A/N: Reviews appreciated

Warnings:
Conan is so OOC that Pluto seems to be just around the corner (but if we're talking astronomical terms it actually is).
Strange English

Chapter rating: K+
Words: 4,000
Revised: 2014-09-14

Chap. 10
Lost and Found

"When are you going to tell her?" Haibara silently wondered as they were walking home from the movie theatre together with the kids.
"Tonight, and I have all these scenarios in my head, one worse than the other," Conan answered with a sigh. Haibara threw him a glance and smiled sadly.
"Do you know what to say?" Conan shrugged; he was terrified, despite growing up and knowing Ran for his entire life, he had no idea how she would react. He only knew that it would be bad.
"Can I answer yes and no?"

"So, are you coming down with a new obsession?" Haibara smirked and changed subject.
"Huh?" Conan looked at her confused and she gave him a deadpanned expression.
"That," she said and pointed to his hands that were busy making coins appear and disappear.
"Oh! It's like kicking a ball, only less visible," he answered and Haibara raised an eyebrow.
"You find it therapeutic?" Conan shrugged and smiled at her.
"I guess. I've decided to learn to juggle with my hands too." At his words Haibara looked at him strangely, thinking something over for a while.
"Oh, I think I understand, even if you don't."

Conan sent her another confused stare and she smirked knowingly.
"I was going to give them to you after the call, but I think you should have them now," Haibara dug around in her pockets and pulled up something that looked like a hand full of studs. "It's a gift from me and Hakase. One can accomplish the impossible when one uses their head." Conan raised an eyebrow; he still didn't understand what she was hinting at.

"It's an upgrade for the belt, or wherever you'd like to put them," she said and pushed the sides of one of the small silvery squares. A ball, the size of a baseball, popped out from the top of the stud and Haibara caught it. "It's made of another material than the ball inside the belt buckle, so they only have one size, but they last much longer; five minutes to be exact." Conan perked up and grabbed them.
"Thanks! This is awesome!" Haibara snickered at Conan's happiness.
"Oh, and KID will love them," she said mischievously.

"Yo, Ran!" a voice came as she answered the phone.
"S-Shinichi!" she called out in surprise and blushed; she hadn't replied yet to his confession in London.
"How are things going for you?" Conan was standing hidden in an alley halfway between Agasa's house and the detective agency. He didn't dare to be at the agency when he was calling; there was a high possibility that she'd yell at him and hear her own voice in the phone.
"I-, I'm fine. You know, you're missing an awful lot of school. You should come home," she stammered in the phone.
"I'm sorry Ran, sorry for everything I've put you through, but I can't," Ran could hear Shinichi sigh; there was something in his voice that made her worried.
"Why? Why can't you just hand over that stupid case to someone else and come home?" Ran asked while gripping hard into the phone.
"The case is important, I have to solve it."
"More important than school, or me?" she asked irritated, "you need to come home now!"

"Yes, Ran. The case is more important to me than you are. I won't be coming home for you," Conan could almost hear her heart break, "Sonoko was absolutely right; I should never had said anything that stupid in London." She felt her inside freeze as the love of her life spoke. "It was so stupid of me to ask you to wait for me in the beginning, but then I didn't know. It was even more stupid of me to say that I love you in London. I like you, but not that way. I already have someone else that I love very deeply, we're getting married as soon as I graduate."

"What?!" Ran yelled into the phone, "what's wrong with you?! How can you tell me that you love me and then say that you already have someone else? SHINICHI!" Ran started to cry as she spoke, "I love you! Please tell me that it's not true! Please! Shinichi!" She sank down to the floor and cried into the phone.
"I'm sorry Ran, it's the truth."

"NO! STUPID! Shinichi! Idiot! You stupid detective geek!" Conan heard her pain and her screamed insults. He felt himself tremble and thought of Haibara's words: "Let go of her hard and cold, and she'll hate you. If you're sweet she'll blame herself, and her recovery will be a lot longer." He swallowed hard.
"Ran?" he asked coldly after she'd stopped screaming and listened to her sobs.
"What's her name?" she mumbled in the phone still crying and Conan froze.
'Damn it, I didn't think of that.'

