This is all together as I wrote the chapters on a computer without internet and had lost my thumb drive so I have to wait until I found it before posting this. Also I wrapped up the story very differently than I'd hoped to but I really just wanted it over with. If I get enough reviews though I will rewrite this and make it better!
Chapter 9:
The next time Shinichi woke up he was in a lab bound to an operating table placed under bright white surgical lights that seemed to bore into his soul. He closed his eyes and tried to turn away from them, but a scientist, an American by his looks, blocked the movement with his hand.
"We need a full view of your reactions, Mr. Kudou. These experiments are vital for our research," the scientist said in a clear American accent.
"Maybe, but I bet you don't want your subject to go blind, from burning their retinas either, do you?" Shinichi said squinting from being forced to stare at the bright light. The scientist let out a loud "tsk" and placed a pair of sunglasses over Shinichi's eyes.
Shinichi was glad for the relief, but he didn't want the scientists to know it, they were really ticking him off, so he said sarcastically, "Hey thanks, these things actually make your ugly mug a whole lot easier to look at!" His reply was a swift slap across the face that knocked the glasses off of his head and caused them to fly into a wall, nearly hitting Rum who was leaning against a white washed wall.
"Whiskey," Rum barked, causing the scientist to cringe. "No hitting the subject, he needs to be in mint condition." He said the last sentence with a glint in his eye, and Shinichi knew that he was in trouble. A dark skinned scientist with an Osakan accent whispered something to Rum, who nodded in response. "I have to go attend to some important matters. Whiskey, I expect the tests to be finished within the next four hours, max of five. There is still much I need to do if I am to get Kudou-kun here ready for action."
Whiskey nodded and pulled out an EMR. Each little sticker was carefully placed so that the scientists' readings would be accurate. Then a female scientist, with light brown hair, swabbed Shinichi's arm with antiseptic and pushed a light pink substance into it though a large syringe. As soon as the syringe was empty Shinichi's body was racked with compulsions.
"My body's on fire! My head's going to explode! My bones feel like…" before he could finish his last thought he passed out with Ran's image floating in his subconscious mind. "Ran."
…
Hattori Heiji, high school detective of the west, was sitting on the metro next to his childhood friend and long time crush, Toyama Kazuha,when he received a call from an unknown number.
"Hattori, Hattori!" said the panicked voice of Haibara Ai. "Hattori!"
"I can hear ya just fine without ya yelling in my ear," Hattori yelled into the phone. He ignored the looks he got from the other passengers on the train and continued to talk. "What d'ya want? And why d'ya call me from a blocked number?"
"It's Kudou-kun," Haibara said. "He's been kidnapped."
"Oi, oi," Hattori said moving to an empty car of the train. "Didn't he get kidnapped last month?"
"Two months ago, but this is different."
"What d'ya mean different?"
"The organization are the ones that kidnapped him this time."
"Kudou was kidnapped by those guys in black?!"
"Yeah about three weeks ago," Haibara said whispering. Hattori thought that she might have been covering the bottom of the phone because of how quiet she was being. "I tried getting a hold of you sooner but you never replied."
"I was at a training camp and my phone broke, I just got it replaced," Hattori said. "So wha' happened?"
"I don't really know. Kudou-kun went out by himself to a meeting with Vermouth. While there he was ambushed by Gin."
"Ya sure about this?" Hattori asked.
"Positive. Three days before he disappeared one of the Organization's members showed up at the agency, claiming to be his sister."
"But Kudou doesn't have a sister!"
"Actually he does. She was kidnapped as an infant and their parents were told she died. They gave them some other weeping parent's child to bury in her place."
"So the men in black stole his sister?"
"Twin actually."
"Twin?!
"Vermouth adopted her and Gin trained her. She's the deadliest one out there."
"Ya talk about her like you've met her before," Hattori said critically.
"I have. She often stopped by my lab while I was working on the drug. She was there when Irish got his prints too, so she knew that Kudou-kun was Edogawa-kun."
"How did ya find tha' out?"
"She told me herself."
"What?"
"She was arrested as the murderer in a serial murder case. I talked to her on one of the visiting days."
"Have ya told the police?"
"Yes. Police and the FBI," Haibara said. "Kir, Mitsunashi Rena, and Bourbon, Furuya Amuro, said that they would do their best to keep him safe and get him out of there."
"Well that's good."
"There's one more thing you should know," Haibara said hesitantly. "And you should tell your girl friend as well."
"What is it?" Hattori asked gently.
"I told everyone the truth about Kudou-kun."
"What d'ya do tha' for!?"
"They had to know. I know the scientists down at the lab, and I know what they'll do to Kudou-kun if they can get their filthy hands on him."
"What Haibara?"
"They'll brainwash him."
…
Haibara hung up the phone and turned around. Behind her stood Akai Shuichi, Jodie Starling, and James Black, all of whom were FBI agents.
"What's the plan, Sherry?" Akai asked her.
"They still don't know that Bourbon is a double agent," Jodie said. "We could use him; he was always fascinated by Cool Guy."
"It's too risky," Haibara said. "Kir is working to get as close to him as possible, we'll have to wait for her word before we do anything major. Until then we can support her from the shadows by looking up old cases that are related to the organization, no matter how small they are."
After the agents left, Haibara pulled out a case with small red and white pills. "It may be just a prototype, but it's better than nothing." She popped out one of the pills and swallowed it. As soon as the convulsions hit, Haibara was knocked unconscious.
Chapter 10:
When Shinichi woke up he was strapped to a chair by strong leather cords. The first thing he noticed besides the binding was his body. He was back in his seventeen year-old body, and somehow he knew it was a permanent change. Scientists were scuttling around taking notes, reading machines, and giving orders. Whiskey stood off to one side of the room observing.
One scientist pulled a switch and electrical currents immediately passed through Shinichi's body. He cried out in pain as the current passed through him. It was almost as painful, if not more than, the transformation between "Conan" and Shinichi. Every cell in his body felt like they were being torn apart and then placed back together simultaneously. He began to shake rapidly as though he was having a seizure, and then; once the electric charge was turned off, it stopped leaving Shinichi completely blank as though he were an empty shell.
He was drifting in and out of consciousness, barely responsive. Gin stepped out from the shadows and began to speak. Shinichi couldn't make out the words, but the sounds rang through his skull, bouncing through his now empty mind. The sound of Gin's voice continued to echo in Shinichi's mind until he blacked out, completely unconscious.
