ヾ(*・-・)ﾂθ•

Kazuha's father was on the way to drive them back to Osaka. Sato promised to drive Ran and the kids back to Tokyo. All Shinichi had to do was get his skateboard and talk to Ran before he could leave.

His skateboard was missing.

He asked each of the kids, the officers, Nakano and Ishiwatari, but no one knew where it went.

He sat on the stairs after running up and down the halls. His heart pounded in his chest, his breathing shallow. Calm down, Kudou. Think low blood pressure. Stress is bad. Calm down.

"Excuse me."

Shinichi looked up. An officer, likely only a year or two older than him, held his skateboard out to him. "This is yours, I assume?"

"Yes. Yes, it is." Nodding, Shinichi took it gratefully. "Thank you."

"Anything for the Savior of the Japanese Police," the officer said, calmly sticking his hands back into his pockets. "I hear you've assisted Division One more frequently than anyone knows. I may be new here, but I'm happy to return the favor."

Shinichi pressed the button on the skateboard twice, shrinking it down to the smallest size. "A new transfer? Congratulations on the placement."

The officer laughed. "I wish I could say I enjoy it. They kicked me off the KID task force. We might not seem like the most competent of people, but KID's a genius. The only people I've met who can really keep up with him are tantei-san and tantei-kun. Honestly, I expected them to keep me in Division Two, not send me to Tokyo."

"It's odd they'd transfer you to a higher division," Shinichi said in agreement. "Do you specialize in any fields?"

"Technical genius," answered the officer with a wink, taking off his sunglasses. Indigo eyes? wondered Shinichi. "They called me on site to analyze the data on Akagi-san's computer."

Shinichi's jaw dropped open. "Oh! You found the emails?"

The officer nodded, a twinkle of pride in his eyes. "I knew they were relevant, so I asked your friend to pass them on to you."

"Thank you. Those were what helped us prove Kakei-san's involvement. It was the last piece of evidence we needed."

A smirk. He hid his eyes once more behind a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses. "Glad to be of help." At last, the officer held a hand out to Shinichi. "Kuroha Hikaru."

"Kudou Shinichi."

Shinichi shook Kuroha's hand, suppressing the shiver that ran down his spine. Kuroha's hands were freezing.

"If you ever need assistance, I'll be happy to provide," promised Kuroha.

"Give me a call any time you like," Shinichi responded. "I have a feeling we'll cross paths again."

"Oh? That implies this is our first meeting, meitantei." That grin. Kuroha dared Shinichi to say it out loud.

"Don't be so childish," Shinichi muttered, hinting at the truth they both knew hid just beneath the surface. "The last time I saw you, you were taking your sweet time while I called the shots."

KID smirked. "You always were the bossy one. You know, it's been quite a long time since we've played cops and robbers together." Where have you been?

"I've been busy. By the way, how's Hope doing? I heard she's in town again." Any luck with Pandora?

"She doesn't cry anymore. I think it'll be a long time before she does again," he said with false cheer. None.

"That's good. Keep an eye on my cousin for me, will you? He worries the heck out of Ran."

He snickered. "There wasn't any heck in that woman to begin with. She's an angel, you know."

Shinichi's stomach dropped.

"And let me guess," he murmured, almost to himself. "I'm a silver bullet?" He lifted his eyes to meet KID's.

Confusion on another's face had never been more relieving. "If you were a bullet, you'd be made of steel. I doubt a silver bullet would pierce much. Steel seems much more durable."

"Yes. You're right." Shinichi nodded, a bead of sweat trickling down the base of his neck. Dropping his hand from KID's grip, Shinichi bowed again. "Thank you for your help, Kuroha-san. I hope we meet again soon."

"Likewise, meitantei." A note of confusion lingered in his tone.

Shinichi scolded himself silently for thinking Kuroha was one of Them.

( ▼ヮ▼)

"Kaa-san, you'll never guess who I met today."

"Tell me."

"Kudou Shinichi."

"Really? He's supposed to be dead, I thought."

"Nope. He was really here, breathing and detective-ing and stuff."

"You know that's not a word."