"Well, what's her name? Or are you lying to me?"
"Huh? Why would I be lying about this?" Conan tried to come up with a name but all he could think of was people he knew. "Her name's Irene," he said using the first female name he could think of that didn't involve classmates and then mentally slapped himself. "Irene Singer," Conan frowned; it wasn't like he could say Irene Adler, that she would recognise.
"You're lying!" she screamed and Conan felt his heart skip a beat. He grew cold and distant as he continued.
"No, I'm not. It doesn't matter what you think of her! I love her! We'll be getting married and if you think she's a lie, then fine!" Conan heard himself sound angry and yell, even though he was only in pain. "It's not like I need your permission to get married! You have no right to be angry with her! I'm the one who made a stupid mistake by telling you something like that! I love her, not you!"

The detective clicked the phone shut after he'd yelled the last sentence. His heart was in agony and he panted as he leaned on the wall covering his face with his hands. He'd been preparing for that moment for two weeks, debating with himself, wondering what he should say, deducing what Ran might ask and say, when she would yell and when she would start to cry. Every preparation was in vain; he didn't follow any of the plans and Ran didn't ask the questions he'd thought she'd ask and he'd ended the conversation faster than he'd ever expected.

Conan didn't know when he started running, trying to flee from something. He just wanted to get away, far away. His sight grew unclear from time to time just before tears fell down his cheeks. He'd been prepared for it; he'd thought that he'd let Ran go, that he'd moved on, but it was still too real. Maybe it was because in his head he hadn't been able to hear Ran's pain or her crying.

The child, running through the streets, fell and got up, only to continue in his wild flight. He didn't know how long he'd been running; everything went passed him in a blur. The shining from the street lights, the legs of people he ran around and he was pretty sure he ran over a busy road. He could hear signal horns and the screeching of tyres, but he didn't see it. His body was aching with both physical and emotional pain.

He'd lost count over how many times he'd tripped over his own feet, and his hands, arms and knees were bleeding from the many impacts. Conan fell again but he was too fatigued to brace himself so he felt his chin painfully make contact with the ground. He forced his arms to push his body up from the road and stumbled as he got to his feet. He was seeing sparkling stars in front of his eyes and his sight was bad, almost covered by blackness, but he kept going. Conan slowly realised that he had no idea of where he was, but he didn't care, not as long as he could run, even though a small voice in his head whispered that it was dangerous as he ran between the large buildings.

He was somewhere in a maze of alleys when he crashed into the ground again, but this time he couldn't get up. He tried to move, but his body refused and he cried until his tears had dried up, and in the end he was just breathing erratically and making pained sounds. His throat and lungs were burning from the running, and he slowly calmed down. The detective with the appearance of a boy was lying in an alley, somewhere in Tokyo, alone and vulnerable. He felt tears begin to fall again, and he couldn't help it, because everything looked completely dark. He might never get a cure and now he was completely alone. He'd left everything behind; his life, his friends, and even the hope of ever returning.

He didn't know how long he'd been lying there when he suddenly heard footsteps and he was picked up into someone's arms. Conan tried to open his eyes but his eyelids seemed to be glued shut and hurt from all the crying. He heard a quiet bang, like from a muffled pistol and the nose of something hitting a metal railing far above. There was a small yank and he was travelling upwards in an elevator-like feeling. Conan could feel tears rolling down his cheeks and he couldn't stop them. He couldn't even move his aching body. All he could do was lay helpless in the arms of whoever it was that had picked him up.

