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Chapter 2: The Call and the Cure



"OK, then, call your mom now," with one last pinch on Conan's cheek, the woman walked away.

Conan sighed in relief as he absent-mindedly touched his throbbing cheek. Finally, he could call Ran.

With one a deep breath to affirm his resolve, he struggled to reach the receiver and dial the number. He knew that Ran would be home at this time, probably cleaning after her father.

There is only one truth. And he intends to find out the truth regarding Ran's relationship with Akira Shinoda.

Kogoro Mouri answered after the second ring. "Kogoro Detective Agency," he barked.

"Is Ran-chan there?" Conan asked, using his voice-changing bowtie.

"Kudo?" Mouri asked. "Why? You want to make her cry again?"

Conan groaned. Not now. He wasn't in the mood. "Please," he begged the man, and he hated to beg. "This is an emergency."

Mouri sighed. "So you've heard, eh?" Conan could've sworn that Mouri's voice became softer, with a hint of sympathy. "Try to talk her out of it if

you can," he told Conan as he placed the phone down.

A second later, Conan heard Mouri calling for her daughter.

"Hello?" A breathless Ran asked when Conan heard her.

That was a good sign. It meant that Ran had run to the phone when she found out that Shinichi was on the other end. She was excited to talk to him. Conan smiled in relief. Surely, everything would be fine.

"Akira-kun?" Ran asked. "Let me just catch my breath. I ran all the way when I heard-"

Conan felt that a spear had struck his heart. "It's Shinichi." Conan corrected her flatly.

"Shinichi?" Ran asked. Then, she laughed. "Hey, I'm sorry, I was expecting a call from someone and-"

"Conan called me."

"C-Conan?" Ran repeated.

"He told me everything," Shinichi said.

"Really?" Ran asked him. "That's good."

"G-good?"

"Yes. Now I wouldn't have to worry about explaining to you everything. I'm sorry, I should've told you sooner." Ran told him. "But with everything happening and all, I just didn't have time to-"

"That's fine, Ran. I understand." Shinichi said flatly.

"Shinichi?" Ran asked. "What's wrong? You should be happy for me,"

Conan gulped. She was right. He should be happy for her. It was not as if they had something going on between them. They weren't boyfriend- girlfriend. Heck, he wasn't even interested in her as more than a friend when Shinichi left. She was his best friend. And if she's happy, he should be happy for her.

"I am happy for you," Conan said, forcing the lie out of his dry lips.

"That's great!" Ran exclaimed, the bounce and joy returning to her voice. "I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you anymore," with that statement, Ran's voice was filled with wistfulness.

So am I. "So, you've already decided."

"Yes," Ran said. "I mean, this is what I've dreamed of ever since I was a little girl. I'll be a fool if I let it slip through my fingers."

"I know," Shinichi said. But he always assumed that it would be with him.

"I just wish that you could be here with me," Ran said softly.

Me too.

"Maybe I could be less scared." Ran told him. "I'm a nervous wreck. I'm feeling as if something would happen and snatch this away from me."

"I wish I was there too," Conan said, fighting to keep his emotions in check. "Have you talked to your mom about this?"

"Not yet," Ran said. "I want Akira-kun to be with me when I talk to her, but somehow their schedules just doesn't meet up."
Conan heard a noise from Ran's end.

"Shinichi, I have a visitor. I'll talk to you later, OK?" Ran said as she put down the phone.

Then, one thing struck him as he listened to the angry busy tone. For the first time since Shinichi started calling her, she didn't ask where he was, or even when he will go home. Conan groaned. It means it's over. Ran was over him.

It was time to close the case. He just solved it. But he didn't feel the usual elation he feels after a case is closed. He felt crushed, defeated.

He just lost Ran.



* * *

"Shinichi, you're here." Professor Agasa greeted him as Conan walked in the door. Professor Agasa couldn't keep the excitement out of his voice, he was bursting to tell Shinichi the good news. But before he can comment on anything, he noticed the guy's downcast state.

"Did you tell him yet?" A small voice asked. Ai had just entered the living room, leaving the laboratory that kept her captive all day.

"What good news?" Conan asked, without a trace of curiosity in his voice.

"I got it!" She announced triumphantly. Her face broke into an uncharacteristic grin. "I discovered why the pill I originally created was only temporary. And I think I finally got the cure. Theoretically, this should work. Kudo-kun, here." She handed the pill to Conan. "I know that you would want to try it, risks and all."