…
Ran sat at a table in the cafeteria of the Police Department. Detectives Sato and Takagi sat on either side of her. In her hands was a cup of hot steaming coffee and around her shoulders was Detective Sato's jacket.
"Are you okay now, Ran-kun?" Inspector Meguire asked from behind her. "I know that news was hard to swallow."
"I'm okay," Ran said quietly. "It just shocked me. That's all. Why couldn't Shinichi trust me?"
"Because he loves you," said a familiar voice. Walking up to the group was none other Miyano Shiho, the girl they all knew as Haibara Ai. "Didn't I say that before?"
"Ai-chan, is that you?" Ran asked the eighteen year old scientist.
"I told you, didn't I? That Kudou-kun and I are the same." Shiho said. She turned to the police detectives, "My name is Miyano Shiho; I was forced to work on a dangerous drug for an even more dangerous organization. After the death of my older sister, Akemi, I was locked up and took the drug myself, hoping to die, however instead of killing me, my body reverted back to that of Haibara Ai, or my seven year old self."
"I don't understand," Inspector Meguire said. "You're clearly an adult now, so why didn't you take the cure sooner? And why didn't Kudou-kun take it?"
"All of my cures before were temporary, they didn't last more than three days, most only one," Shiho said. "Just taking the prototype cure is dangerous and could result in death. I hid the pills from Kudou-kun so that he wouldn't be rash and waste them. Even now this might n=be just temporary, I'm not sure."
"I see," the inspector said.
"But I still don't understand," Ran said. "He should have trusted me enough to tell me that!"
"He wanted ta tell ya," said the voice of Hattori Heiji. He and Kazuha walked up behind Ran. "He fought with himself over it every day. When he was shot through the gut and ya gave 'im your blood, he wanted ta tell ya so badly it tore 'im up inside. He would have told ya in a heartbeat if he could, but puttin' you in danger like tha' would have torn 'im ta shreds."
"Thanks Hattori I needed that," Ran said wiping tears from her eyes. Kazuha walked to her friend and gave her hug.
"Just so we're clear," Kazuha whispered into her ear. "No one here will blame ya' if ya' knock 'im ou' for a day or two as pay back, jus' don' kill him, alrigh'?"
…
(Two days earlier)
Amaya stretched out her legs between her prison bars and then pulled them back in. She was envisioning the panic that would soon occur. Officers running wild like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off, and fellow prisoners trying to use the chaos to escape unnoticed. Oh how wonderful that would be. Not to mention the reunion with her precious brother.
Her daydreaming did not last long as a familiar man with long silver hair appeared in front of her.
"How lazy can you get, Brandy?" Gin asked her as he unlocked her cell.
"You're late," she said ignoring the question. "By five minutes and twenty-three seconds exactly." Gin scoffed and then handed her a disguise, a gun, and two boxes of extra bullets.
"Get dressed."
"Hai, hai." Amaya ran down the hallway passing several prisoners on the way who yelled at her to free them, offering her, "more money than she could ever hope for."
"Sorry boys, but I can guarantee that I make more money in my allowance than you make in a large scale bank robbery," she said before ducking into the bathroom. She quickly put on the uniform and then the mask that Vermouth had supplied. Making sure that her voice was perfect was the last step to becoming Detective Sato, who was probably sleeping soundly, tied up in a different bathroom. She checked to make sure no one was watching and then ran back down the hallway, and out of the prison.
"Impressive as always, Gin," Amaya thought. "I was able to make a clean get-away. " She ran down the street until she reached Gin's black Porsche.
"Ohaiyo, Vodka," she said to the man in the passenger seat. "Are they still in there?"
"Yeah, Gin wanted to leave a proper invitation," Vodka said smirking.
"Well so long as he doesn't forget to mention the fireworks and piñata I don't care what kind of invitation he leaves," Amaya replied as she peeled off the Sato mask. "Could you hand me a juice?"
"Yeah, sure, what flavor?"
"Orange, it's his favorite." 'Though I never liked it much myself,' Amaya thought as she opened the can that Vodka passed to her.
(Present Time)
Amaya watched Shinichi being forced to take the antidote through the observation window above him. When he started screaming and convulsing she winced. It was strange to her. Even when she was small she had no problems shooting a gun. To her assassination and torture was just another part of everyday life. Yet for some reason it was as though Amaya could feel his pain, and she hated it. She hated it more than anything else in the world.
'I need to get out of here,' she thought. Amaya stood and turned ignoring questioning glances from other members of the syndicate as she passed them by. She knew what they planned on doing to Shinichi after giving him the cure. He would be hooked up to a special machine that would send regulated amounts of electricity to the part of his brain that controlled memory, effectively numbing it and causing it to be useless for a time. After that the syndicate would have a psychiatrist who specializes in hypnosis brainwash him into believing he was one of the men in black.
As it turned out Amaya was his chosen "senior partner", despite having little experience towards working in pairs. She decided that rather than watch his torture she needed to prepare for her "training" lesson.
…
(From Shinichi's perspective)
I opened my eyes to find myself lying in a hospital bed. I have no recollection of how I got there, only that it's where I woke up. The problem was I didn't know who "I" was. It was as though a hazy fog covered everything in my mind. I felt as though I were missing something. No, I was missing someone.
I turned to my right to find a girl, probably around my age, sleeping with her head on the side of the bed and a white jacket over his shoulders and back. Someone had placed it there after she fell asleep. It didn't take long for me to deduce who. Standing behind her looking at me with a worried look on her face was a woman, a very beautiful woman.
Her face suddenly lost the look of worry and took on one of happiness. "Shin-chan," she said. "You're awake!"
"Um, I'm sorry to be rude, but…who are you?" I asked pausing in the middle.
"Don't be silly, Shin-chan!" the woman laughed. "I'm your mother!"
"My mother?" I thought for a minute, and then concluded that she was probably my mother. I may not have remembered her, but I could only associate good things with her. The feeling of happiness, the colors blue and yellow. I thought a bit more and then asked, "You called me Shin-chan. Is that my name?"
"No your name is Shinichi, I just call you Shin-chan, don't you remember?" I shook my head no. Surprisingly my mother took it well. "The doctor did say this might happen," she said under her breath. "Alright then!" I was shocked by the sudden rise in her voice. "Okay Shin-chan. I'm your mother, Masahi Yuuri, and this," she put her hands on the other girls shoulders, "is your twin sister Masahi Amaya. All of us work for a syndicate that's trying to cure disease forever."
"What disease?"
"All of them!"
"Huh?"
