Chapter 14

Conan thought Ran finding out about the Black Organisation was the only bad thing that happened tonight. He was wrong. While he and others were on their way back to Ran's house, Conan received a text message from Akai. Someone, most likely the organisation, had implanted a bug in the Kudo's house.

Conan came up with the different scenarios of why the organisation would put the bug in his old house. If it would be, because they suspect Okiya of being Akai, then they would just kill him. What if they suspected Kudo Shinichi still being alive, and they wanted to check whether the current tenant of Kudo's residence had any information about him.

As they walked into the house, Kazuha grabbed Heiji, and told Ran and Conan, they were tired. Conan didn't miss Kazuha sending a look towards Ran.

"I still can't believe that Ai-chan is eighteen. But I shouldn't be surprised. She hasn't acted like a normal child." Ran started conversation. No tears in her eyes, but her voice sad. "Sonoko and I were right when we thought Jodie-sense was undercover. She was in Japan, because of the syndicate."

"This is so exciting!" Conan put his child act on. "FBI and CIA in Japan chasing after the dangerous syndicate. It's like in the movie!"

"Yes, like in the movie, but it's not a movie. It's reality. The reality where de-aging is possible. Where my suspicions towards you can be possible, but they're wrong. You're Edogawa Conan. Not Kudo Shinichi, right?" Ran couldn't fool Conan with her sad smile. She wanted to hear the confirmation that he was indeed Edogawa Conan from him.

One of the reasons, Conan didn't want Ran to know the truth was because he feared the Black Organisation would kill Ran if they would find out that Ran knew about them. But she already knew about their existence. Despite of being angry at Ai for telling Ran and Kazuha about the organisation, he was still thankful that Ai's information about them were very limited. But still there was danger.

The information about the possibility of the Black Organisation suspecting Kudo Shinichi of being alive highly worried Conan. What if they would discover that he had de-aged, and he was now Edogawa Conan? What would they do?

They would kill everyone connected to you who knows about them. Conan could hear Ai's voice in his head.

Conan could add Ran now to the list of people who knew about the Black Organisation. If they would find out about him, then they would kill Ran and everyone off that list. It didn't matter if she knew his true identity or not. The organisation would just kill Ran for the fact that she was aware of them.

However, Conan didn't want to worry Ran more than she already was. She had shed enough tears, because of him. If she knew his life could be in danger, she would cry even more. It would probably be the only thing Ran would do.

But what if Ran was already convinced of who he really was like last time. She just waited for him to tell her or to find the right moment to ask him. He needed to know where Ran was standing with her suspicions about his true identity.

"Do you still think I'm Kudo Shinichi, Ran-neechan?"

"Yes."

Conan's eyes widened on Ran's blunt response.

"But, you told Kazuha-neechan, I'm not."

"I told Kazuha-chan what you would told her, wouldn't I? I guess I just didn't want to hear the same lie over and over again, but maybe there's still hope inside me that I'll hear the truth.

"Of course I don't have any proof to prove it. And you don't have proof to prove that you're just Conan. The only thing that we could do to check whether you're just Conan would be to compare yours and Shinichi's DNA samples. And I won't force you to do it unless you'll agree."

Ran wanted him to agree to it. He could see it in her eyes. But he couldn't do it. If Ran was convinced he was Shinichi, then what was the point of hiding the truth from her? He could deceive her like last time, when he had temporarily returned to his old self, and Haibara had disguised herself as Conan. Would Ran fall for this same trick? Probably not.

The only way he could convince her was by doing the DNA test, but then she would know the truth, one hundred percentage. If Ran was positive about his identity, then she must already worry about his life being in danger because of the organisation.

Conan had to admit his loss. "You're right I'm Kudo Shinichi."

"How's that happened?" Ran asked, her voice trembled.

"I witnessed an illegal transaction, and I was forced the drug that supposed to kill me. Since the organisation thinks I'm dead, I moved into your house in hoping that I could find any information about them through your father's detective agency."

Tears shined in Ran's eyes. She took a deep breath. "I, I – I don't even know what should I say. I am angry at you! Very angry! Even though I can understand why you hid the truth from me, it still hurt!" Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I just – I want to be alone now." Ran left to her room.

That was it. Ran knew. She most likely would ask him to leave. But she wouldn't need to.

His phone rang. Jodie's name showed on his phone's screen

"It's me, Jodie. I received call from Kir. The Black Organisation has given the order to kill Bourbon. She doesn't know why. Bourbon is hiding at the moment."

