White Pain

He suppressed a shiver and noticed how his muscles started to burn due to his uncomfortable position while he cursed the never-ending darkness around him. Shinichi knew that the boss was still beside him; he could nearly feel the warmth of his body so that he wondered how such a cold-blooded creature actually seemed to belong to his own species.

An invisible smile accompanied Bell's suddenly soft voice while he watched how the high schooler grew tense when his words reached his ears.

"White torture."

Bell let the silence between them stretch before he chose to continue.

"I'm sure this term means something to such a clever detective like you. York hired you after all, so I am sure your FBI colleagues taught you well." He grinned, saw the short twitch in the young man's face. He really would like to know what was going on in his head. Shinichi just swallowed, taking a long breath while he decided to play along, for now, to not irritate the boss any further. If he was searching for a punching ball, fine, as long as "Bell" was focused on him, everyone else was safe - at least he hoped so. Yet the implied announcement of what was coming left his mouth dry even before he started to speak.

"White pain, also called "clean" torture, refers to all torture methods without physical violence. They use other instruments to manipulate the mind of their victims." Shinichi paused, waiting for a sign from the boss or for him to continue, but he just seemed to ignore him. With a sigh, the detective delivered the necessary information.

"A well-known and often used medium, commonly used by political institutions. For example, isolation of prisoners, with no social contact of any kind. Often in addition to restriction of movements, some sources also report the inhibition of certain sensory stimulation…"

But his voice failed him while he spoke when his mind finally noticed what his mouth was talking about. Casually listing the methods needed to destroy a human mind from within.

'Honestly, Kudo, you should have noticed this sooner.' Shinichi cringed, while "Bell" seemed to enjoy the moment and bent down until Shinichi could feel his warm breath on his skin.

"What is it? Please continue. I'm sure you aren't done yet, Kudo-kun." The detective remained silent, clenching his hands into useless fists, and noticed how the handcuffs only cut further into his skin.

"Bell" cleared his throat, enjoying the soft voice of the criminalistic professor while he decided to enlighten his young friend.

"Nothing? No? Alright, then I'll jog your memory, my dear detective." He put his fingertips together, giving the special device an amorous look before his eyes went through the cold laboratory.

"In addition to the things you've already mentioned, there would be sleep deprivation, aimed irritation of the mind and nervous system. It's funny, actually, considering that even young children use the last method to get what they want. Or are you going to tell me that Kudo Shinichi, as a real grand schooler never tickled a classmate to win whatever debate was going on?" This time the detective remained silent so that the boss continued.

"But let's get back to the topic, shall we? All the methods have just one goal, to destroy a human mind." With his words, each hint of humanity left "Bells" voice, the cold tone was that of the head of the syndicate, that of a murderer.

"Wounds might heal someday, but something like this… done properly, stays with the victim for the rest of their lives. Driving them mad, or into death." The icy grin Shinichi could hear between his words seemed like a cold hand clenching his throat.

"We'll see what it is going to be in your case."

Shinichi's mind took a few seconds to notice that the boss had started to move. He must have stood up since Shinichi could hear him walking around him before he seemed to fix something to the metal table. But before Shinichi had the chance to wonder what it could be, he felt how something meandered over his chest, only to fix him even tighter to the table. The new robe or whatever it was seemed to cut into his chest while he had no chance to move anymore.

"Why so silent all that sudden, Kudo-kun? You're so talkative otherwise." "Bell" grinned, looking down at his victim on the cold examination table.

"But I guess you finally figured it out."

Isolation.

Fixation.

Limitation in sensory perception.

Shinichi swallowed, leaning his head back as far as he could.

How could he have not noticed it sooner?

How did he miss to connect all those hints, to figure out that there was more to it than the simple need to keep him down here?

'I'm such a damn idiot…'

The boss, however, ignored the empty gaze of the high schooler. His voice grew more and more agitated in anticipation of what he was about to do.

"Of course, I planned something special for our little final, just in case. After all, I would have preferred if you would have chosen to help our chemists a little, but of course, that was too much to ask from someone like you." He laughed hollow, shaking his head in disappointment.

"It's your own fault that put you in this situation, but that shouldn't be anything new for you, right?"

'No… not really.'

But the dark humor didn't reach his lips so that the boss couldn't know what was going on in his prisoner's head as he continued to explain.

