Hi again! Cutting it close again! Yet here it is and I think I finally didn't leave a cliff hanger. At least I really think I didn't. You tell me! Hope you like it! It's an emotional chapter I think!

Key Things during one part:

Bold = Shinichi, Italic = Ran!

I pray you don't get confused!

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Thanks for the reviews:

AkemiXchan: Continued! Cheers!

Sock Monsta: She did shrink and I'm glad you like it! Makes me happy that I'm doing my job right!

Crystal Nephesia Hawklaw: I know but I promise when they do get back together it will be amazing! Hang in there!

Clue: Thank you very much! I shall provide!

Angelsgrace: Yes I agree, thank you too!

MysNiWol: Here it is and hope you like it!

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To all of those who have reviewed before or have just read along, my thanks goes with you as well!

Anyways let me not waste your time blabbing on! So here we go again!

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Chapter Thirteen: Their Love

Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan!

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"Are you scared?" The woman named Vermouth asked Ran who now sat on a couch inside what appeared to be a very large apartment complex. Vermouth wasn't even staring at Ran as she asked this. Her eyes were now facing outward toward the sliding glass doors that lead outside to a balcony. One that just so happened to be too many floors up to jump off, Ran sighed not bothering to answer. If anything Ran was stuck on what happened this morning.

What initially happened when Ran first woke up was rather than taking a moment to realize her shrunken form, she searched for an exit. The world seemed strangely taller than usual and Ran brushed it off as her just being groggy for waking up so early. Ran just wanted to escape because her mind was so jumbled on what was going on in the outside world. There was no doubt her father was freaking out and she could imagine Shinichi blaming himself for what happened to her. Ran had to get out of this place, wherever she was!

When she found the exit, Ran discovered her predicament. It didn't come as fast as it should. Ran was too busy panicking to think about why her arms weren't extending as far as they should or why her legs weren't producing that much needed spring.

"What in the world is going on here?" Ran questioned gritting her own teeth, the eerie voice falling on deafen ears. She went as far as trying to throw a punch into her enemy, but as soon as her right fist connected into the door – It decided to send back a lovely shockwave of pain through her arm. Finally it sunk in that the karate champion was now nothing more than a pint sized kid trying to do the unimaginable.

It was unacceptable. Ran didn't want to be weak as if anyone could do the unimaginable it would be her. Ran used to break poles in half and many of the girls her age couldn't even break a single piece of wood. She didn't want to be weak!

Again, and again, her right hand tried at the door. Each swing becoming sorer than the rest but it would be worth it if she could escape. Yet after many attempts of it not working and even go as far as not causing a dent, Ran stopped.

Her breathing was heavy and her pride was bruised at the sight of blood on her fist. It was sickening, laughable, and even depressing all at the same time because Mouri Ran was now reduced to a damsel in distress. Everything she fought to be against, she wondered what Shinichi would think of her if had he seen her at this very moment.

When Vermouth located Ran, she was surprised to see the girl's shattered state of mind. The brunette had her forehead pressed against the front door to her apartment and was now sobbing silently. Ran hadn't even tried to fight back as Vermouth took her by the left hand to lead her away. In the end, Ran simply avoided eye contact while Vermouth wrapped the bloodied fist inside the bathroom. There would be no words to comfort them, only silence.

The whole situation was clearly illogical because the way Vermouth treated her was with the same kindness that she had done for Conan. It wasn't something particularly normal considering Vermouth kidnapper role here. Either Vermouth was scheming to get on Ran's good side or simply the fact that she was crazy.

"Are you, Angel?"

For some bizarre reason, Ran didn't feel threatened. If anything it seemed like there was a hidden sincerity in Vermouth's words and that's what confused Ran the most.

"Why do you call me that? Why must you call me "Angel?" Ran asked ignoring Vermouth's previous question all together. Vermouth snickered.

