Chapter 10: Substantial Feelings

I do not own Detective Conan.
Although I wish I did.

Enjoy reading this chapter! =)

~~~ KAZUHA'S HOUSE

- - Now, you get a cold! Yoshi-kun?" Ran said.
Yoshi was still coughing and shaking from the cold that Conan spoke for him, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"We still have to get him to a doctor! He's been having headaches since yesterday," Kazuha said.
"That would be costly, isn't it?"
"Perhaps, but we'll see… It's better to keep him healthy and –"
"I'll ask Haibara and Hakase for help! They once gave me a cold medicine and it worked! Plus, it should be free," Conan suggested.
"We'll try that, then," Ran said. "Next option would be the doctor if that wouldn't work."

- - -
"Thank you, Haibara. I got to go. They're waiting in Kazuha's house. Kazuha let us stay there since her father's visitors have finished their works there this morning."
"Be careful then, Kudo-kun. Let him take both of the essentials. Do not make them suspicious."
"I know."
"Thanks to you, I got my notes. And from that, I believe it would be a few hours before the desired effect shows up. Before that, make sure he's ready."

"Haibara, I do not know if this will work."
"Well, I know it will. But I don't know what will happen next. It's up to him, actually."
"Yeah. And this will be the first time."
"And the last, I think. He surely wouldn't demand more, unlike the way you do."
"We do not do this for me. We do this for him."
"How unfortunate. If we hadn't known that boy, I would still be focusing on you. But, oh well, this will add to my notes."

- - -
Conan gave Yoshi the cold medicine and water.
Yoshi commented about the bad taste of the water.
Conan just shrugged and seemed to wonder.
All that was left to do was wait.

But then, a man entered the house and Conan saw him.
Conan became quite nervous.
For it was…

The man saw the two children.
One was lain down on a long chair. The other one seemed to be taking care of the companion.

And the man felt something disturbing.
He neared the two children and saw that they were talking. In hushed voices.

"Have you seen the daughter of To-" The man stopped.
For his heart was beating faster. For a reason he didn't know.

The man addressed one of the kids, "You're the child from Mouri's residence, right?"
The child nodded.
"And who might the other kid be?"
"Yoshi Kamui, Occhan," came the wary reply.
"Really, now?" The man knelt next to Yoshi. "Tell me, young kid. Is it possible that you know me?"

Yoshi was staring intently at the man who spoke again, "I believe we have met. In the past."
"I believe you," Yoshi said slowly. "But I do not know your name, Oji-san."

The man realized that the disturbing feeling inside him was gone already.
He stared at Yoshi again then said, "Have you seen the daughter of Toyama?"

Conan finally spoke again, "Kazuha-neechan?"
The man nodded.
"I think she went outside with Ran-neechan."
"If that's the case, tell her when she returns; that I came here. She will know what that means."
"Of course, Occhan."

And the man went away to do more of his work.
And Conan wondered if Yoshi recognized the man.
Heizo Hattori.

- - - AFTER A FEW HOURS

Yoshi was getting well already.
His breathing was returning to its normal pace, unobstructed by coughs.

Ran and Kazuha returned home by that time and were greatly relieved. They decided to take a nap after the hours of checking Yoshi's condition.

For that, Conan was thankful.

And a stifled yell suddenly came from Yoshi, "Co- Conan!"
Conan smiled at Yoshi, "It will be fine, Yoshi."
"It… This is different! AH!"
And Yoshi grasped his right chest.
And Conan's smile seemed to be showing a grim satisfaction.

Was he dreaming?
That face…
He's not Conan.

"AH!" Yoshi tried again to lower his voice.
"Just try to be quiet. You have felt that before, Yoshi," came the smug reply.

Who was the kid next to him?
He sounds so different.
Not a kid anymore…

Yoshi held Conan's hand for support.

The bonds of steel.
Handcuffed with someone.

Yoshi closed his eyes. He realized he had been sweating a lot.
But that wasn't all. Heat was enveloping his entire body. The heat was going through numerous systems and it was becoming unbearable.

Yet he trusted this friend.
He knows much…
About him.

Yoshi looked at Conan again. The face of his friend had darkened.

Why?
What was really happeing to him?

"Yeah. This might just work. You're different," Conan said.
And he seemed to leer at Yoshi but he just sighed. "You can do it, Yoshi."
Yoshi's breathing came rapidly. He feared this might be hyperventilation.