"We're working on creating a drug that will completely get rid of diseases for good."
"Somehow I feel like that's not all we do."
"As attentive as ever Shin-chan. You're right. We also take out men and woman who get in the way of the work."
"Makes sense." I couldn't put my finger on it, but something felt off. Though at the same time everything was right. Honestly I could have believed anything, even if you'd told me that I was actually a magical pink unicorn whose favorite food was the purple stripe of the rainbow.
"What about my father?" I suddenly asked my mother.
"Oh, Hikaru," my mother said. "He went to get a can of coffee, he'll be back soon."
"Oh, okay." I don't know why, but I was a little disappointed in her answer. "Hey Okaa-san, I can you that right?" A nod from my mother, "Did I by chance…have a girl friend?"
"Yes, you did, but you broke up with her about a year ago," my mother said. "You just couldn't get into her."
"What was her name?"
"Miyano Shiho."
"Where is she?"
"Who knows, she betrayed the syndicate and ran off. You're father's working on finding her. He's obsessed."
"Obsessed? Why?"
"Because, Shin-chan, she took a lot of information with her. Not to mention that she hurt you in retaliation from the break up."
I suddenly felt a growing hate for the girl named Miyano Shiho. "Would Otou-san be upset if I said I wanted to be the one to deal with her?"
"Not at all, Shin-chan, though he will want to play a part in the job."
"Well, he can find her; I just want to have a chat before she's punished to harshly." My mother smiled. It was interesting to me, I was making comments that no seventeen year old should ever be making, and I was fine with it!
"I think I can arrange that." My mother thought for a while and then said, "By the way Shin-chan, when we're in headquarters you should call me Vermouth, Maya-chan should be called Brandy, and your father is Gin."
"Why?"
"We have code-names to protect our identities and those around us. Yours is Paikrou."
"I see."
"Though only higher members like us have them."
"Did Miyano Shiho have one?"
"Yes. She was Sherry. She was a scientist creating a miracle drug."
"What kind of miracle drug?"
"It was supposed to be an untraceable killer, but in the end it shrunk some of those who were forced to take it. You included."
"Huh? I'm not shrunken now though."
"No, we managed to form a cure, but in the end it wiped your memories, as you can obviously tell."
"I see." I was surprised I was taking it so well. Something told me I should have been freaking out. I think I was shocked into believing.
"But, now that you're awake you can probably leave the hospital soon!"
"That'd be nice."
"Okay, then. I'm going to throw you a huge welcome home party, when you're released."
"Sounds awesome, Okaa-san." I was suddenly very tired and let out a large yawn.
"I'll let you sleep now, Shin-chan," my mother said kissing my forehead. "Good night."
"G'night."
Chapter 11:
(From Shinichi's Perspective)
Two weeks later the doctor gave me a clean bill of health and I was allowed to leave the hospital. True to her word my mother threw me a huge welcome home party, at our home in America. All of the major members of the syndicate were there: Chianti, Korn, Kir, Bourbon, Rum, Vodka, and Whiskey, I got a strange feeling when I was with him so I avoided him when possible. My mother and Amaya were there as well, but my father was off looking for Sherry by himself.
I'd only met him once in that time, and he was really cold towards me, but my mother just said it difficult for him to show emotion, a sort of tough love sort of situation. Amaya, on the other hand, was very cheerful and kind towards me. She called me "Nii-chan" a lot; I guess I'm the older twin.
My mother had gone all out on the party, large colorful banners the read "Welcome Home Paikrou", brightly colored balloons, a welcome home cake, and a full on bar with alcohols and a large variety of juices for the guests. She stood at the door to welcome the guests and hand out bags of treats. I sat in a large arm chair as the doctor had told me, "Just because I'm letting you out doesn't mean you can over exert yourself by running around on missions. Make sure that you're resting a lot." So per the doctor's orders I sat whenever possible. Amaya stood next to me taking gifts from the guests and placing them on the floor behind me, to be opened in front of everyone later.
When all of the guests had arrived my mother walked up the balcony that over looked the room that the party was being held in and said, "Thank you for coming today everyone, I know that several of you had to change your busy schedules to be here. As you all know this party is for my son, Paikrou, who was just released from the hospital. So if you will all join me, I'd like to propose a toast to my son's good health and home coming."
At that everyone in the room raised their glasses and said, "To Paikrou!" before downing their drinks in one swallow.
After the party and the few stragglers had left my mother took me by the hand and led me to my bedroom. The walls were covered in book shelves, except for the space where my bed and desk were placed, and even then there were several books lying around in piles. Most of the books were mystery novels though there were also several encyclopedia sets, a dictionary, and a few other random books on health and science. Under my bed was a case that was disguised as a guitar case, but I knew that inside was a gun, a rifle most likely. There were a few pictures on my desk. One of them was a family picture from when I was around seven years old. Amaya had her arms around my neck squeezing me in a hug that I could only describe as uncomfortable. My mother had her arms around one of my fathers's and was beaming widely showing off extra white teeth. My father and I both shared the same look that said, "I was forced to be here I would much rather be anywhere else."
I only glanced at the other pictures, me holding my first catch when fishing, Amaya squeezing my shrunken form, and, to my dismay, a picture of Sherry and me holding hands and smiling. I was tempted to throw the last photo away; I had it in my hand poised to do so, but I decided that I should keep it, a reminder as to how much I hated the woman.
I removed the photo from its wooden frame and then pierced it with a thumbtack that went through the top of her head and then placed it, none to gently, on my billboard. After I was sure that I was pleased with my work I took a red sharpie and promptly crossed Sherry out of the picture, ensuring that she would stay on my list of targets. Then I left my room and walked to the kitchen where my mother and Amaya were seated at the table ready for dinner with me for the first time in who knew how long.
The next couple of weeks seemed to move in slow motion for me. After I was deemed strong enough by Amaya I went back into training as "Paikrou". Some days I worked with her on learning the art of hand to hand combat, others I was with both my father and Vodka or with Chianti and Korn. My time with my father and his largely built partner I was learning how to conduct successful tradeoffs and up close hooting. Chianti and Korn taught me all about sniping from long distances, longer than usual any way. In my free time I would hang out with Rum, Amaya, or my mother. Sometimes I would also get special lessons in the art of disguise from the latter.
I looked forward to the day that I would be sent on my first mission, or at least the first mission that I could remember. It wasn't for two months though that the chance finally came, a mission to watch over a young girl, and if she tried to contact either a certain Edogawa Conan or Kudou Shinichi, kill her.
