A/N: Oh my! I'M BAAAACK. :D

I'm so so so sorry! Semester ended last week and I've been brainstorming like mad for my stories and am in the process of rolling in a big ol' pile of obsession for Detective Conan. :3

Actually, I'm also in the process of writing chapter 26, which should be out tomorrow! And I also have a special treat for those of you who are my Magic Kaito fans! Expect that soon!

Golly, it's been so long, I've almost forgotten how to use ff: how unacceptable! And inexcusable!

I know this probably isn't the best thing I've ever written, but bear with me. I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things: I'm even rereading the manga and watching the movies and such. :3

Pleeeeeeeease ENJOY~

The B.C. Station was emptier than usual and Conan felt his spirits lifting. Finally, some luck at last! The drive to B.C. Station was exceptionally quick. It seemed at though most of the streets they took were clearing out for them, and they got all the green lights. Kogoro tightly held onto Eri's hand as they boarded the bullet train after Conan, a few officers from the agency trailing behind them.

Conan understood the train would take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to make it to its destination in Sukagawa, but he couldn't help but grin excitedly. Kogoro and Eri shared the boy's enthusiasm as they found an empty car and plopped down.

Inspector Megure called Kogoro at B.C. Station when they first arrived. They were looking for a place to sit and wait for the Inspector, but he instructed them to catch the train leaving in a few minutes and he would catch up with them.

Conan gazed out of the window as the sun lowered itself over the horizon. It would be dark soon. He felt a lump forming in his throat as he tried to swallow it down. His eyes watered and he bowed his head, so none of the adults would notice the tears in his eyes. He was finally going to get her back. He was finally going to get Ran back.

As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by the Sukagawa police. The Captain of the precinct informed them that Inspector Megure had gotten into contact with him and filled him in on the whole thing. The Captain went on to state that Detective Mouri had their full support and whatever resources he needed was at his disposal.

Kogoro smiled at the Captain and pulled the man into a hug as he was bowing his head, "Thank you, Captain."

Had it been under different circumstances, the Captain would probably be offended by this blatant public display of gratitude. But he had a daughter of his own and he understood the urgency and desperation. He would be doing the exact same thing if it were his daughter.

"Don't worry, Detective. We'll get your girl back," Kogoro nodded as he pulled away from the Captain, "Inspector Megure told us the two known locations and we have men stationed there. Although I am a bit weary of trusting this criminal, Mouri.."

"I understand why you'd feel that way, Captain, but he's leading me to my daughter. I don't know why, but I trust the Kid."

"Well, if you have no objections to his help, then the rest of us should not question you. We're behind you a hundred percent, Mouri."

"So, what do we do now then?" Kogoro asked, arm wrapped around Eri's shoulders. Conan looked from the detective to the Captain as he waited for the Captain's orders.

"This is your case, Detective, you make the calls." The Captain smiled.

"Alright then," Kogoro pulled his arm away from Eri and stood to face the accompanying officers, "I want half of you to go to the hotel by the Sukagaway Peony Garden," He pointed to Officer Chiba and Satou Miwako, one of Kogoro's favorite officers in Megure's precinct. Conan nodded in approval at the pair of officers to command the Sukagawa force. Chiba wasn't exactly the most reliable man, but paired with a smart and efficient cop like Satou, and he'd get any job done, "And Ninzaburou, you can go to Midoriagaoka Park."

"The building Inspector Megure described to me.. the ugly, tofu one.." The Captain chuckled, "Is an out-of-business furniture store called Lee's."

"Right." Ninzaburou nodded, "What about you, sir?" He asked the detective.

"I'm going to check out the industrial district. The Kid said that was the most suspicious location so I have a feeling Ran could be there, but I don't want to take any chances.."

"And have the other locations remain completely open for a quick get-away." Satou chimed in.

"Exactly. Hey.." The three officers looked to Kogoro, "This is Ran.. be careful, alright? And please, please, please.. don't do anything irrational."

Chiba opened his mouth to make a retort but Miwako elbowed him and saluted Kogoro before dragging him away, "We're on it, sir!"

"Good luck!" Eri exclaimed, waving at the retreating officers. The Captain fell into line behind Kogoro as he marched toward the waiting black vehicle. Conan climbed inbetween Kogoro and Eri in the backseat as the Captain and one of his officers sat up front.

Good thinking.. Conan thought to himself, If we showed up in a police car, it'd ruin everyhthing. This is much more discreet.

The industrial district wasn't as large as the one in Tokyo or Kyoto, or any other large city. But since they didn't want to bring any officers and risk unnecessary attention, they were stuck. Conan gazed out the window as they parked, the adults discussing their next move.

Conan spotted a silhouette in the shadows of the building across the street. His brows furrowed. It was took dark to make out any details. He squinted his eyes and made out the figure of a grown man with flowing hair. His eyes widened.. could it be?

Acting on impulse, Conan reached over Eri to get out of the car, but he stopped himself.

If that is one of them.. jumping out of the car would startle everyone else and that'd give the shadow man a heads up.. besides, if it turns out to be nothing, I'd be getting Kogoro's hopes up.

So Conan withdrew his hand and watched as the man in the distance fumbled in the darkness. He disappeared into a nearby, gated warehouse. The boy tilted his head, curiously, as he observed the warehouse. It seemed deserted, but then why would that man go in there? What business did he have there?

Conan's heart began pounding in his chest and he felt his palms become clammy. He felt anxious as he waited for the man to exit the house. After a few moments, the warehouse was still dark and quiet, but the boy's gut was telling him something was amiss. Without a word, Conan reached over Eri and pushed the door open, climbing over her to get out.