"What? Amuro was close to Kogoro. What if the Black Organisation would use him?"

"Don't worry. We've put the FBI agents to watch over Kogoro-san, and Ran-san. As we suspected we noticed someone who could be from the organisation near the place where Kogoro-san went to. I consider to ask one of our FBI agents to look over you too."

"No, it's not going to be necessary, Jodie-sensei. I don't think the organisation would suspect child of helping Bourbon. Thank you for the information, Jodie-sense, bye."

"Bye."

He probably should pack now.

"Do you have any information?" Gin asked over his phone, a cigarette in another hand.

"Well, Mouri Kogoro is still in the bar. He's just drinking with some men. It's quite loud there, so we can't hear what they talk about, but it doesn't seem it's anything important. I also talked to the member who follows Mouri's daughter.

"She, a small boy, and two other teenagers went to Kudo's neighbour's house. They spent few hours there. Unfortunately, again, the other member didn't know what they were talking or doing in that house. He also kept his distance from them, so they won't notice his presence."

"I understand. Keep me posted." Gin hanged up. The syndicate putted the bug in the house that Kudo used to live. Maybe, they also should put it in Kudo's neighbour's house. If they lived close, then they might know each other very well. If Kudo indeed was alive, then the neighbour might have some information about him. Yes, Gin was going to order to put the bug in the neighbour's house.

If it was going to turn out that Kudo Shinichi was indeed alive, Gin would kill him for good. However, he wondered how Kudo could survive the drug. No one did before.

Conan walked into Ran's room. She sat on her bed, Kazuha hugging her. Kazuha gave Conan a death glare. "How you could you be so heartless towards Ran-chan! You-"

"I just want to talk with Ran. I know you told me you wanted to be alone, but there's something I need to tell you. Can I?"

Ran nodded at Kazuha. Kazuha looked at Conan with her eyes full of judgement, and walk out of the room.

"I decided I'm going to leave this house, tonight. I'll move to the professor Agasa's house."

Ran said nothing. She just stared in an empty space. Tears still in her eyes. Conan was about to leave Ran's room, when she stopped him.

"Wait." She stood up from her bed. "You don't need to leave right away. My dad will find it weird, if you suddenly just move out. Besides, Kazuha-chan and Heiji-kun didn't just come to visit me. They also came to visit you. It would be rude if you leave."

"Uhm, are you sure? I doubt either Kazuha or Heiji would mind it. And Kogoro will be happy if I leave, and I doubt he will suspect anything."

"It was you who solved all these cases not my dad, right?"

Conan hesitated with his answer, but he lied enough to Ran. "Yes. I'm putting him to sleep, and I use my voice-changer to solve the cases." His eyes weren't on Ran.

"You're doing it, because you hope any of those cases will lead you to the information about the syndicate, right?" Ran's voice quiet, but Conan could see Ran barely holding herself together.

"Yes, and I know it's wrong, but I didn't know what to do then. When I told the police I'm a high school student, they laughed at me. If I would tell Inspector Megure, then he might believe me, but if the organisation would find out about me, then he and everyone who know about them would end up dead. I just did what I thought was the best to keep everyone safe. To keep you safe."

Ran pondered about something, her lips pressed together. Conan stayed quiet.

"I understand, but like I said before, it still hurt me. I also don't think it was right for you to use my dad like this, but," Ran paused, closing her eyes for a moment. "I want you to continue to solve cases through my dad."

Conan's eyes widened. He didn't expect this.

"I still think it's wrong, but my dad's happy being the Sleeping Kogoro, and if we take this away from him so suddenly, it might ruin him. However, you will slowly reduce your solving cases through my dad. After when the syndicate will be arrested. I'll tell my dad the truth about everything. I'll keep quiet now, because I know how dangerous it can be for my dad to know."

"But then I'd need to stay at your house, if you want me to continue to solve the cases through your dad."

"Yes," Ran said.

"Are you sure you're fine with me staying here?" Conan asked, concerned.

"Not really, but right now I think it's the best option. You also might move out before the syndicate will be arrested. Especially, if it will take long time."

Conan heard his phone beeping. He ignored it. "Is there a chance that you'll forgive me?"

"There might be, but even if I do, I'll never forget it."

In the hall, Conan checked his text message. It was from Amuro. He wanted to meet with Conan tomorrow in the morning. He asked him not to inform anyone about it. He mentioned it was important as well. Conan smiled. He might find out why the Black Organisation wanted to kill him, and if Amuro was against them now, then Conan might find himself an useful ally, but he still needed to be careful.