"So I had to decide what to do with you, what to use in order to-" A hoarse laugh escaped his throat, while Shinichi had trouble to follow his joke.

"- drain you of your sanity, until to the last drop."

Shinichi couldn't see how the otherwise cold eyes became almost dreamy while he adjusted something on his beloved toy.

"I'm not much of a fan of all that modern stuff. Most of it is way too elaborate and dirty for my taste. I'm more a fan of traditions." Shinichi swallowed, twitched briefly when he heard the metallic sound again. He knew that the device must be somewhere above him.

'Doesn't it ring a bell, Kudo?'

The detective groaned; the voice was right.

His new position, the fixation of his head and body…

He took a long breath, but the oxygen trembled in his lungs.

Shinichi closed his eyes, waiting.

He knew what was going to happen, and yet he would never forget the feeling when the first drop of water hit his forehead.

Cold, hard, and heavy.

XXX

The scent of the mugs of hot chocolate on the kitchen counter searched its way into her nose, calming her mind like a warm blanket so that she finally managed to ignore Yusaku's stressed typing. Shinichi's father crouched in front of the laptop Jodie had provided to share any information he could get with Heiji. Ran's gaze fell to the still untouched sandwich next to the author. She had recognized the thankful smile when Yukiko had placed it on the kitchen table because he shared that smile with his son. As long as he still could do something to push the case forward, the sandwich would have to wait.

The teacher sighed, taking the two cups before she crossed the narrow hallway into the living room. His mother was still sitting on the edge of the sofa, her hand cramped around the remote while the blue light of the TV made her already pale skin look sick. Only when she placed the mug in front of her, Yukiko finally looked up and released one trembling hand from the remote to pick up the warm porcelain.

"Thank you."

Ran swallowed but gave her a warm smile and took a seat opposite the former actress while she watched how Yukiko took a sip of her drink before she zapped to the next channel.

The young woman took a gulp of her own drink; the sweet taste of the hot chocolate managed to melt the lump in her throat at least for a little while. Her gaze moved to Kazuha, who was staring out of the window, waiting for her husband's silver rental car to appear in the driveway, while the voices of the press on the TV threatened to drive her crazy. With a sigh, Ran turned her gaze back to the dark liquid in der cup before she finally reached its dark warm ground with her next sip. For a second, she enjoyed the warmth and welcomed the taste on her lips before she rose from the sofa, sneaking back into the kitchen. As expected, she was greeted by the pounding drum of Yusaku's fingers, but he didn't look up or noticed how she reached for a bucket, filling it with soap, water, and a fresh rag.

Her father was on the phone, probably talking to Megure, while her mother sat beside him, giving her own mobile the evil eye. So many calls from clients that she would have to deal with, all due to the blows against the organization. The thought alone let the bile rise in her throat. The lawyer looked up, catching her daughter's glance before her lips formed a silent, "Everything alright?". Ran nodded, and Eri let it go, even though no one believed her.

Ran took the bucket and crossed the hallway again, where she found Stuart and the professor sitting in the small conservatory, sipping their tea in silence. She knew Tracy would be in her usual room all by herself; no one knew what she was doing. Ran could feel the eyes of the FBI agent on her skin, who should make sure that none of them left the house. Even if the karate champion doubted that the lanky inventor would have been able to stop her if she tried. The only one who had managed to evade the FBI's constraints was Heiji - and yet his visits had grown less these past days.

The teacher sighed, climbed the stairs, searching her way into "her" room. She took the cloth from the water and started to clean the dust from the cupboard.

After all, who knew how long they would have to stay here?

Besides, these little works were just what she needed.

They distracted her.

She had to do something to lead her mind astray, to resist the urge to slam her knee into the FBI agent's stomach and disappear.

Because she couldn't bear it anymore.

She couldn't wait any longer…

She had to find him.

'Shinichi…'

XXX

Drip

The drop of water hit his forehead like- well, like a drop of water. Its splashes tickled the tip of his nose before it slipped down his temple, vanishing into his hairline with a pleasant coolness.

The boss's eyes had followed the movement of his little torture instrument and noticed that the detective's blind gaze was already looking towards the next. The flinch of his "playmate" when the harmless waterdrop had hit his skin caused adrenalin running through his veins.

"The Chinese water torture."

Shinichi swallowed, was about to reply when the next drop of water hit his forehead, interrupted his unspoken sentence so that "Bell" took the lead of the conversation again.