"What, detective-ing? Come on, it sounds cool. It's a word now."

"Just don't use it around me. I might pick it up."

"Aww, would that really be so bad?"

"Yes."

"Kaa-san, you're being a killjoy today."

"Sorry, work was rough. This bouncer kept making all these advances on me. I took care of him, though. Quick changed into his face and gave him a scare."

"Did you get a drink after? There's a new one I tried the other day. They called it a 'Torēsu.' It was really nice."

"I thought I made it clear you're not to drink for another two years," she scolded. "I don't want you becoming an alcoholic like your uncle. I swear, that liquor's like water to him."

"Don't worry, kaa-san. it was only once. I get hot chocolate every other time I go to the bar."

"Just remember the reason you're getting off. You've got a job to do, Kuroha Hikaru."

"I know. I just like having a little fun now and again. Can you blame me?"

"Do you want me to? I'll send you right back to Ekoda without another thought if you act up too often. Make sure no one figures out your identity. Be careful with those eyes of yours. They could give you away at any moment. KID's got distinctive eyes, they say. Make sure you use your sunglasses enough, but don't arouse suspicion."

"Kaa-san, have some faith. Everything's going just like we want it to. Tantei-kun will be helping us out before you know it."

"Don't be too arrogant. He's a smart boy. Don't ever underestimate him."

"Wakarimashita. I'll be fine, Kaa-san. Bye."

Humor in her voice. "Talk to you next week, KID."

ヾ(*・-・)ﾂθ•

Heiji texted Shinichi, said Kazuha's father had shown up. Sato had all the kids in her car, entertaining them easily with the help of Takagi.

They both said whenever Shinichi was ready, they'd go home.

For once, he had time.

Heiji and Kazuha waited in her father's car. The headlights were off. Ran sat on the porch, shivering against an odd gust of cold wind.

Shinichi placed his coat around her shoulders. "Barou," he said softly. "Wait inside for me next time. You'll catch a cold, sitting out here like this."

"You're still here."

He blinked in surprise at her soft tone, fragile as the flower for which she was named. He looked at her face for the first time. Her lip quivered, her eyes shone even under the pale moonlight. "R-Ran. I promised you I'd talk to you. I- I keep my promises."

She shook her head, scrubbed tears from her eyes. "You promised me you'd be back, Shinichi, but you just disappeared. Whenever you come back, you're always sick. I don't know what I can do, Shinichi. I don't want you to have to lie to me. I know you're in danger all the time, but what am I supposed to do?" Her just-above-a-whisper rose to a cry. "You've never let me know anything. I'm just left here while I watch you run away and I'll never know if you're coming back. I don't know if you're going to come back on your own feet or in a casket and I'm tired of not knowing!"

She was right. Not even he knew if he would survive tracking down the Organization. He couldn't meet her eyes. He tried reaching for her, but he faltered. There was space beside her. He sat there as she cried.

His hands in his lap, he looked at the ground below, anxiously rubbing his hands together. He couldn't do nothing, though, not with Ran distraught as she was. He needed to say something.

Heiji's words came back to him: Why not live the truth when you can?

And so the truth came spilling from his lips. "Ran, I don't deserve you," he spoke just above a whisper, looking at her. "You've waited for me for so long. I can't think of anyone else who would do that for me." He put his arm around her shoulder, gently pulled her closer to his chest. "I don't deserve you, Ran." I love you. "I hate lying to you. I've told myself, told other people that it's to keep you safe. I've been thinking that the less you know the safer you are.

"I don't want to tell you anything until this case is over, until I'm sure you'll never be targeted because of me."

Ran calmed some, but still sobs wracked her body. "Barou," she said tearfully, mimicking him. "As long as you're a detective, people will come after me because of you. Danger follows you around like a shadow."

"If you want me to stop, I would," he offered.

She drew a shuddering sigh into her lungs. "You'd hate it."

"You'd be worth it."

She shifted, leaned her head on his shoulder. Gingerly, he rested his head on hers. "Why are you telling me all this now?" she asked softly, sniffing. "I'm not complaining, but it feels like you're going to leave again for even longer."