The person, a man, started walking again and then sat down with Conan in his lap. His head was laid against someone's chest. Conan could hear their heartbeat and he felt a hand going through his hair.
'Searching for injury,' his brain stated as he recognised a pattern.
"Are you okay?" the man asked and Conan couldn't get anything out other than a croaked cough. He'd recognised the man's voice but he couldn't place it.
"M fine," he coughed and started to shiver; it was getting cold, and the heat from running had worn off long ago.
"You don't look fine to me. I'm going to take you away from here and take care of your injuries," the man said, but Conan had fallen into an exhausted sleep before he'd even finished the sentence.

When Conan woke up he was lying on something soft and someone was taking care of the wound on his cheek, if the stinging was of some indication. He whined as he felt bandage press against the wound.
"So you're awake again," the man said softly and moved on to the wounds on his left arm. Conan coughed; his throat was dry and his eyes still felt like they were burning. A wet cloth was carefully pressed against his lips and he couldn't do anything but to allow the man's nursing.

Conan was terribly self-conscious as the stranger took care of his wounds, and if his body had obeyed him he would've been twitching. When the person was finished he felt himself being lifted and placed once again in his lap.
"Here, water," the person murmured and Conan felt a straw by his lips. He drank a little and felt his throat burn.
"Who?" Conan tried to ask, but the only thing that came out was a painful croak and he whimpered.
"Don't talk," the man hushed him and petted his hair.

Conan listened to the man's heartbeat and from time to time he was given water. His senses slowly came back and he could feel his limp body aching even more.
"Flowers," Conan mumbled and the man looked at him. "Roses. Feathers. Chocolate. Sweetness," the man smiled amused as the child was commenting on what he smelt like. "Fireworks. Chemicals. Metal. Hmm, silk? The noise… a grappling hook," there was a long pause. 'Safety,' the drained child mumbled in thought. "How did you find me, KID?"

"As expected of Tantei-kun, you can deduce who I am without even looking at me," the thief grinned amused and caressed the boy's hair. "You look like crap," KID stated and offered more water, "were you chased by someone?" Conan drank the water but didn't answer.
"How did you find me?" he mumbled again and enjoyed KID's attention on his hair; it felt really nice and he wished that it would never end.
"Oh, well. I have my dear Michi-chan and Kaoru-chan checking on you, while I have Nana-chan and Momo-chan checking on Tantei-san, but he's boring since he functions like clockwork," the thief mumbled, "I noticed that Michi-chan was travelling a long way and you were in a bad neighbourhood. Then considering how much trouble you always manage to get in, I thought it was best to check on you." The child in his lap huffed.
"Stalker," he mumbled hoarsely and the thief smiled.

"Well, yes. If I were a detective it would be called 'investigating', wouldn't it?" KID laughed a little and offered him more water.
"What time is it?" Conan asked and felt content with leaning against KID, feeling the warmth radiating off of the thief's body and allowing the steady heartbeat to calm him.
"A little after half past eight," Conan got worried; it was more than three hours ago that he'd called Ran, and his thoughts was drawn to the hospital where KID had taken one of his phones.
"Did you call anyone?" he asked in a quick whisperer.
"Not yet, I thought I should take care of your injuries first," KID answered and Conan frowned; he sounded tired.
"Where are we?"

"At a nice hotel," the thief said and fell backwards making Conan cry out in confusion. "Their beds are so soft," the thief mumbled and yawned.
"Can I stay for tonight?" Conan asked cautiously, he didn't want to go home to Ran quite yet, not with the way he felt. The detective found himself blushing; he was actually lying in the same bed as Kaitou KID on top of the thief's chest, with the thief's arms around him.
"Yea, sure. How come you haven't opened your eyes yet?" KID wondered and observed the child.
"I can't, my eyes are hurting too much, and they refuse to open," Conan mumbled and hid his face from the thief.
"I should probably call them and tell them that you're not dead or kidnapped," KID mumbled and Conan felt one of the phones disappear from his pockets.
"Wait! I have two phones, and if you use the wrong one I'll be in a lot of trouble," KID frowned and the second phone was taken out of his other pocket.