"It's just a name—"

"No," Ran said firmly, "There's some sort of hidden agenda behind it," Vermouth's smirk grew, "I just don't understand the interpretation behind it." It was then that Vermouth whipped around to face Ran. Her shadow cast through the balcony behind her and the way those silver eyes glowed! Ran would never forget that sinister expression ever again.

Now she was scared.

"I can see why Gin was so suspicious of you Angel. Not only were you there at Tropical Park during cool guy's disappearance but also the daughter of a washed out yet now famous detective."

Ran hadn't bothered to correct her. Although her father was talented, he still was taking credit where it didn't belong. She only would feel terrible once Shinichi reappeared because she imagined her father would sink back to the bottom where he originally started from.

Just who was Gin anyways? Vermouth's boss, it seemed unlikely since Ran still hadn't come face to face with him. Vermouth was taking her sweet time to deliver her to him. Well whoever he was, Shinichi was not fond of the idea of her meeting him at all. She could hear the panic in his voice once Gin's name was mentioned. It wasn't something Ran could brush off since Shinichi was always the calm, braved hero. In dire occasions Shinichi would appear extremely frustrated but nothing else. So if he wasn't Vermouths boss but Shinichi was nervous around him than just how much power did this guy have? Did she really want to find out?

Of course not, they were questions that would simply go unanswered, at least for now.

Home seemed so far out of reach now. Especially now that she had lost her guaranteed escape route. Her clothes had been changed as she was now wearing short black pants and a t-shirt on top, meaning her old clothes and the detective badge were long gone now. All she could do was figure out a plan, and hopefully that plan would come before Vermouth cared to bring her to Gin's presentence. "Here I thought I wouldn't be able to snag you from your beloved cool guy but then again we are talking about you aren't we Angel?"

"What are you trying to get at? I don't understand." Ran said firmly causing that smirk to curl on Vermouth's lips. Vermouth tore her gaze away, heading over to her desk and Ran watched her movements trying to figure the puzzle out but nothing came to mind. Vermouth poured herself a drink and raised it up to where she could see Ran's curious expression through the glass. "You see Angel, at one point in my life there was a time where I thought god didn't exist because no angel had ever smiled upon me. Not even once."

Ran's mouth parted slowly into an 'o' shape as the sound of rain echoed in her mind. That pitter patters reaching out to her as if trying desperately to revive that horrid incident that Ran pled to be erased from her mind one fragile night. It seemed she would have to rewind it and let it play in her mind one last time.

"S-Sharon…" Ran said upon remembering that sad smile and as she gazed through the glass, there it was. Ran wasn't sure what to say now, her body felt numb and confused. She had remembered Shnichi's mother telling her that Sharon had called and told her that she had found her angel but then did that mean—

"It seems like you have figured it out Angel," Vermouth replied in a calmed whisper as she lowered the glass and took a small sip before placing it aside back on the desk. "But the woman you call Sharon has long since passed. I am Chris Vineyard of the Black Organization, code named, Vermouth."

Ran felt speechless, she really didn't know what to say to this woman. If anything she was looking at not a monster but a broken soul. "I thought you'd be happy Angel, shouldn't you be thanking your god that you have the chance to meet me once more?"

Sharon, no Chris or even Vermouth's gray eyes now pierced angrily into Ran's blue frightened ones. It was almost like they were silently demanding something more from Ran. Yet—

"I-I still don't understand." Ran stumbled out. "Why am I?" Ran pondered with a shaky left hand now pointing at her chest. "…The Angel?"

"You saved me angel," Ran blinked at her words echoing them silently shortly after. Vermouth's gaze was ever so deadly but somehow Ran could detect the tenderness in Vermouth's tone. If villains could cry, this was the closest one would ever get. "I couldn't find the reason for my existence. I was falling into a world of despair and I thought I couldn't be saved. Especially not after all the horrors I committed to greedily find the happiness I so desperately wanted. I was evading reality you see, but the day you grasped a hold of me, my descent literally stopped. Everything became little by little clearer and I have you to thank for that, Angel."