I was disguised as a young student teacher who was assigned to a high school in Tokyo, Teitan High School. For some reason the name was slightly familiar to me though I could not explain why. My name was to be Furasaki Aoyama, twenty four years old and a student at Kyoto University. I would be student teaching the 1-A class for chemistry, which as I found out was one of my strong suits.
My disguise consisted of a slightly long bleached wig, brown eye contacts, and tanner skin, which was achieved by makeup, and rectangular glasses.
My first day of teaching was quite unexpected.
…
(No one's point of view)
"Ohaiyo, class!" said Ran's Chemistry and homeroom teacher as she walked into the classroom.
"Ohaiyo, Narumi-sensei!" Ran's class replied as the conversations around the room began to silence.
"Today a new face is joining us in the class room. Furasaki-san, you can come in now," Narumi-sensei said. "Everyone this is our student teacher Furasaki Aoyama. He studies at Kyoto University." Ran stared at the student teacher. Even though she had never seen him before she couldn't help the déjà-vu that washed over her.
"Oh? Is Ran falling in love with the student teacher now that her hubby has been officially out of the picture for over six months?" Ran's friend Suzuki Sonoko said with her hand over her mouth and a goofy grin on her face. At the mention of Shinichi Ran's face lost all of its color and her spirit suddenly seemed drained. Neither the police, FBI, CIA, nor PBP had been able to find Shinichi in the months since he had disappeared. Their only lead had been a spotting near an airport where a Shinichi fan had seen a woman with long blonde hair pushing him in a wheelchair. However because the witness didn't know what flight they had boarded they only knew that Shinichi was out of country, and that was just a guess.
"Mouri-kun, Mouri-kun," called the voice of Furasaki-sensei.
"Hai, sensei?" Ran answered when she heard him.
"Are you feeling alright? Maybe you should go see Araide-sensei," Furasaki-sensei said. Ran nodded and stood up from her seat. Maybe the doctor could help her get out of her stupor. He had been very kind to her since Shinichi's kidnapping.
Ran opened the door to the infirmary to find Araide-sensei busy with another girl. Ran didn't know her personally, but she recognized her from a few basketball games that she'd gone to with Sonoko and Masumi Sera. When the girl left Araide turned to Ran.
"How are you feeling Ran-san?" Araide-sensei asked. "You don't look sick, more like depressed to me."
"I guess that's a good to say it," Ran said sitting down on one of the beds facing Araide-sensei. "Ever since I found out about Conan and Shinichi being the same person, I've been really out of it."
"It's almost like watching the world around through a hazy kaleidoscope lens isn't it?" Araide-sensei said. "Trust me I know what you mean."
"You do?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Araide-sensei leaned back in his office chair. "Well after my father died Jodie-sensei found out about an attempt to kill me and the rest of my family. Instead of allowing us to be killed she and other FBI members staged an accident and afterwards Vermouth stepped in, acting as me."
"Vermouth pretended to be you?"
"Yup, right up until around the case at the school with the haunted desk that randomly appeared in the courtyard."
"I had no idea."
"Yeah well I suppose that just how good Vermouth is at disguise."
"Oh, Sensei did you hear about our new student teacher?"
"You mean Furasaki-san? Yes I met him two days ago at a board meeting. I had a weird sense of déjà-vu around him."
"Me too, it's strange isn't it?"
"Yes it is."
"Maybe we should look into him," said the voice of Masumi Sera from the door way. Next to her stood Sonoko.
"Sera-san, Sonoko, what are you guys doing here?"
"We were worried about you, Ran," Sonoko said as she sat next to her childhood friend. "Are you okay now?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," Ran said. She wiped away at a tear that threatened to stream down her face. "I'm just a little stressed out that's all."
"Are you sure?" Sera asked looking over her friend.
"Positive!" Ran smiled a bit and then looked down. "I guess I just miss Shinichi a lot."
"I think we all miss him, though I only really knew him as Conan," Araide-sensei said.
"I met him once when we were younger, but I didn't actually get to know him until I met Conan," Sera said.
"You met Shinichi before, Sera-san?" Ran asked.
"Ah, at the beach. I was there with my family. You were there too actually."
"I was?"
"Uh huh. I really only remember it for two reasons though."
"What reasons?"
"Well, the first is that Shinichi helped my brother Shuichi solve a case where a robber had driven his car through a guard rail and his accomplice had escaped from the car. She then passed herself off as a visitor to the beach. The second is that he made my brother laugh. I never seen him smile before let alone laugh."
"I remember now! You were the little girl in the black swimsuit!"
"Yup, that's me!"
"Ahem, while it's great that you girls are reminiscing on old times, you really out to be back in class. That is if you're feeling better, Mouri-kun," said Furasaki-sensei from behind the chatting girls.
"Oh, Sensei! Sorry we'll be right there," Ran said bowing slightly to her teacher.
"Of course. I'd hate for you t out on my first lesson. We're going to talk about acids and bases."
…
Hattori Heiji was sifting through file after file in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department when he received a call from Shiho.
"Hey Nee-chan, what's up?"
"Where are you?" Shiho asked him.
"At the police department. I'm tryin' ta find clues from the files tha' might be connected ta the organization," Heiji answered holding up a yellow manila folder. "A lot o' them are practically wiped clean. Ya wouldn't be able ta find anythin' if ya didn' know wha' cha were looking for."
"That's how they work, Hattori."
"I know, it's just' weird, is all."
"You said you're at the police station?"
"Yeah, been spending the greater portion o' the last six months here. I think some o' the officers are getting annoyed."
"Well, stay where you are, I'm going to come meet you."
"Huh? Why would ya do tha'?"
"Because we have things to discuss that can't be said over the phone."
"A-alright, just hurry up."
When Shiho arrived she found Hattori chugging down a cup of coffee and looking over a file that was sitting in his hand. She announced herself by clearing her throat which caused Hattori to spill some of the hot drink on his shirt.
"Wha' d'ya do tha' for, you ahou!" Hattori cried as he reached for a box of tissues to clean up the mess on his shirt. "Tha' stuff burns ya know!"
"I thought you were a detective, shouldn't you have deduced that I was behind you?"
"Ahou! How could I? Ya were being super quiet 'til ya cleared your throat!"
"Yeah, yeah, we have much bigger fish to fry right now though."
"Right, wha' d'ya want ta talk about, Haibara?" Hattori said as he finished removing as much coffee from his shirt as he could.
"Mouri-san texted me a photo earlier."
"Okay?"