How come he knows that?
Hyperventilation…

It hurt.
Yoshi wanted to cry. Like a baby.

'Say, Heiji. I want a baby.'

Yoshi felt that he was losing consciousness by that time.
Still, another thought came to him.

Who is Hattori Heiji?

And he gave up his resistance.
Conan stared.

Conan stared.

.

.

.

And Yoshi stared.
Conan stared.

"I feel strange but fine," Yoshi croaked. "My voice sounds strange."
"And you're going to have to do something strange," Conan said. "Work with me, Yoshi."

- - -
Kazuha was happy enough that her friends were going to stay in her house.
Dinner was already done.
So, she thought of doing something good for them.

Maybe inspiration made her do it but she cleaned the rooms that they were going to use.
Ran offered to help but Kazuha said she could do it alone. Besides, she knew some things about her house that Ran didn't know.
Some things were meant to be in their places, supporting her superstition.

One room for Ran and herself was cleaned already.
She proceeded to the second room. She thought of dedicating her work to Conan and Yoshi, the really adorable kids.

Kazuha entered the specific room.
"Hey, Kazuha-nee… Ka. Kazuha."
That voice.
Was only his voice.

Kazuha turned to the direction where the voice came from.
And she tightly hugged the speaker, who was sitting on the edge of the window.
"Is this really true? Heiji? What happened to you?"
"I am sorry, Kazuha-nee… Kazuha. Some agent suggested a kind of work to me. I found it hard to refuse."
"Ahou! Everyone was worried!" Kazuha failed to stop her ears.
The Osaka boy seemed to be taken aback.

'Why is she like this?
What have I done?'

The two suddenly felt something heavy step upon the wooden floor.
They looked at the door but found nothing.

The Osaka boy bit his lip.
And he held the cap that was still on his head.
"Hey, Kazuha-ne…ne…" The Osaka boy sighed. "You'd have to wait for me a bit longer. Tell my parents, too. I'll be back. Do not be hurt when I'm not around, Kazuha."

'I will never ever let you be hurt.'

Then Kazuha felt something hit the back of her neck.
She instantly felt sleepy.
She fell to the open arms of Heiji.
However, she looked up at the last moment. To see his face.

The face was indeed Heiji's.
The eyes were his.
But the expression…

Was befitting to a young child's innocence.

- - -
"Conan-kun." That was Ran's voice, echoing around the main room.
"Yes, Ran-neechan?"

The two of them were alone there, sitting around the fire. Conan just came from Yoshi's room, as he had said.

"Kazuha-chan is so lucky."
"Why is she, Ran-neechan?" Conan asked innocently.
"Because…" Ran looked at Conan with glowing blue eyes. "She's having a very good dream. She's talking to Hattori-kun again."

'Oh. That was Ran who made the sound outside our room a while ago!'

"Don't your own dreams come true, too, Ran-neechan?"
"One still hasn't come true. You know how long… I've been waiting for Shinichi."

.
.

'Ran.'

.
.

"It's going to be fine, Ran."
Ran's attention was caught.
That was the voice of…

"That was Shinichi-niichan's voice, wasn't it?" Conan said.
"Co… Conan-kun?"
Conan raised his bow tie and explained slowly, "This is a voice-changer, Ran-neechan. It's invented by Hakase."
Conan paused for the fact to sink in.
Then he continued, "I don't want to see Ran-neechan miserable so I thought of something to do to help you."

Conan adjusted the bow tie again then spoke in Shinichi's voice, "Be happy, Ran. Always smile your beautiful smile."
Conan smiled encouragingly.

Ran looked like her mind was still absorbing what had just happened.
Conan waited patiently.
That was a sensitive moment.

"Conan-kun!" Ran embraced Conan tightly. "Arigatou gozaimasu! You made me happy again." And Ran let fresh tears flow from her eyes.
And the tears dropped unto Conan's back, wetting his shirt.
Yet…

Conan, no, Shinichi felt happy and relieved.
'Wait for me, Ran.'

~~~
The end of this chapter.

-How did Yoshi become Heiji?
It's like what happened to Conan the first time.
He had a cold and he drank the water that Conan gave him; which was actually alcohol.

-That last part.
About Conan revealing the real use of his bow tie to Ran…
I really wasn't sure about adding that, but I am clawing myself just to find some ideas for romance. (Not really, but hey! It's like symbolism xD)

-Of course, Ran doesn't know the use of the bow tie.
But in my fanfic, she now knows!

-Please leave a review/comment and follow/favorite if you want to! ;)

-Thank you very much for your support! =)

- Da Newbie
I am crazy enough to write fanfictions.