"Do you know what I like about this method? Historians believe that the idea of this torture arose from the observation that single drops of water can carve a hole into stone over a certain time. Drop after drop."

Shinichi, however, remained silent, trying to ignore the constant dripping from above.

"You hollow out your victim until they are submissive to your will, delivering the information you need. You may believe your friends and family to be safe, but the only thing that really protects them right now is your own mind, for now."

A new drop made him blink; some splashes had reached his eyes and burned on his retinas that were already aggravated from the contact lenses. At least he knew that he was still wearing these damn things. "Bell" simply ignored Kudo's little problem. He was sure that was the least the detective worried about right now. He cleared his throat, gaining the attention again.

"It's not just the method on its own that makes it so… attractive. Due to sleep deprivation by the constant dripping, the body will shut down little by little. The mind can't work correctly in such circumstances so that it starts to compensate for the situation somehow." Shinichi bit his lips, suppressing a bitter comment since he believed that the boss might be able to hear the fear in his voice.

"Hallucinations, fever, sweats, and schizophrenic episodes often made it easier to get the needed information." Shinichi shuddered.

"But I guess you should be used to being different people at once, right Kudo? Or is there something Edogawa Conan would like to tell me once the great Kudo Shinichi isn't listening?"

"Well, how about fuck you?!" The detective laughed hollowly, shaking his head or at least tried to before a bitter grin rushed to his lips.

"If anyone needs a shrink, it would be you since it appears you're seeing double."

The boss, however, remained silent, placing his next words carefully while he slowly moved away from his prisoner.

"We'll see…"

Shinichi could hear him leaving, gritting his teeth since he was no closer to figuring out the man's identity.

"What? You'll just go and miss all the fun?" The cynical grin on the young detective's lips was as fake as the provocative arrogance in his voice. Nevertheless, the boss did him the favor and turned back around to him one last time.

"Oh, don't worry, Kudo-kun. I'll be back, and with each of my visits, I'm going to penetrate your mind further until I've caved a nice hole, reaching for the information of the FBI, your friends, and family, while your spirit breaks.

Until there's nothing left."

XXX

Heiji's arrival went as quiet as the late meal. The relieved sigh of his wife and the cheerful squeak of his son the only things that filled the house with life for a brief moment. No one asked him about today's results. Even Kudo's dad just looked at him; briefly, his gaze had told him everything he needed to know.

The officer sighed as he began to explain their next move while hearing Ran moving around in the kitchen. Probably doing the dishes, ignoring that they were talking about Kudo. He swallowed, the coffee stuck like tar to his palate. She had dodged him, even more than usual.

'But why? Ran… please don't do anything stupid. Kudo'll rip my head off when we find him and ya not here anymore. We can't afford to search for someone else, or to lose someone else…' Heiji bit his lips, shaking his head.

'Whatever you're up to… just leave it.'

The Osakan let himself sink deeper into the grey sofa, tried to rid his mind from this thought, and buried his fingers in his son's hair, destroying the already messed up strands even more, while he started to speak.

"This coup could finally lead us to an end." However, his words were bare of emotions like joy or relief. Yusaku's question disturbed the short silence but wasn't directed at the officer, but the FBI agent Stuart, whose fiancée had been missing again.

"What about your colleagues in America? Any news yet?" The American blinked at the unexpected request before he crossed his arms in front of his chest while he answered.

"Well, it looks quite similar overseas. The FBI is doing great against them, but that might be because there aren't as many of them over there as are here. The major part of work lies in Japan, so I think chances might be good that we get the information we need quite soon." He saw how the author's wife swallowed, searching for the hand of her husband, while Yusaku's eyes still lingered on him, checking the truthfulness of his words.

'He's his dad, that's undeniable.'

Heiji just nodded, taking over the conversation again.

"That's true, but we've already destroyed most of it, so we should be right in the heart of the hornet's nest. And tomorrow-"

"Could lead you to Shinichi?"

Agasa's voice had interrupted Heiji's speech, but the young detective just swallowed; it felt like a cold hand tried to choke him. He felt his wife's tender fingers on his shoulder before he nodded with a stubborn shine in his green eyes.

"We hope so…"

XXX

Drip

He'd no idea how long ago his conversation with the boss had been. It felt at least like about ten liters ago. The bitter laugh got stuck in Shinichi's throat.