What a thing to say!

Ran's mind was completely and utterly blank. She was so surprised how emotional one person could sound. Ran usually didn't want to understand why a killer does the things they do but at that second Ran wanted to understand. She wanted to help Vermouth because even though she couldn't recall when she had saved Vermouth, she still felt entitled to do something. It was almost like Sharon became her responsibility.

"Are you sure it was me?" Ran asked in a hesitant tone. Vermouth nodded.

"I never forget a face and I certainly would never forget yours Angel." Ran bopped her forehead, the memory had to be somewhere but the only person she had ever saved during her time in New York was that actress. She could hear Vermouth chuckles,"Worrying yourself over the kidnapper's problems is not something—"

"It is!" Ran shouted, and then coughed an embarrassed flush across her cheeks. "It obviously means a lot to you. My head just won't give me the answers right now." Ran brushed her left hand through her hair, "If Shinichi was here he could figure this out in a second." Ran groaned tipping her small body over to lay flat back on the couch. "I sure hope he's okay."

Vermouth made no sound to answering her and Ran could just hear the sound of Vermouth prepping to leave the room. In the corner of Ran's eye she could see Vermouth's hands slid over the couch and just before Ran could turn and shout at her, something lightly hit Ran on the head.

Ran took a deep breath as she took a look at whatever Vermouth gave her. It was the detective badge! Shinichi could find her with this! She could also talk to him with this…yet… "Why?"

The footsteps halted.

"Is a reason necessary?"Ran's heart skipped in her chest. "It doesn't require a logical mind, yeah?"

Those were Shinichi's words weren't they?

"Don't say that with that gruff voice of yours!"

A previous memory of herself yelled at her father. Yes, they were Shinichi's and the day he said them was when she saved someone. That's right! There was another person she saved but it was a male yet didn't he have silver hair too?

One that matched Vermouth's very own…. Shinichi's mother did say Sharon trained under the same magician as her and became a master of disguises and this would also explain the nickname that Vermouth gave her. So now everything made sense.

Ran had saved Vermouth's yet…

"What should I do I wonder?" Ran questioned in a tiny voice. She gazed at the badge weakly. "Shinichi…I need you."

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How could he let this happen?

Shinichi told himself many times that he was never going to allow Ran to get caught up in the Black Organization but look what happened now! It was like he was cursed to never have his way with anything!

He should have never opened his mouth. No more like, he should have never confessed either. Had he allowed Ran to give up on him, maybe, just maybe, she would have been out of harm's way.

This was his entire fault!

If Shinichi had not succumbed to that stupid dream he had, Ran would have been safe. There was no way Vermouth was going to attack Ran if she had no meaning to his heart. Now thanks to him, Mouri Ran was missing.

How he managed to sleep last night was beyond him. Today was a new day and Kogoro was going out of his mind while Eri sat beside him sniffling while trying to explain what she knew about Ran's sudden disappearance to Megure. It was a living breathing nightmare. Shinichi had no choice but to sneak away before anyone's suspicious glances turned in his direction.

Shinichi wanted to avoid another blabber mouth incident because it only kept digging him a deeper grave than what he was already involved in. Even Haibara was sure to add onto his already pained mind frame when she slapped him across the face. It was by far the hardest one ever received by her because she was on the verge of crying.

"How could you let this happen?" Haibara whispered hotly. "What was I thinking? I warned you, didn't I? Didn't I? Damn it!"

"…Haibara." Agasa cooed besides her as she wailed on in curses.

It was the first time he had seen Haibara really break down and it only pained his ego more. He wanted this to be another twisted nightmare that he could wake out from but it wasn't.

Ran was gone.

Gone, gone, gone…

He would not forget her. She was the woman he loved and the woman that loved him so. She stood in front of him and allowed herself to be his shield. He told her many times to run away, to let him face this alone but she would not listen. Ran was too damn stubborn for that.