"It was a picture of her knew student teacher."
"What's so weird about tha'?"
"She said that when she saw him she felt a feeling of déjà-vu, and that she wasn't the only the one that felt that way. Araide-sensei, Masumi-san, and Suzuki-san all felt the same way when the met him."
"Well, maybe he just has one o' those faces?"
"Baka, he's Kudou-kun."
"He's Kudou!? How d'ya figure tha' one out?"
"The feeling that I got from the photo. It was like the kind that I get when I come across an organization member, but it was slightly different."
"But Kudou ain't one o' them."
"Remember what I told you about them brainwashing him?"
"Ya mean they turned 'im?"
"Not quite. They probably erased his memories and then used a hypnotic influence to make certain things familiar to him."
"Familiar how? And wha' things?"
"They could show him Vermouth and continually say her name and the word mother, for instance. Or a picture of me and say the word traitor. That would strengthen the traits that they want from him, essentially training him to be an emotionless killer."
"But couldn't he just' get his memories back?"
"If he did they would just ease them and start over again."
"Tha' does not sound good."
"It's not, but it's effective. They use it on almost all of the higher members."
"You said almost, what ones weren't brainwashed?"
"Vermouth, Brandy, and myself. Vermouth has been around since the beginning, so I don't imagine her needing to be brainwashed in that way, and Brandy was raised in the organization like I was. There was no need to brainwash us to make us obey. In my case that was more unnecessary because of my older sister," Shiho said.
"If we could get 'im ta' remember, could we stop this before they make 'im kill anyone?" Hattori asked.
"Maybe, but their sure to have agents watching him, especially since he's close to home now," Shiho said thinking. "Though if we can pull it off it'd be nice to get Kudou-kun back on our side again. Then maybe we could take them down for good." Hattori nodded and then the two of them began to form a plan.
Chapter 12:
(Shinichi's point of view)
I was walking back to my apartment after my third day working as a student teacher and wondering to myself why Mouri-kun looked familiar when a dark skinned teenager wearing a SAX cap on his head bumped into me.
"Kudou!?" he exclaimed. "Is that ya, Kudou? Man where have ya been? Nee-chan's been worried sick about cha'!"
"Excuse me, but I think you have the wrong person young man. My name is Furasaki Aoyama," I said sweat dropping. I mean there I was being accused of being the person I was trying to keep my target from contacting!
"What'cha talkin' abou' Kudou? You might have bleached your hair a bit, gotten a tan, and are wearin' glasses, but I'd know your ugly mug anywhere. You're quite obviously my friend Kudou Shinichi no matter how ya' slice it," the boy said.
"Look young man, I really don't have time for this, I have tests to grade and a dinner date in less than three hours that I need to prepare for thank you very much!" By that time a large crowd of people had gathered around us and had prevented us from moving. I tried to push my way through the crowd, but I was promptly shoved back into where the Osakan boy was.
It was then that I spotted my target, Mouri Ran, behind the boy.
"Heiji? What are you talking about?" Ran asked Hattori. "That's my student teacher Furasaki Aoyama. He's twenty-four, blonde, and has brown eyes. Not to mention is completely different from Shinichi."
"Nope, that's Kudou. He can change 'is looks but he can't change 'is habits. Those are like your fingerprints, ya can't get rid o' 'em," Hattori said nodding his head up and down slowly with his eyes closed. When he opened them again he had fierce determination burning brightly in them. "So I want to know, what have ya been doin' for the past six months Kudou?"
"Look kid, I don't have time to mess around. I'm meeting my girlfriend for a dinner date in now… two hours and twenty-seven minutes almost exactly give or take about thirty seconds," Shinichi said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I really need to shower before she blames me for smelling like other girls' perfume again."
Hattori sweat dropped and said, "A-aah." As he let Shinichi through only slightly grazing arms with each other.
…
Gin and Vermouth sat together at the dining room table of his house in Las Angeles, California. Both were sipping from wine glasses, Gin's glass contained Sherry while Vermouth's was her own signature drink the Silver Bullet that she had become obsessed with.
"What in the devil is that man thinking," Gin said, "forcing me to play as that detective brat's father."
"Honestly Hikaru-kun, just let Ano Kata work, no one ever figures out what he's thinking," Vermouth said taking a sip from her Silver Bullet. "Besides you should think of it as punishment for slipping up in the first place."
"How the hell did he figure out my real name? And why are we using it in the first place!" Gin bellowed. "On top of that, why'd he make me cut and dye my hair? It was how I was going scare the heck out of that traitor before I kill her in the most brutal way possible!"
"Calm down, Gin, you'll wake Brandy, and she has a big day tomorrow."
"Big? Big, how?"
"Patience, patience, all good things come to those who wait," Vermouth said quietly looking at her half empty glass. 'Especially their just deserts.'
…
Shinichi sat calmly reading A Study in Scarlet as he listened to his new partner Chianti rant about the day's activities. "How the hell did he know you weren't Furasaki, huh? There's got to be a traitor out there, somewhere. Maybe its Kir, she's been acting suspiciously since she killed Akai Shuichi."
"Chianti," Shinichi tried to calm his partner down. "Come sit next to me. I just found an interesting new toy."
"Not now kid, I'm venting." Shinichi sighed. He'd known the woman for only two months and he already knew that when she needed to vent it was best to just leave her be.
'If the brat knowing that Paikrou isn't the teacher wasn't enough, he also knows that he's Kudou Shinichi! All of the boss's hard work will be ruined if the kid remembers who he really is,' Chianti thought to herself while chewing on her thumb nail. She grabbed her gun case and keys and headed out the door of the apartment. When Shinichi inquired as to where she was going she yelled, "To the range. I'm gonna go work out my issues!"
Shinichi sighed and turned back to his book. It was the second time reading it since he woke up without his memories and he had the darn thing nearly memorized. When his mother told him about how much he loved mysteries, especially Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books, he had immediately jumped right into it. He was amazed at how under-developed the character of Watson was when initially compared to Holmes. And yet at the same time to Shinichi it seemed to be the complete opposite. While Holmes was indeed a very learned man, he did not stick to just one area of interest, while he did stay mainly in the sciences. At one point Doyle even had him create what appeared to be an older version of luminol.
Shinichi was in the middle of straightening out that particular problem when Kir, the woman he was to have dinner with in thirty minutes, called him. Shinichi put down his book not even bothering to put in a book mark, he knew where he was without it, and answered the call.
"Hai," he said. "What do you want Kir, it's too late to turn me down now, I already made the reservations."
