To the reviewer Tracy, as well as other readers::

Some of my Chinese friends told me that my story is similar to the Chinese TV show ""Meteor Garden 2,"" and they explained to me the overall story of it and it turned out that the story I had in mind was pretty similar to it (especially this chapter, according to them). So I guess now I'll try to make the rest of the story different.

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KudoEdogawa presents...

""Always""

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Chapter 3::

Shinichi looked out from inside his car..., the picture was flying away, he can't let it go. Holding on to the ruby ring, he struggled to get out of the car, to get to the picture...he fell out of the car and muttered one word that the other drive could just barely hear: "Ran..." and he fell unconscious.

"Doctor, is he going to be alright?"
"I can't tell you for sure, he's been hurt pretty badly, there's a chance that he might not make it."

Shinichi opened one eye weakly, blurrily, he could see two people, a man clad in white, and the other--a girl. He muttered "Ran..." again, and passed out.

~*~

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" A Japanese man groaned as he reached for his ringing phone. "Hello?"

"AKIRA-KUN!! AKIRA-KUN!!"

"M-Mouri?!"

"Tell me!! Where is Shinichi?"

"Kudo? He left a week ago," Akira said casually.

"What?!" Ran was devastated.

"A week ago he said that he was going to work on the case and then leave for Japan at night. Why, is something wrong?"

"Yes! He hasn't called me since a week ago, and I do not think he came back. I called his house many time, and no one's ever there!" Tears streamed down Ran's eyes. "What if I lose him again?"

Akira was so shocked by this news that he almost dropped the phone. "Now..." he managed to say, "just...calm down, he told me where he's going, I'll go search for him...I'll call you if I found out anything." With that he hung up. He sighed. Kudo was the most clever student in their class, there's no way that he'd get lost, after all he is a detective. Unless...something had happened to him...

Akira put on a coat and left.

---

Ran hung up after Akira did...there was no way that she's just gonna sit here and lose Shinichi for a second time. No, she was going to find him this time. Ran started packing, and after a few minute, she charged out of her room and shouted to her parents, "I'm going to England!"

Kogoro sat in front of his desk, blinking, and Eri walked out of the kitchen.

"Where is she going?" Eri asked her husband.

"I think she said 'Fingland.'"

"Fingland? Are you sure you don't mean 'Finland'?"

"Maybe, but what's she going there for?"

~*~

Akira was searching everywhere; he started off by going to the bookstore, but the manager of the store said that he's seen no such Japanese man who wears and entire suit of blue. This worried Akira, if Shinichi had never reached that bookstore...then where could he be? He then searched through every possible route that Shinichi might've taken--through marketplaces, cafes, everywhere. Tired, Akira sat against a wall and rested..., and what's this? Small pieces of broken glass is scattered everywhere..., this must be the place where that car accident took place a week ago that was reported on the news!

It was reported because the driver of the car had disappeared, although it was later confirmed that he had been sent to the hospital by someone else...wait! Did this car accident happen a week ago?

"...Nah, it couldn't be," Akira said aloud, ignoring that fact that Shinichi might be involved. Depressed of his failure, he went home.

~*~

Ran sat alone in the airport, holding her ticket tight. Just a week ago, she had said goodbye to Shinichi here, the more she thinks about it, the more she's mad at herself for not stopping him. Silent tears streamed down her face once again, she can't believe that she's losing him for a second time. Her grip tightened on her ticket, no matter, she's going to find her Shinichi. Tears of crystal droplets fell on the floor as two pairs shoes approached the watery stain.

"Ran-chan?!" A familiar voice called out to her. Ran raised her head to see who it was, and it happened to be her Osaka friend, Toyama Kazuha and her boyfriend--a detective like Shinichi, Hattori Heiji. Ran quickly wiped her tears off and forced a smile. "Hello Kazu-chan, Hattori-san."

"Are you alright?" Heiji asked.

"Yes, of course," Ran lied.

"But you're not..." Kazuha said. "You were crying...what's wrong?"

Tears started to swell up in Ran's eyes again, this time she allowed herself to wail loudly, resting herself in Kazuha's friendly comforts. By the time she had stopped crying, they were on the plane, it so happens that Kazuha and Heiji were going to England as well. They were both equally shocked when they heard of Shinichi's disappearance.

