichi pointed out.

Heiji crossed his arms. "That's different. She was usually nearby somewhere…"

Kaitou snickered. "I think I see what's going on…you don't want your girlfriend to see you pathetically running away from that nurse and being confined to a wheelchair!"

Heiji, whose face had only been slightly red, suddenly resembled a tomato. "And what about you, Kuroba!? Didn't you mention about some girl?"

"It's not like I can tell her! She doesn't even know I'm Kid! How am I supposed to explain being in the hospital to her?"

Shinichi just laughed.

"What?!" the other two exclaimed, red-faced.

"Didn't we have a conversation similar to this over a week ago?" Shinichi grinned at them.

The two glared at him.

Shinichi just gave them an innocent look that was so reminiscent of Conan that the other two shuddered.

"Please…for the love of everything right in the world…don't ever look at me like that again…" Kaitou shivered.

"Yea, really…" Heiji grunted. "I think I just got goosebumps."

"Huh?" Shinichi blinked.

"You…have no idea?" Heiji's jaw dropped.

"Of what?"

"You just pulled a 'cute little kid' expression just now!" Heiji exclaimed.

Shinichi would have scratched his head if he had the energy to move his hand that far. Still, his puzzled expression said it all.

"You pulled a 'Conan' on us, Kudou," Kaitou explained. "You aren't in a seven year old body anymore…it's just creepy when you do that, now."

Shinichi frowned slightly. "I really did that?"

"Yep." Heiji nodded, then blinked. "You honestly didn't know? You ain't play'n with us?"

"No…I didn't realize…" Shinichi had an odd expression on his face, as if he was somewhat lost.

"Probably a habit. I mean, you were stuck like that for over half a year. It'll take some time to remember that's no longer your identity," Kaitou explained when he noticed the expression.

Shinichi was silent. Some of the lost look was gone, but now, there was a contemplative frown on his face. What if I can't throw the habit? What if I get it mixed up? The first time I came back for 24 hours, I accidentally greeted the other kids, and called Ran 'Ran-neechan', of all things. How much of 'Conan' has become 'Shinichi', now? What if I can't separate them?

Heiji and Kaitou exchanged concerned frowns.

"Kudou?" Heiji ventured.

Shinichi looked over at Kaitou, instead. "Have you ever mixed up your identities? Acted as 'Kuroba' while being 'Kid', or acted as 'Kid' while being 'Kuroba'?"

Kaitou leaned back to think about that one. "Not directly. But, there were a couple incidents. Like after one heist, I was reading the paper in class, and saw something that shouldn't have bothered me as 'Kaitou', but bothered me as 'Kid'…and made a bit of a fuss in the middle of math."

"I'm sure your teacher loved that…" Heiji attempted some humor into the conversation.

Kaitou grinned. "The teacher doesn't really care anymore…embarrassed Aoko, apparently. I had to do some quick thinking to cover up my outburst."

Shinichi stared at the ceiling thoughtfully.

Kaitou smiled. "Don't worry about it. You're separate people, but you're the same person. Part of you will always be 'Conan' even if you throw the rest away. It's just an identity…a shadow. It's you, but it's not. You're not Conan right now, or anymore. Just like how I'm not Kid right now. Who knows…maybe you've always been throwing around those innocent expressions. We wouldn't know, since both of us met you when you were just Conan."

"I suppose…that makes sense…" Shinichi mused.

Heiji grinned. "I doubt you're going to go 'a-re-re' at a crime scene anymore."

Shinichi threw him a glare.

"See?" Heiji chuckled. "Even as Conan, you were still Kudou. That's what I called you, right?"

"Enough times that I'm surprised nobody realized it, yes."

Kaitou snickered at Shinichi's deadpan expression during that. "So, relax, then. You'll get back into the kick of things. After all…"

The two watched as he flicked his wrist, and made a small-stemmed rose appear in his hand.

Kaitou then added it to the vase on the nightstand next to him. "…you're not alone."

Shinichi stared at the vase full of flowers, and now the new rose that joined the addition to the previous ones there. Then, he chuckled.

Kaitou beamed when he saw the smile.

Heiji was glad, too, but rounded on Kaitou. "How the hell do you do that?"

"Huh?"

"The rose come'n outta nowhere thing!"

"It's a magic trick. I thought a detective that can state how some of the most complex of magic tricks and criminal tricks work can tell how I managed to do that," Kaitou drawled out.

Heiji flushed.

"Oh, so you learned the big tricks but not the small ones?" Kaitou grinned. Hattori is a lot more fun to tease than Kudou. He has better reactions.

"What?! No way…I just don't know that one! Come on…tell me!"

Kaitou pretended to consider it, then held up his right hand, which was now sans the bandage. He curled his hand into a fist so his index finger stuck upright…

…Heiji leaned in as if he was about to hear some big secret…

…and Kaitou grinned and held up his index finger to his lips. "Tis a secret!"

Heiji nearly fell out of his wheelchair.

Honestly, one walking by the room wouldn't be able to tell which was the loudest sound in that room…Shinichi's laughter, Heiji's indignant shouts, or Kaitou's amused protests as to why it would be a bad idea for the Osakan detective to kill him.

TO BE CONTINUED…