I'm a big girl Shinichi. I can take care of myself.

You can't. Shinichi whispered into his mind towards the voice of Ran's. Not against them, not against Gin. Oh Ran why couldn't you have just let go? I didn't want you to be dragged into this damn it! Not you!

You stupid, idiotic, detective freak, Ran scolded with that annoyed expression on her face that he knew well enough that she was just her way of saying thanks.

Not you!

Shinichi I've always loved you! Ran confessed to him and he could still feel the tingling warmth of her lips on his own.

Ran!

Shinichi I won't leave you behind! She yelled back at him. Determination in her eyes as she protected him against Vermouth.

Damn it Ran! I love you!

I'll do anything to get you back to the way you were.

Even allowing yourself to get kidnapped for my sake?

...

Shinichi sighed heavily; he had once again allowed her to slip out of his fingers. He had been so sure of himself that everything was going to be alright but then Vermouth had the nerve to appear and ruin everything.

Haibara told him in soft harsh whispers after she had calmed down to welcome to the living nightmare she had feared for so long.

Shinichi would never be angry at Haibara for her cold attitude. Haibara had lost so not only her identity like him but also her own flesh and blood to the Black Organization. Now it was happening again. Ran had become Haibara's sister in a sense and she did look in Haibara's eyes just the same as her sister before.

"You know what she wants Kudo. It's fairly obvious why Vermouth left you this antidote sample."

Shinichi nodded.

This was Blackmail.

Vermouth had not left it for him, it had clearly been written out for the both of them.

For Vermouth it had to be seen as a simple trade off.

One she expected was going to be an easy decision for him to make.

Haibara for Ran, and yet, Shinichi also swore to keep Haibara safe. "I'll do it." Haibara announced in the tiniest whispers.

"No Haibara, I can't let you—"

"You don't have a choice Kudo! I've been running for too long. Maybe it's about time I faced them head on besides," Haibara paused swallowing, "Ran's your special someone and I would hate for you to feel the sorrow I felt when I lost Akemi…"

"…But Haibara!"

"Please from here on call me, Shiho. Please Kudo-kun."

Silenced filled the air and there were no words. If there hadn't been that knock on the door, Shinichi would have probably stayed staring at Haibara with that gapped like expression for a longer period of time.

With this he was able to escape her serious gaze and turn to the professor, asking him to answer it.

When the door opened, Shinichi groaned, it was the detective boy's plus one girl that stumbled in with bright smiles on their faces. Haibara had distanced herself in order to wipe away any fallen tears so she would not allow her weak state to be revealed in the eyes of her newly founded friends.

"Conan-kun!" Ayumi called out as she pulled him into a tightening hug, giggling. The other two boys simply glared from behind. Shinichi had to laugh plainly as he slowly detached her from him.

"...Hey guys." Shinichi replied hesitantly. This wasn't the best of times for them to visit and while the doctor had tried to tell them that, they hadn't paid any attention.

"Man she was right when she said you were going to sound grumpy!" Ayumi proclaimed, crossing her hands over her chest. Both Haibara and Shinichi twitched at her words.

"S-She?" They both wondered with shocked voices.

"Yep, Ran-san did!" Shinichi's face paled.

"Where is she?" Shinichi shouted grabbing hold of Ayumi with a panicked expression. "You've talked to her, right? Is she okay?"

"C-Conan-kun your hurting me!" Ayumi said back, because he had clenched her so tightly. Haibara yanked him by the ear making him yelp.

"Forgive him; he's just worried about her like the rest of us." Haibara stated calmly as he struggled in her grasp. Ayumi nodded slowly in understanding but still felt a little shaken.

"Um, Ran-san has been trying to reach Conan for awhile now. We could hear her voice through our detective badge."