"Why?" the thief sighed, "which one should I use? They look identical." KID was a bit intrigued by that fact that the child had two phones but he let the subject drop.
"Open them, and use the one with the picture of me and that drunkard," the child said while concentrating on the heartbeat of the thief.
"You have twelve missed calls, four from Haibara, one from professor Agasa and seven from the detective agency," KID informed him, "wow, that Haibara-girl must really like you." Conan huffed amused; Haibara was probably worried that she'd lost her research object.
"You should probably call Haibara first, or she'll come here and yell at me," Conan snickered, "or poison me for worrying her."
"Ok, your girlfriend first," KID snickered and Conan huffed.
"She's not my girlfriend. She's the devil's spawn." KID laughed heartedly at his comment as he rang.

"I understand that you feel bad, but you've been gone for hours!" Haibara roared as soon as she'd answered, "you can't just disappear like that!"
"I'm sorry," KID said in the phone, using his normal voice.
"Who are you?" came a quick question in a suspicious tone, Conan could almost hear Haibara narrowing her eyes and frowning.
"I am the infamous Kaitou KID, at your service!" KID was grinning like an idiot, Conan was sure of it.
"Oh?" Haibara said and raised her eyebrow, "and Edogawa-kun is there with you?"

"Yes, he is," KID said and ruffled Conan's hair gently.
"Can I talk to him?" KID put the phone to Conan's ear.
"Hey, Haibara. Did Ran call you when I didn't get home?" Conan asked.
"Yep, can I speak with KID again?" It sounded like she was holding herself from laughing.
"She wants to talk to you again," Conan mumbled and KID took the phone.
"Internationally wanted phantom thief on the line, what can I do for you today?" The detective frowned when he heard a loud laughter in the phone and a click. "She hung up on me? Who doesn't want to talk with the Kaitou KID?" Conan could hear the confusion in KID's voice. "Why did she hang up? It was a joke, but, she hung up?"

"I told you, she's the devil's spawn, you can't predict the way she reacts, not even I saw that coming," he mumbled as KID gave a call to the detective agency.
"Mouri Detective Agency," a male voice answered.
"Well hello there!" KID said, sounding way to cheery and not the least tired, "I think I have something you've lost." At the agency detective Mouri Kogoro stood up.
"What do you mean?" he asked and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. His daughter was sitting on the couch sobbing since she'd been dumped by the detective brat and it had gotten worse since they hadn't been able to find the freeloader.
"I've found a child."
"You have Conan?" Kogoro asked and the phone was yanked from his hands.
"Conan! Conan is that you?" Ran's trembling voice asked.
"Hello," was all KID had time to say before Ran yelled; "Shinichi! Idiot!" in the phone and slammed it shut, effectively cutting of the call.

"What?" KID asked baffled and stared at the phone in his hand, "what's wrong with everyone? Why did they hang up on me?" Kid frowned. "I'll call again," he mumbled and dialled.
"Mouri Detective Agency," Kogoro answered again.
"What just happened?" KID asked and received an annoyed huff.
"Am I talking to Kudou Shinichi?" he growled in the phone and KID raised an eyebrow.
"No, I just wanted to let you know that Conan will be staying with me tonight and that I'll bring him home tomorrow."
"If this isn't that stupid detective brat, then who am I talking to?" Kogoro growled, completely certain that it was Kudou on the line.
"Kaitou KID," KID answered with a grin.
"What? Kaitou KID?" Kogoro gaped at the empty air and Ran snatched the phone once more.
"KID? Do you have Conan?"
"Yes, I do," the thief answered.
"Can you bring him home? Is he alright?" Ran quickly asked worriedly.
"Yes, he's alright. I found him a little bruised up, but I've taken care of his wounds."
"Can you take him home?" Ran fidgeted where she stood.
"Finders keepers," KID said jokingly but then grew serious, "I'll bring him home tomorrow."
"Why? Why not tonight?"
"Well, to be honest, I'm really tired. I've pulled two all-nighters in a row and have only slept an hour or two. I don't feel like running around anymore without sleep."
"I can come and get him!"
"No, you could bring the police and your father. Then I'd have to run, and might get captured and spend the rest of my life in a prison cell. Okay, no, I would escape from the cell, but you get the point. My identity would be reviled and I would be forced to run my entire life." Ran tried to interject but KID kept talking. "I just called to let you know that he's safe, so you don't have to worry." KID clicked the phone shut and yawned.
"Is everyone around you crazy?" KID mumbled and took up his own phone. Conan could hear him dialling a number.