"Don't worry Paikrou, I'm just calling to say that there is a chance of a few uninvited guests arriving," Kir laughed into the phone.
"Well, the more the merrier, so long as they pay for themselves," Shinichi said in reply. He walked to his bedroom, put the phone on speaker and then proceeded to get dressed while talking to Kir through the phone. By the time the call ended he was left with only his tie remaining.
Shinichi's hand wavered between a red bowtie and a black tie. When his fingers gently brushed the bowtie he felt a shock of electricity rush through him as a flood of memories swamped his mind. However just as quickly as they were there, they were gone leaving behind only a name, Edogawa Conan.
Chapter 13:
(The Finale)
Jodie Starling had always believed that there was something special about Edogawa Conan, but to find that he was really Kudou Shinichi the high school detective, well, that was a stretch, even for her. Honestly she shouldn't have been surprised. With the world she was living in anything could be possible. Except for magic, that was something Jodie would absolutely refuse to believe in.
She sat at a table in one of the classiest restaurants in all of Japan; the only other person at the table was the man whose hands were encasing hers, Akai Shuichi. For Jodie it would have been perfect, if not for one thing. Every single guest at the restaurant was some form of undercover agent, police detective, private detective, friend of Kudou Shinichi, or Kudou Shinichi himself, not that he knew who he was of course.
It had cost the FBI a lot of money to convince the restaurant owners to clear every reservation besides Kudou's, and even then they were reluctant to do so. They didn't wish for it to become a battle ground. Jodie understood at least some of how they felt, and now here they were at what was soon to be exactly what they did not wish it to be, a battle ground.
The plan was simple, Kir and Kudou would talk business, and then after a while the couples seated around them would bring up situations similar to those that Kudou had known, some of which had been experienced by Conan. If all went well Kudou would regain his memory and together he and the FBI, along with everyone else, would work to take down the syndicate. If it worked. So far the only progression was signs of Kudou having a severe headache. Apparently the hypnosis was quite strong.
At least he was showing a sign of remembering though, that was good, and it meant that there was hope. And yet there was the unknown factor. Kudou Amaya, or Brandy, was also present, acting a Kudou and Kirs' waitress. How did they know who she was? Simple, she hadn't bothered to disguise herself beyond wearing, much to everyone's disbelief, Conan's glasses.
Shinichi himself had been surprised to find his twin sister virtually without disguise. "What are you doing, Brandy?" he asked. "What if our guests recognize you?"
"Don't worry, Nii-chan, today's the day it all ends. It's the day for our glorious rise to the top," Amaya said cheerfully. "So what does it matter if I'm under dressed? Besides these glasses are special." Shinichi just hung his head in defeat.
"Fine, just don't get too cocky," He said to his younger twin.
"I'll be fine, Nii-chan, and Kir-san here will protect you for me with her life, right?" The last word was pronounced stressfully and Amaya turned to Kir with an evil glint in her eye that said, 'If he dies I will torture you before killing you in the most agonizing way possible.'
Kir felt a shiver go down her spine before she said, "Of course, after all he's central stake in the boss's plan. Without him the organization will go to nothing tonight." 'Though that's exactly what I want to happen, just not with Kudou-kun's death," she thought. Amaya smiled and left with their menu's, pleased with Kir's answer.
Suddenly a little girl with short brown hair pulled back in a very expensive pink head band broke away from her family and ran towards Shinichi and Kirs' table. When Shinichi saw the girl's face floods upon floods of memories came coursing through his mind. He collapsed on the floor in agony as he fought against the torrent of memories. Names and faces ran through his mind appearing and disappearing all at the same time, Ran, Sonoko, Mouri Kogoro, Kudou Yukiko, Kudou Yuusaku, Hattori Heiji, Toyama Kazuha, Ayumi, Genta, Mitsuko, Haibara Ai, Akai Shuichi, Jodie Starling, James Black, Andre Camel, Megure-keibu, Takagi-keigi, Satou-Keigi, Shiratori-keibu, Kaitou Kid, and many more names flooded his mind.
"What's…happening…to me?" he cried out. Seen only by Amaya was a red dot that traveled around the restaurant until it rested upon Shinichi's fore head. Without thinking or hesitation Amaya jumped in front of Shinichi, just in time for the bullet to hit her appendix, and stay there.
"Amaya?" Shinichi questioned when he saw his twin sister fall to the ground. He ripped off his mask and knelt next to her. "Amaya! Amaya, what's wrong? Amaya!"
"Sorry for lying, Nii-chan. Though I guess you have your real memories back now," Amaya said coughing up blood. "Take them down for me will ya? And for Mama too, she's really just a victim like you are. Though in her case she's a victim to her own past."
"Amaya, don't talk, you're going to be okay we'll get an ambulance, you'll be fine," Shinichi said holding his sister's head on his lap.
"Of course I will, Baka, I'm just telling you to take 'em down for me, since I'll be out of action for the battle," Amaya said. "Now, just let me sleep for a bit."
"No, Amaya? Amaya!" Shinichi cried. Ran walked up behind him and tried to hug him from behind, but Shinichi threw her away with his free arm. When he realized what he had done he said shocked, "Ran? Is that you?"
Ran could only nod. The look in Shinichi's eyes was like that of a crazed animal. He ran out of the room after yelling for someone to call an ambulance and then raced to where he was sure the sniper was squatting. He knew who was behind the gun, it was the source of all of his problems from the beginning, Gin.
…
(Shinichi's point of view)
I ran through the streets of Tokyo, tears blurring my vision, but my feet carrying me where I knew I needed to go any ways. It was ironic to me, the place from which the sniper has shot the decisive bullet. It was Tokyo Tower, the place where I'd found that Irish had discovered who I was, and the place for many of my confrontations with the organization since then. It made sense somehow. The members of the organization were often referred to as crows, the thieves of the animal kingdom. What better place for a crow to make its nest than a tower stained the color of blood. It was almost like a testament of all of the syndicate's sins, its confession to heaven.
When I arrived at the tower I ran towards the elevator ignoring the calls of receptionists who tried to stop me, as well as the security guards. I had only one goal, and that was to get Gin behind bars where he belonged. When the elevator reached its highest destination I took off for the stairs that would lead me to the top, and without hesitation or thought towards my life I yelled at the top of my lungs, "Gin! Temei, get out here and face me! Or are you to cowardly to be a man. Do you prefer to hide behind guns and poison?"