In the beginning, he'd told himself that it could be worse, that of everything the boss could have chosen to torture him with, he was lucky.

By now, his opinion had changed.

Drip.

He twitched - he always twitched.

It was annoying.

One should think that his reflexes would be accustomed to it by now, his mind had prepared his body for the next drop, so it shouldn't be a surprise anymore.

He knew a new drop would come… but he didn't know when.

The detective groaned, moving his head as best as he could, and felt water running down his forehead only to disappear in his hair.

He knew that it was on purpose.

He didn't know when.

There was no rhythm, no regularity to when the next drop fell, no even breaks between one impact and the other.

That was the point of this method, after all.

The human body was used to adapting to everyday life's regularities. It was no wonder that many people woke up a few minutes before their alarm clock was about to ring. You can get used to every little annoying thing; it was called habituation, to endure something and slowly get used to it.

This kind of torture, however, overruled these neat little rhythms.

These damn drops fell whenever they felt like it.

Big heavy drops that took their time. Small, nimble ones that kept surprising him, two in a row, because one was imitating the other, waiting to jump to death after another.

Drip, Drip.

The detective swallowed and shook his head as best as he could while he tried to get rid of his memory.

The worst were the ones that lulled him into a false sense of security before they hit his forehead. They were greedy, taking up more and more water, making him wait. Letting him hope that the tank was empty or clogged somehow, and then when he just was about to take a breath to relax his muscles, they jumped from the edge. Their weight accelerated until they hit his forehead, their innards spreading all over his face so that the damp and shiny film on his skin reached down to his neck.

Drip

'Of course, right on command.'

He knew that these drops wouldn't drill a hole into his skull, but they already were enough to cause a proper headache. The most macabre was that with every drop that hit his forehead, he got even more thirsty. They seemed to mock him, wetting his lips, making him remember the taste of fresh water. But while his hair and the thin blanket over his shoulders were wet, his throat stayed dry.

The damn water was everywhere, but not where he needed it.

Drip

He twitched again, felt how the drop took the well-known path over his forehead and disappeared into his hair. Shinichi swallowed and inhaled as deeply as the strap around his chest allowed it.

'You need to stay calm, Kudo. He won't let you die down here… at least not right away. He wants information.' But his cloudy mind struggled to calm his nerves down, and he felt how his thoughts slowly drifted away. Shinichi's eyes felt heavy. He could feel how they dared to close when-

Drip

'Of course.'

He moved his head as best as he could, tried to shift the impact point a little, and closed his eyes, not waiting for the next drop. He knew that he needed to sleep, at least a little. Shinichi was sure that it wouldn't be enough for an extensive beauty sleep, but every minute his mind would find some peace was a minute more he could save himself from the effects of this torture.

Luckily the detective's tired bones and exhausted body gladly took the opportunity to rest when he closed his eyes. The next drop fell, and his eyelashes twitched briefly but remained closed so that the burning in his muscles and his pounding head were forgotten for some minutes.

However, he shouldn't find some peace in his sleep.

XXX

The voices from the living room mixed themselves to an aggressive and annoying sound while she created the matching melody cleaning the dishes. Ran couldn't hear what was being said, and she didn't want to.

She had enough, enough from all of it.

She'd cried enough, had felt enough anger, hope, and above all, she'd waited long enough.

'That's over now.'

With a loud clatter, she put the last plate aside and leaned on the worktop, staring into the night.

Only far away, she could see a few streetlights getting through the darkness. Ten years ago, Mori Ran would have been frightened by the sight of the deep darkness alone, but she ignored her fear. Blue eyes met their ghostly mirror image in the window – she swallowed briefly before the two women nodded at each other.

The decision was made.

She'd waited ten long years while he put his life at risk to keep her safe.

Now she was ready to do the same.

She wouldn't wait any longer.


Ho, ho, ho!

So this will be the last chapter for this year, we're finally going to finish this fanfiction in 2021 whohoo! A huge thank you for all your comments' follows and favorites, as well es kudo's and rebloggs! And of course a amazing thank you to Tobina who isn´t just a great fanfiction writer but also my very beloved beta!

I hope you had fun with this little chapter, of course a little Christmas-review-present would be more than welcome!

I wish you all a merry, nice and healthy Christmas and a happy new year!

Till next time!

~ Shelling