He sighed, his fingers intertwining with hers. "It's been months, and I've accomplished next to nothing with this case. I'm fishing for leads in an empty pond, but if I try and look for any clues directly, you'll be targeted, as will my parents. And Hattori. And Hakase- anyone who knows this case even exists. The people I'm after, they've done horrible things to people who try to arrest them."

She was silent, hesitant to speak. "You've been in hiding?" She whispered, her voice shaking, threatening to fall into crying once more.

His hand fell limp as if to slip from hers. "I didn't want to worry you."

She found his hand and gripped it all the more tight, afraid to let him go. "Shinichi, I want to know what's going on in your life. I want to know when to be cautious and when to not."

He couldn't squeeze her hand back, not yet. "If I don't tell you, then you act normal. They won't suspect a thing."

She turned her head away. Sitting up, she let go of his hand. Wiping her face with his jacket sleeves, she stood up from the porch and faced the forest. She crossed her arms. "Shinichi, I was around your mother more than you'd think. I can act just as well as you can."

He stood up, came behind her. "I'm not saying the right things," he said, almost a question.

"No, you're not." Irritation flowed from her body in waves.

"I don't want you to be in danger. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Stop trying to keep me out of your cases, then." She didn't turn to look at him. Her gaze remained to the forest, her arms crossed. She still wore his jacket. "I'll be safer if I know when to keep my mouth shut. Just tell me one detail about your case. It can be something big or small. I don't care, but I want to know something."

He didn't hesitate. For too long he'd danced the thin line between ignorance is bliss and knowledge is power. He knew he would lose her if he refused. She was his reason for everything. Ai said the reason he was so reckless was because he had someone waiting for him. Ran was waiting for him. Now, she asked him for once in his life to take a step closer. He could not refuse her. "When do you want me to start?"

"Now."

Of all the things he could've told her, only one came to mind. "You were the first person I wanted to tell about the case."

"Why didn't you?" Her question only contained curiosity.

He chuckled humorlessly to himself, remembering the first moments as a six-year-old kid again. "I didn't know how to explain it. No one believed me. I didn't know what I'd gotten myself into."

She hummed in acknowledgment. "Did you think I'd believe you?"

"I've never doubted you would, if I ever get the courage to tell you the truth."

Heiji's voice shouted from the cars. "Kudou, If ya're gonna get back in time, we hafta leave now!"

Shinichi didn't turn to look at him, didn't shout a reply. "I have to go now," he whispered.

She turned around to face him. "I don't want you to," she pleaded. "Don't leave me again."

He shook his head, just as torn. "Ran, it's not safe. I can't."

She gripped his arms. "Stay," she begged. She could make him, both of them knew. She was leagues stronger than him and could easily wrestle him into submission. Shinichi knew he could barely dodge a single punch in his condition. He was completely at her mercy.

"Ran, please."

"Promise me you'll come back. Promise me." She held his gaze as firmly as she did his arms.

Shinichi nodded. "I promise, I will do whatever it takes to come back to you," he whispered.

She pressed her lips to his. It was dark outside, no one else saw. No one else had to. They were the only two witnesses needed for such a moment. A moment in which they were at zero, the beginning.

Love is zero.

Ran and Shinichi were one.

They broke apart. His forehead rested on hers. "Before we're adults," she whispered between their mouths.

"That's not a lot of time," he whispered back. "I've only got a year left starting next month."

"If you need to leave me completely," her voice cracked on that word, and his heart shattered again, "I'll wait for you." She lifted her eyes to his. "Conan-kun's waiting for you to solve your case, too."

"I know." Their lips met again, and he wrapped her in his arms for a moment that was far too short.

A car horn honked. He pulled away, met her eyes. "Bye, Ran. I'll see you later."

Ran shook her head. "I'll see you soon."

He placed a kiss on her forehead before he walked away. In that moment, there was nothing Shinichi wanted more than to stay with her until Edogawa Conan returned. The idea of the amount of pain that would cause her forced him away.

He waved out the car window as he was driven away. It was too dark to tell if she waved back.