A laugh that seemed to chill the air in Shinichi's lungs rang through the space behind him. He could feel the cold feel of the muzzle of Gin's gun placed behind his head. "Well, well, meitantei, it seems you've figured me out. Are you going to say any other last words before you die? Maybe a little something for the Angel that you left back at the restaurant? Wasn't she your target? Wow how cruel Ano Kata can be. But you know what?" Gin said. "I found out a secret. Ano Kata and Vermouth? They're the same person. Quite strange, don't you agree. Here I was, and all of us in fact, pulled along by a string, by that wretched woman." Gin spat out the last part. "Though at least I didn't get the worst of it. You on the other hand were selected as her favorite toy. How wonderful that must feel right?"
"Shut your mouth, Gin, I couldn't care less about that woman. All I care about right now is getting you in jail."
"You plan to put me in jail? You? It'll never happen. Especially since I'm holding all the cards." Gin pressed the gun harder to Shinichi's skull. "In fact Chianti is targeting that Ran girl as we speak. I told her that if in the next ten minutes she hasn't heard a gunshot from over here that she needs to fire on the girl. I can save her though, all you have to do is tell me where Sherry is. She suddenly disappeared and I think you know where to find her."
"You honestly think that I'm going to tell you where Sherry is? Sorry, but can do. I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. I've been gone for over six months, remember?"
"Tell me, or the girl dies, Kudou," Gin said.
"Oh, so it went from Meitantei to Kudou suddenly did it? You must really like me," Shinichi said spitefully.
"Fine then you can watch as your girl friend is killed right before your eyes, and then you can join her, in hell."
"I don't think so Gin, the only going to hell any time soon will be you and the rest of syndicate," Shinichi said. Then he looked up and yelled, "Now, Kid!"
…
A flash of white and a single gunshot later, Chianti was preparing to leave the scene as Gin had ordered. The girl was useless, only good for bait. Killing her would only have left more loose ends to tie up, so she let her live, for now. She took her gun with her and rode the elevator down to the ground floor of the tower only to be greeted by the police, a very much alive Kudou Shinichi, and a handcuffed unconscious Gin who was being shoved into a police car none too gently.
…
Shinichi walked to one of the police cars and rapped on the tinted window. When it was pulled down he turned to face Vermouth. "So, Kaa-san, did I reach your expectations?" he asked her.
"That and more."
"Then I have just one more question."
"And I have just one answer."
"Why?"
Vermouth smiled. "A secret makes a woman, woman, Cool Guy." And with that Vermouth was whisked away to serve the rest of her foreseeable future in prison.
Shinichi walked past FBI agents who were getting wounds from their own takedowns treated. Hattori had a nice cut that started above his left eye and ended at his chin. Thankfully however, the paramedics said that he would be fine as the cut wasn't deep, he would just have to live with the scar for the rest of his life. Takagi and Satou sat together each with matching bandages around their heads from getting slammed into a wall. Both suffered minor concussions but the only major issues they were having were the killer stares from the rest of the department as they kissed after Takagi had finally worked up the courage to propose.
Shinichi continued to walk until he found Ran, sitting next to Sonoko with bandages around both arms. He asked a nearby paramedic what had happened and was told that she had beat up so many lower members of the organization that her arms were very cut up and bruised, but that would heal in time. Shinichi walked slowly towards Ran, scared of her reaction to what had happened. Hattori had warned him that she knew the truth and he was prepared to meet his end right there and then by the hands of the woman he loved more than anything else in the world.
"Shinichi," she said softly as she got up when she saw him.
"Ran," he said. "I…"
Shinichi was cut off by a quick slap across his left cheek.
"That was for lying to me for a year."
Another slap across the other cheek.
"That was for disappearing," she said. "And this is for coming back." Ran took Shinichi's face in both of her warm and gentle hands and pressed her lips against his. He was surprised at first having expected another slap or at least a high kick, but after the shock disappeared he began to kiss her back, oblivious to the cheers and complaints that echoed around him. It seemed to both of them that an eternity had gone by before the finally separated. Then all that hung in the air was silence, a void filled by unspoken words that neither of the two could voice until he did.
"I love you, Mouri Ran."
"And I love you Kudou Shinichi."
Epilogue:
Shinichi slouched against the wall he was leaning on trying not to be seen. His right hand held his smart phone up to his face while his left supported a red bow tie that he was slightly pulling out.
"When will you be home, Shinichi?" asked Ran on the other side of the phone.
"I don't know, Ran. This case is really long. It could be any number of days."
"But you promised that you'd join us for dinner today. I even got reservations at that really nice western restaurant that just opened."
(On the other end of the line)
"…Nee-chan," said a seven year-old boy with large rim glasses who was peeking out from behind a doorway. "When are we going to leave?"
"We'll leave soon Conan," Ran answered. "I'm talking with him about it now."
"Hai," Conan said ducking back behind the door frame.
"Honestly, Shinichi, it's amazing how much Conan looks and acts like you. He's way too smart to be seven years old."
(Back with Shinichi)
'Oh no,' Shinichi thought. 'I think she found me out, I have to do something quick.'
"Hey, Ran," he said quickly. "Why don't you guys go to the restaurant first and I'll meet you there, alright? Make sure you don't lose Conan."
"Okay," Ran said cheerfully. "And don't worry I won't lose him."
"Really because last time you said that you couldn't find him for hours."
"He was at Mitusiko-kun's house, his phone was dead, and the detective boy's badge was with Hakase for repairs. When I called Mitusiko-kun's house, his mother said Conan wasn't there. How was I supposed to know that Conan was actually playing there when Mitusiko-kun's mother was sure that he wasn't?"
"You go there yourself."
"I did later, and don't you dare put the blame on me for this, you didn't even help."
"Yes I did, I told you where he was didn't I?"
"From the phone, because you were working on another big case."
"Look, just don't lose him okay."
"I know, I know, I won't lose Conan. I'll stick to him like glue tonight."
Shinichi laughed, "Just don't be too close to him, he'll start getting suspicious."
"Of course he would, he's your son after all."
"Yes and just like his mother, he's extremely hot headed."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing," Shinichi said quickly. He looked down at his bow-tie, pulled off the stray thread that had been bothering him, and then looked up. "Oh crap, she got away, she really did notice me."
"Sorry, Shinichi."
"Nah, don't worry about it. I think I got enough information."
"Then you're done for the night?"
"Yep, I'll meet you at the restaurant."
"Great!" Ran and Shinichi both hung up at the same time.
(With Ran)
"Conan, we can leave now!" Ran called to her son.