Everything was now meaningless.

He looked at the pill Ai had given him. "I don't want it," he choked out as he gave it back to the shocked woman-cum-child.

He then turned on his heels and went out the door to walk home, or rather, to the Mouri Detective Agency.

Suddenly, searching for a cure to bring him back to his original age wasn't so important anymore. He had nothing to spur him to grow up. Surely being seven was better, at least he would still be with Ran.

Yes, he would much rather be seven and be with Ran than seventeen without her.

He thought of taking the pill to steal Ran away from Akira. But he knew that such an act would only make Ran confused and miserable. Hadn't he done enough to make her feel that way? And now, just when he found the man to make her happier, he had no right to once again shatter her happiness.

And what if she was never in love with Shinichi anyway? She just thought she was in love. And what if the thing with her Akira-kun was the real thing?

Conan shook his head. No. He would much rather be a kid than once again ruin Ran's chance to be happy. He owed her that much.


* * *

"Ran-neechan, I'm home!" He announced. But there was no Ran-neechan to greet him. He then poked around. He heard voices in Ran's room.

"I'm not sure I can do this," Conan heard Ran say.

"Don't be a chicken, Ran," Conan identified the voice as Sonoko's. "Don't let a small thing as primness stand in the way of getting what you want."
Conan didn't mean to eavesdrop, but-

"I don't think I can undress in front of a man, Sonoko," Ran said. "That would kill me with embarrassment."

Sonoko laughed. "But it's part of it, Ran," she replied. "Be brave."

Undress? Conan gasped.

"And I'm pretty sure he's OK about it. I mean, he's a perfect gentleman and everything," Sonoko encouraged her.

"This will be my first time, Sonoko." Ran told her. "I can't help but be nervous."

"Of course, you will." Sonoko said. "I was the first time too,"

Conan reddened when he realized what the two were talking about.

"Are you sure you want do it before?" Sonoko asked.

"Well, I just want to get over it, you know," Ran replied.

"Eh?" Sonoko giggled. "That's one way of putting it."

"Well, I trust him." Ran said. "And I would much rather do it now than keep worrying about it later,"

"Well, it's your decision," Sonoko said.

"Maybe I could talk to Kyougoko-kun about it,"

"You could. But I don't think he would be of much help. Wouldn't talking to a woman to underwent such a thing be more helpful?"

"And I would assume that by that you mean you?"

"Yes!" Sonoko replied. "Who else?"

Ran! Conan thought desperately. Where's your sense? At least wait for it at your wedding night! Conan slapped his head with his hand. What am I saying?

"So where will you stay afterwards?" Sonoko asked.

Ran shrugged. "Akira-kun said that we could temporarily live with his parents," she said. "After that, we'll look for a place."
"I'm going to miss you, Ran," Sonoko cried.

"Yeah," Ran said. "Me too,"


* * *

"Mother!" Conan heard Ran shout as he heard footsteps going up the stairs to the Mouri Detective Agency.

"And when were you planning to tell me about this?" Kisaki Eri demanded as Conan saw her burst in the room.

"Mom, I wanted to tell you with Akira-kun. I know you'll be asking questions that I wouldn't be able to answer." Ran argued as she appeared behind her mother.

Kisaki Eri frowned and sat down on the couch next to Conan who was pretending to do his homework. "You're too young, honey."

Conan concealed a grin. The wedding was off if Ran's mother refuse to give her consent.

"Akira-kun would be willing to wait until I turn at least eighteen." Ran argued. "Mom, please," she begged the older woman. "I really want to do this,"

Eri sighed as she looked long and hard at her daughter. "Fine," she said. "I want you and Shinoda-kun to be in my house tonight for dinner. I want to talk some sense into the two of you,"

Ran smiled.

Eri placed a hand on Conan's head. "What do you plan on doing about this boy?" Her face then broke into a smile. "You know that he and your father doesn't go along very well."

Ran shrugged. "I don't know," Ran admitted. "Maybe I could take him with me or something. I haven't thought about it yet."

"Then you haven't thought about it enough, Ran," her mother said. "Don't rush yourself. Think again,"

Ran smiled as she sat down on Conan's other side. "I will, mother, I will."

-TBC