"But enough about my problems," Ran said, trying to change the topic. "I've promised him that I'd be strong, well, why are you two going to England?"

They turned silent. Until, after what seemed like eternity, Heiji broke the silence. "Kudo is in danger."

Kazuha instantly whacked Heiji in the head, "AS IF SHE REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW THAT!! ESPECIALLY WHEN KUDO HAS GONE MISSING!! USE YOUR BRAIN YOU AHOU~!!"

"She needs to know!" Heiji said, rubbing his head.

"Fine then..." Kazuha said, and went off muttering on her own.

"Hattori-kun, what do you mean...he's in danger?" Ran asked.

"We got the information about a week ago," Heiji explained. "Someone, who has deep hatred to Kudo, is trying to kill him."

Kazuha whacked him again. "You didn't have to sound so freaking serious!! Think of her feelings!!"

"No." Ran said sternly. "Let him continue."

Surprised by her reactions, Kazuha decided to quiet down, and Heiji continued. "This actually has something to do with Shinichi's disappearance. You see, when we first got wind of this news, we tried to contact Kudo immediately, but our attempts were futile. We then asked some of my friends to help me get some clues, and this is all we've got: A week ago, a Japanese male was involved in a car crash, and is now facing a life-and-death situation."

There was silence again. "But..." Ran said slowly. "It wasn't Shinichi...was it?"

"It could be, but we don't know. Although Kudo was supposed to be carrying his luggage, my friends have found no such thing. When the man was sent to the hospital, they took his stuff too. You know, for the passport and all that....for identity purposes. I guess we'll have to find out when we get there. But for now, rest...I think you need it...recover some of those tear drops, eh?"

Ran smiled weakly at Heiji's weak attempt to cheer her up.

~*~

It's been a few days since the car crash...thank God..., Shinichi lived. For the first time in the past couple of days, he opened his eyes and sat up on the bed. A girl was sitting next to him, fast asleep. He had seen this girl before, but where, he could not recall. The girl seems to know that Shinichi woke up, she stretched and yawned. He has no clue where he was and whatever the heck had happened. He reached for his head where a large bandage is covering the wound that he had gotten during the car crash.

"Ah! You're finally awake!" She said energetically. "You speak Japanese right? I've heard you mutter Japanese in your sleep. So how are you?"

Shinichi was silent.

"Oh, right, sorry. I mean, for God's sake, I made you crash...and now I'm here trying to befriend you. But I'm really sorry though, see, I even paid for your medical fees! My name's Shiho, nice to meet you." She said cheerily and held out her hand.

(For the purpose of this story...let's assume that ""Shiho"" is a brand new character).

Shinichi stared at her hand, as if not knowing what to do.

"Erm..." Shiho said. "Oh, I know!" She reached into her pocket for a small, golden pendant, and showed it to Shinichi. "This is yours, right? It fell off your neck when the car crashed."

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You will always have my love, and I mean always, and may life end when I end loyalty.

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Shinichi reached for the pendant..."Argh!" he groaned as a sharp pain seized his mind. "Ugh....."

"I'm sorry!" Shiho said. "I didn't mean to disturb you or anything, I was just hoping to help you out." She reached for her pockets again, and took out the ruby ring. "But this has got to be yours, you were clutching onto it."

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"Shinichi, do you truly love me?"
"Oh, Ran. That's a foolish question to ask; of course I truly love you. And you will
always have my love, and I mean always, and may life end when I end loyalty, for I vow that my heart is yours alone."

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"Oh, and you were muttering a word all the time...'Ran.'" That had done it. Shinichi stood up on the bed and screamed. "ALWAYS!! ALWAYS!! AARGH...AHHHHHHH!!!"

"Hey, hey, are you alright?" Shiho asked. Of course he isn't! Shinichi fell off the bed, stood up, stared at Shiho with sweat and a painful expression on his face. He grabbed onto Shiho's wrists and lifted her up.

"ALWAYS!! YOU WILL ALWAYS....AAARGH!! CAN'T.......THINK OF ANYTHING!!!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!"

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To Be Continued....

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