"Yay! Amaya-neechan, let's go!"
"Hai, hai, Conan-kun," Amaya said to the little boy who was pulling her by the hand.
Together she, Ran, and Conan walked out of the Kudou house and towards the black minivan that sat in the garage, while Shinichi placed his phone in his pocket and walked out of the hotel to hail a taxi.
THE END
Random Short to make up for the wait: (Not part of the Story)
Kudou Shinichi walked over to a wall in an empty room of the Kudou mansion. Haibara Ai had called him about having another cure for the Apotoxin 4869 that had shrunk him down to Edogawa Conan. The cure should not have lasted for more than twenty-four hours; however he was now going on forty-nine hours in his normal body. He would have expected it to be a permanent antidote, if not for the extremely high fever and complex compulsions that now racked his body. This time it was worse, more painful, and more prolonged. He had been going trough extremely painful spasms for the past hour. It should have been no more than half of one.
Shinichi was brought of his thoughts by the creaking of the door to the room that he occupied being opened.
"Shinichi?" called the voice of Mouri Ran. She was Shinichi's childhood friend and his first love. "Shinichi are you in there?"
'Ran,' Shinichi thought. He couldn't let her see. It would ruin the entire point of being "Conan". It would put her and everyone else that knew him as Conan in danger, danger of being killed, tortured, or both. He tried his best to be quiet, to not give away that he was in the room, there was a chance Ran would leave it alone without checking, however Shinichi wasn't hopeful, so as silently as he could he attempted to wedge himself in the cavity between two bookshelves, under the small table that stood there. However, before he could make it all the way there, a spasm much worse than those before it, wracked his body.
He jerked around and his foot smashed into a table leg, causing Shinichi to cry a little in pain. He hoped that Ran wouldn't have the noise that had escaped him, hoped that she had already moved on, but he also hoped deep down that she hadn't.
He was tired of lying to her, pretending to be someone that he wasn't. It hurt watching her, missing Shinichi and only being able to redirect the pain as Conan. He could pause it, make it go away for a time, but he couldn't hold it off forever. The best he could do was watch and be there, not as Shinichi, not as her childhood friend and lover, but as Conan, only ever as Conan, the little boy who wasn't; the little brother who wasn't. It hurt thousands of times more than the transformation he was now facing to watch her struggling to keep face, struggling to hold on, struggling to wait, wanting nothing more than to be with him, but knowing that she couldn't because he was gone, too busy to be with her, not knowing that he was right there the entire time, under a façade.
He was under a façade, a façade known to the entire world as Conan. He was bright, cheerful, smart, creative, but he was also a child, and would never be anything more, to any of them so long as he was Conan.
Shinichi cried out again as another spasm rocked his body. He knew that Ran had heard that one. If she had moved on, she was back now calling for him at the door.
"Shinichi, Shinichi, please open up. Please, just let me in." she called. "You're sick, and you need help. We'll get a doctor, go to the hospital, you can get better, just please let me in!"
"I-I can-n't, Ran," Shinichi struggled to get out through the pain of the spasms. "I…can't…let…you…see…me."
"Why, Shinichi, why can't you?"
"Because…you'll…be…in…danger…if…I…do."
"Baka, I don't care about that, you can't keep me away, even if I have to break the door down to get to you; I'm going in there one way or another."
"Don't! They'll…kill…you," Shinichi almost cried as he said the word "kill". He hadn't wanted to tell Ran that much. Now she'd only worry about him more, assuming that she actually left.
"Who, Shinichi? Who will kill me?"
"I…can't…tell…you. You'll…be…at…risk."
"When has that stopped me before?"
"Please…Ran…I'm…begging…you. What... ever… you… do… don't… come… in… here!" As soon as Shinichi finished speaking he screamed from the force a violent spasm that seemed many times worse than any other. 'Crap I'm…changing back…into Conan!'
"That's it, Shinichi! I'm coming in!" Ran kicked the door open off of its hinges and then ran to Shinichi who was collapsed in the middle of the floor. She gasped when she saw him sprawled out gasping for breath, sweating from what had to be every pore in his body. This was more than just a sickness, this was bad, and Ran knew it. "Shinichi, what's happening to you?"
"That's…what…you…can't…see," Shinichi fought to get out. He tried to say more, but Ran shushed him before he could do it.
"Don't talk," she said. "I can see that it hurts. So just rest." She knelt next to him and placed his head in her lap. She cleared away his bangs from his face and then used a handkerchief that she had in her pocket to wipe away the sweat.
Shinichi gave up, he knew that there was no getting out of this one, he couldn't move his body and speech was nearly impossible. "Just…promise…that…you…won't…be…mad…when …you… see," he said.
"When I see what Shinichi?"
Shinichi wasn't given the chance to answer. He was wracked with spasms that were much, much worse than the others, and he knew within a few seconds, at most a minute or two, he would no longer be Kudou Shinichi High School Detective of the East, but Edogawa Conan Mouri Kogoro's assistant. He felt his body shrink and could feel Ran's eyes widen in shock as she watched the transformation happen before her very eyes.
His vision began to fade, and the room began to spin rapidly. Shinichi fought to stay conscious for Ran. He needed to stay awake, to answer her questions.
"Conan-kun?" Ran asked in disbelief. "Shinichi is, you are, Conan-kun?"
"I'm sorry…for not telling…you," Shinichi said. He tried to smile, but the pain was too great.
"Is it because of the people you talked about earlier? The ones you said would kill me?"
Shinichi couldn't answer; he just hung his head in shame. He had been unable to protect her, she knew his secret, and if they found out, she would be killed, because he couldn't protect her.
"It's okay Shinichi. You big dummy. You don't have to carry everything on by yourself. There are people out there, people like me, that can and will help you. This problem that you're facing doesn't have to just be your problem. I will gladly take up some of the mantel."
"Why Ran? You'll just get hurt; you don't even understand what it means to be a part of this."
"I may not understand, but I don't need to. I love you Shinichi, and I trust you."
"Ran."
Ran grabbed Shinichi's head gently and placed her lips against his in a gentle kiss. They stayed that way for a while, just the two of them.
After what felt like an eternity, Ran pulled away. "There are just two problems."
"What?"
"Should I treat you like Conan or Shinichi?"
"Conan, we can't risk anyone finding out and you being put in more danger." Ran nodded. "What's the second problem?"
Ran looked Shinichi in the face and said, very seriously, "Does this make me a pedophile?"
"Huh?"
The End (for real this time)
