Real Me (temporary title)
(refer to files 7-11 of book 36)
Chapter 3
by aoi.hoshi

Warning: Yaoi/shounen-ai warning. Do not read if you think you might not react well towards it.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Aoyama Gosho. I own half the plot because it's based on a plot by Aoyama Gosho. Ignore bad grammar and limited vocabulary. Sorry this is not a detective story, I'm only good at love stories. YAOI love stories.

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"Ran!"

"Ha... Hattori!" Hattori's anxious face was blurry in Mouri Ran's teary eyes.

Hattori stood beside Ran, panting slightly from running all the way to the Tower. In front of him was the fallen Tokyo Tower, its metal structure bent and distorted from the impact of the explosion. One look at the situation, and anyone would be able to tell that it was impossible for anyone to survive a blow like that.

"They're searching for the bodies. I'm waiting for them to announce they've made a mistake and Conan's actually at Hakase's house with the rest of the kids. That must be the case," Ran sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than Hattori. Her shoulders were trembling, and her voice was shaky. By the time she had finished speaking, her tears had already started spilling down her cheeks.

Hattori's heart hurt as much as Ran's. He turned towards the remains of the once magnificent tower. One drop, two drops, the first tears in his life as far as he could remember. It was not like him to be so emotional.

The most important person in his life was gone.

Rivals they were, but also the most special friends. Unknowingly, Hattori had grown especially attached to him. How could he survive without his sarcastic words, his victorious smile upon solving a mystery, and his care towards him? It was like a piece of Hattori's heart was dug out. A piece of his heart was buried under the red remains of the tower with his beloved Kudo.

"Ran," Hattori turned towards Ran to suggest that they go back to Ran's house and wait for news instead of standing there, feeling the pain from staring at reality right in the face. "Let's..."

"H... Hattori!" Ran screamed as Hattori toppled to the ground.

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Ran put the wet towel in her hands on Hattori's head. He was burning hot. She had already heard what had happened from Kazuha, who called knowing he would probably be there. What a silly guy, rushing there with an illness so serious. Why are they such great friends, Hattori and Conan? She really could not understand.

Conan. Ran turned to look at the phone which sat silently on the table covered with newspapers, beer cans, and peanut shells. She would have to clean up soon.

Outside the sky was dark. Was that a bad omen? Ran could feel the tears brimming over again. He was only 7. A kid. A very young kid. Why did this have to happen to him? Ran wished so hard that she could have taken his place. She loved him so much.

Almost as much as she loved Kudo.

Suddenly, Ran's handphone rang. Startled, she jumped up from the sofa and stood there for a moment before moving to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Ran," the voice from the other end of the line was more than just familiar to Ran.

"S... Shinichi!" Ran's eyes widened in surprise.

"Ran, is Hattori at your place now? I called his house in Osaka, and Kazuha said he is."

"Yes, but... why?" Ran was a little disappointed. Why was he asking about Hattori and not her?

"Ran, can you do me a favour?"

Ran tightened her grip on her handphone. "Right. Tell me about it."

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aoi.hoshi: see! he appeared! but at this point in time we still dont know if hes real and what he wants right? heh heh, soon you'll know! my eyes are feeling tired by now, but i wanna writewritewrite! i still love kaito the most! too bad im not imaginative enough, or i'll write hattorixkaito^_^ maybe next time. its very hard thinking of a way to get ran out of the way. i hate girls, you know? they steal guys and prevent formation of more yaoi couples. the whole world should be yaoi. then it'll be a beautiful place.