There were cries of surprise as the boy ran toward the warehouse.

Suddenly, the sounds of guns being fired echoed throughout the area and Kogoro scrambled out of the car after Conan, ordering Eri to stay inside and to keep her head down. He rushed off without making sure she was complying.

Kogoro soon caught up to Conan, spying him crouching at the corner of the building beside the warehouse, peaking around the bend. The boy glanced up at the detective who had produced a pistol from the depths of his gray blazer. Conan nodded his head in approval before motioning for Kogoro to keep low.

The two snuck into the barren yard undetected. No noises were heard, except the subtle crunching of dead grass beneath their feet as they tip toed in the shadows. They reached the warehouse as Conan glanced behind the detective. The captain and his officer stayed behind with Eri?

Probably to phone in the gunshots being fired? I think it's best they stayed behind anyway.

Conan gave a curt nod of his head before moving forward, Kogoro trailing behind him, the gun held firmly in his grip. It was strange to glance up and see the detective bearing arms. He had never seen the old man touch a gun before. Not even working with the Beika Police Department.. but he assumed he kept it hidden because he and Ran had been children before he became self-employed.

God.. that had been so long ago, it seemed, but he was the exact age then that he was in the present when Kogoro was an officer for Beika.

As they approached a window of the warehouse, several more shots were fired and the sounds of a dull thud were heard as Conan's eyes widened.

Oh no.. Ran!

Before Kogoro could react, Conan grabbed the nearest object, which happened to be a rusted metal pipe, and smashed the window. He scrambled on top of the nearest crate and dove into the room, ducking and rolling, cutting himself on the broken shards of glass scattered all over the wooden floor.

The boy snapped his sharp gaze up in time to see the fluttering of a white cap in the open doorway.

The Kid!

Kogoro took more time to enter the building. The window hadn't broken completely, and the opening wasn't big enough for the man. However, he managed to take a peek inside and noted the two still bodies on the ground. Conan didn't bother with them as he zoomed out of the door, not giving Kogoro the chance to yell out after him.

Conan followed the cape as it disappeared behind corners and up flights of stairs, almost beckoning to him. The boy kicked open the final door: they were on the roof of the warehouse. The wail of the sirens echoed throughout the district. In his peripheral, Conan could make out the flashing red and blue lights.

Out of breath, the boy staggered forward, "Where is she?"

"I-"

"YOU SAID SHE WOULD BE HERE!" Conan hollered at the magician, glaring angrily at him, "Where the hell is she, Kid, where?"

"I had to take her to a safehouse." The Kid explained, patiently.

"Safehouse.. that wasn't part of the plan! I want Ran-I need her! Give her back!"

"I can't."

"Why not? Why are you hiding her?"

"I can't, Kudou, you don't understand."

"What I can't understand is why you won't tell me where Ran is!" The boy snarled, nastily, fed up with the Kid's cryptic speeches and the theatricals. He just wanted his girl back. He just wanted to make sure Ran was okay, "What happened!"

"We were pursued. I had to take Ran to my safehouse."

"So, where the hell is it then? Tell me, and I'll get her myself!"

"I can't tell you." The annoyance was slowly becomnig apparent in the Kid's voice, despite how hard he was trying to remain calm and gentle with the frantic boy.

"Can't or won't?" Conan snapped, bitterly.

"Both. If I tell you, I'm putting my true identity at risk-something even you should be able to get, right, Conan?" The boy opened his mouth to retort but blinked, his anger suddenly diminishing. He understood the importance of having two identities and trying very hard to keep the two from being linked together. Conan sighed heavily, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes, tiredly.

"What happened?" Conan's tone was noticeably and considerably softer, "Home come Ran's at your safehouse?"

"I couldn't wait for you," The thief pulled his hand out of his jacket. Conan arched a brow; he hadn't noticed before. The hand was dark with blood, but before Conan could inquiry about the injury, the Kid firmly transitioned into his explanation, not giving the boy time to interject, "I had been hanging around here after I called Mouri and I caught wind of something big happening tonight. I wasn't sure if there had been a leak from your Beika boys, or if it was merely coincidence, but my gut told me it had something to do with Ran. I couldn't take any chances, and I didn't want to risk Ran's life, waiting, with the possibility that you wouldn't even find the right building." A grimace flitted across the Kid's countenance as he reached his blood-soaked glove back into his coat. It didn't stop him from continuing, "I had to make my move. So I got her out of there."

"I don't understand-"

"Figures." The Kid interrupted with a dry chuckle.

"Why," Conan ignored the Kid, "didn't it take you long to travel back and forth? You're a magician, not a teleporter.. unless your safehouse happens to be in the area?" The boy lifted a brow, curiously.

"While I'm not about to disclose the whereabouts of my safehouse to a component of the law," The Kid stated, "I will confirm that I am not, in fact, a teleporter."

"Right.." Conan laughed languidly, "You're injured." The boy suddenly stated, matter-of-factly.

"Oh, this? In the line of duty, kiddo, nothing to worry about." The Kid winked before hopping onto the ledge of the roof, lacking his usual grace and agility, "Tell your detective I'll be in contact." Conan watched as the magician stepped off the ledge. Just as he vanished from sight, the door behind the boy burst open as a swarm of police, led by Kogoro, flooded the scene.

"Conan! What happened?"

"You just missed the closing act."

As much as I hate knowing I won't be able to see her tonight, I'm glad Ran's with the Kid. Atleast now I know she'll be safe..