Shinichi's eyes widened, that's right! He had given Ran his detective badge! It was all so fuzzy, that it had completely slipped his mind. Haibara must have been surprised as well. Shinichi knew she always kept hers near her computer unless she had to leave somewhere.

"She told us it was urgent and to give you ours as soon as possible. Also to watch out for a possible foul mood." Mitsuhiko said with a chuckle, "Guess Ran-san's warning helped after all."

"Cheer up Conan-kun!" Genta added, revealing in his hand one of their detective badges, "She's still waiting for you after all."

His words had impacted Shinichi more than he'd ever understand and Shinichi smirked.

"Thank you, you guys." Shinichi replied.

"What do you expect?" Genta asked, giving a nod in union to Ayumi and Mitsuhiko. "After all we are the Detective Boys!"

Haibara gave them a small applauded with her own soft smile as they flex about. Shinichi took the time to move away and head off to go talk to his damsel alone. At first it was very hard for him to activate the talk button, he wanted to apologize but at the same time he wanted to just get her out of there.

"Ran…?" He questioned, as he clicked the button and then let his thumb drop away praying to god she would answer. He didn't want to have in mind that he lost his chance in communicating with her because they had discovered her talking secretly about to the others.

"…Shinichi?" Came her voice, it sounded off to his ears but it was defiantly Ran. No one ever could make his name sound the same way that she said it.

"Are you okay?" He questioned and immediately regretted it.

Of course she wasn't okay!

She was being held hostage probably at gun point and it was his entire fault!

"I'm fine mostly, just sick." She replied soon adding, "Nothing too horrible," to comfort him. "I should have listened when you said not to stay out in the rain so long." There was a bitter laugh, causing him to close his eyes at the sound of pain in her voice. She was crying; he knew all too well. "Shinichi I miss you but I think I'll be okay for a little bit longer."

Shinichi thought she had gone crazy by this point but then he heard her next words. "I'm safe with Vermouth Shinichi."

"Ran you can't be serious!" He shouted at her angrily and she simply laughed, he could imagine her wiping a tear from her eye.

"I am and while I can't really explain it to you now, one day I'll tell you why." Shinichi sighed, Ran was always difficult.

"Where are you Ran?"

"In some sort of apartment complex building? I was asleep the whole time, I just woke up recently."

Shinichi growled, what could he do with that information? There were thousands of complex buildings scattered throughout the city. There was no way he could search through them alone and still get to her on time. "Shinichi…"

"What?" He asked irritated.

"If I don't make it out of here a-alive..." She paused, her voice caught in her throat.

"Ran don't speak like that. You'll be fine." He told her firmly but she didn't stop there.

"I just want to let you know Shinichi that—"

"Ran—"

"I would have loved to be—"

"Ran please don't—"

"…Your Kudo Ran..."

"R-Ran…I-I...I would have loved that very much so." Her sobs followed and Shinichi could only stare down at the badge with a sorrowful expression. However it quickly changed as his lips lined, and his eyes lit up in determination. He took the detective badge and brought it close to his lips, and clicked it to allow him to speak.

"Wait for me." Her sobs came to an abrupt stop.

"W-wha?"

"This will be the last time I ever ask of this to you Ran. So will you please wait for me…?"

.

.

.

"Yes!"

With that he shut off the communicator and rejoined the group. His hands were inside his pockets and his bangs as well as his glasses covered the expression now written on his face. Haibara's gaze was first to turn to his. She was waiting for his decision and it came without hesitation.

"Shiho it's time to end the nightmare once and for all."

Haibara bit her lip, tears threatening to fall as she too echoed the yes that could be heard around the world.

This time they would not lose sight of their goal.

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To Be Continued!

Finally, I was able to get it out! I was working on this chapter from 8:00 am all the way to 1:07 PM EST. It was a lot of pondering! Thanks again for all the reviews and I hope to see you next chapter as well!

Stick with me! Later!

Review please. This chapter means a lot to me!