"Hello, I'll be staying at a hotel tonight so you don't have to worry. Yes, I'm fine. No, not yet. Yes. You too," Conan heard KID finish the call with interest.
"So, Tantei-kun, my dear pocket size detective who apparently is not a child," Conan huffed at his title, "care to tell me from what you were running?" KID waited for an answer.
"I don't know, nothing really... Or maybe... Everything in my life, I guess," he mumbled and KID stared at him, he could feel it.
"Life, huh?" There was a long pause and Conan sighed.
"Well, if anyone could understand, it would be you," Conan mumbled and decided what to say.

"Edogawa Conan is not my real name," the child whispered, "how would you feel if you were forced to live your life as someone else?" The thief hummed.
"I see your point, may I ask why you have a false name?" Conan huffed and slowly shook his head. "Okay, can I ask what your real name is?" Conan shook his head again. "Okay, at least I know that you're not a schizophrenic," Conan frowned at KID's words, "now I understand why you behave like two different persons! One is your persona and the other is the real you. Tell me, is it the real you that I meet at the heists?"

"Yes," was the only thing Conan said and KID thought it over. The thief thought of every scenario that could make a child adopt another persona, never getting close to the truth.
'Tantei-kun must be in danger,' KID mused to himself and absentmindedly stroked the child's hair.
"You must've missed dinner, you must be hungry," Conan could feel KID shift under him as the thief seated himself.
"I'm fine, it's not like it's the first time that it's happened. I miss dinner and lunch all the time," Conan said, trying to get his warm pillow to lie down again.
"That's not good," Kid frowned and picked up the hotel's phone beside the bed. "How does soup sound?" he asked as he pressed zero twice and Conan hummed.

"This situation is so weird," the child chuckled when KID hung up and the thief mumbled an agreement. The detective was placed on the soft bed and Conan sighed; he didn't know that was better, the softness of the bed or the warmth of KID. He heard a rustle of clothing; probably KID who changed out of his outfit into something less eye-catching.

"You know you're strange, right?" the thief said while he sat down beside the unmoving boy and began to pet him on his head, which made Conan hum contently. "How do you get your hair so silky?" KID asked mesmerized after a while and the child chuckled. The thief ruffled the hair violently and removed his hand. "Well, look at that!" he sounded offended, "it falls back perfectly!" Conan laughed and for a moment forgot his pain.

For once Conan didn't mind getting picked up and held. He didn't mind when KID placed him in his lap or when he actually spoon-fed him the soup. He didn't mind and he didn't care. He didn't understand why, but it must have been because his brain had stopped working or because that the world didn't seem as important as before; why else?
"Have you really been up for almost three days?" Conan mumbled, his voice still a bit hoarse.

"I'm currently heading for the 65th hour," the thief said with yet another yawn.
"Thank you, KID," Conan mumbled and blushed when he was done eating, "I'm really grateful that it was you and not some pervert who picked me up. Thank you, for the food, for taking care of my injuries, for being here despite being tired." Conan was petted once more on his head.
"No problem," KID chuckled, "if something happened to anyone and I'd been able to stop it, but didn't. I would never be able to forgive myself." Conan listened as KID began humming a song he'd never heard before, and he was content with falling asleep in the thief's arms.

A/N: For those who wonder; No, KID is not a pedophile. He regards Conan as a bright child and nothing more.