Disclaimer:

sigh If they were mine, I wouldn't be so bummed about them taking DC off free TV…and no cable channels here show it either.

A/N:

Two more chapters to go…

I can see the light!!!

And I'm sure someone will flame me for all the laughing Vermouth is doing…but you can't blame me! I watched way too many soap operas for my own good. And in soaps, all the nasty female villains laugh (or cackles, whatever!) whenever things are going their way.

This would contain violent scenes so read at your own risk.

And please review. Ask me all the questions you want about the story (you know, loose ends and stuff like that) so I'd be sure to remember to include their answer in the concluding chapter. Because like Aerosmith, I don't wanna miss a thing.

Please don't judge me too harshly for what I did in this chapter…I was compelled to write it, I didn't have any choice in the matter. Please, oh, please understand!

Oh, yeah, I dedicate this chapter to the birthday celebrant, Joey (Feb 28)! Hope you had loads of fun today and hope you like my gift. I was looking for a VCD of Black Dog (the first movie we watched together, in case you don't remember) but I can't find any. Hope what I gave would compensate.

I decided to post it today instead of my usual Friday afternoons because I have a make-up class tomorrow that I totally cannot ditch.

YunCyn:

Thank you, thank you. Sorry for confusing you. Sometimes I even confuse myself. Chapter 15 didn't turn out exactly the way I originally planned it (originally, Ran was supposed to be Brandy in disguise, even planned on cutting her hair), but I needed her for this. I'll save the hair cutting for later (as in later fics). And I suppose, it's better this way, more exposure for the blond loudmouth (I like Sonoko. Because if there's one DC character that I can relate with the most, it's her—loud, boy-crazy, nosy, teaser, gossiper…now if only I was just as rich!) And I did have some good news last chapter, Kazuha's alive and kicking, neither tortured nor bruised. But, I cooked up something really nasty for someone…

Bluedetective:

Don't shoot! I'm sorry, but there are some things that need to be done for the sake of the story line… I can't promise you that nobody's going to die.

Thank you for reminding me of Makoto. I almost forgot about him (notice that I failed to write him in after Kid disguised himself as Makoto). So let's just pretend that he was found later, dazed and confused. I'll try and write him in for next chapter.

You do have your email address in your profile, right? I'll email you as soon as I post something SD, don't hold your breath, though. And I won't be writing any yaoi or yuri, don't have any experience in that department, I might offend someone. And I don't want to pair Maki with an OC because he's MINE! ;) Too bad they didn't finish the entire anime in AXN. I was soo looking forward to it. But right now, I'm watching Filipino-dubbed reruns of it on the local network occasionally.

Good luck on your monthly exams too. Believe me, I know the feeling. So, I'll try and post before March 10. I'm almost finished with the last chapter!

Minako:

Nice to see someone who likes Kogoro too! Most people hate him because he takes all the credit for Conan's success. But I say better Kogoro than another guy! I mean can you just imagine if Kogoro's not there and Conan would have to use another man (younger, let's say 17, good-looking, etc) take the credit? And what if that guy has the hots for Ran? Hmm…sounds like a great idea for another fanfic…

And about the KogoroxEri, I'll try. If I post a Chapter 18, then the two of them are definitely going to be there.

And once again, you've impressed me with how perceptive you can be. My answer to your Kid-Miyagi question would have to be in Chapter 11 where Kid was able to identify Kazuha, Ran, and Sonoko. You're right; the Phantom Thief did his own investigation. From what little I know about the Phantom Thief, I figured he was the type who would want to know his enemies before plunging into something. He goes into a heist very prepared, so I would assume that he's a master of weaseling information from obscure sources. He was masquerading as Makoto, therefore he should know the persons Sonoko were associating with, and Miyagi was certainly associating with Sonoko's best friend, right (visiting Ran in her house, talking to Conan, we all know that the Phantom Thief is keeping an eye on the miniature detective)? So he knew about Miyagi.

Ok, here we go…

Chapter 16:

Face Off

          Vermouth was laughing like the demented being she was.

          Kudo gritted his teeth while Hattori tightened his hold on Kazuha.

Kid knew that if it was just him, he could easily give them the slip. But he was with four others. Even if he was a thief, he does not dessert his companions.

          Suddenly, Sonoko laughed.

          Vermouth abruptly stopped laughing. She glared at Sonoko.

          Sonoko snorted. "Do you really think that you've outsmarted our organization?" She crossed her arms.

          "Explain yourself, Suzuki-san," came Vermouth's cool, commanding voice.

          "No, let me," a deep voice interrupted.

          One of the Men in Black had stepped forward.

          "Miyagi!" For the first time, Hattori was actually glad to see the guy.

          "How could he stop me and my men?" Vermouth grinned maliciously as she pointed her gun at Miyagi.

          "Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Miyagi told her confidently.

          "Why not?"

          "This is why not," Miyagi replied.

          About three-fourths of the Men in Black had stepped back. Some pointed their weapons at their fellow Men in Black, others at Vermouth.

          "We've been slowly but surely infiltrating your organization, Vermouth," Miyagi said. "Here in Japan, majority of your operatives are actually our agents. It's only a matter of time before we get to the very top."

          But Vermouth wouldn't be defeated. "You could jail me, but you'll never bring the life of your friend back."

          "Oh, we've got that covered," Sonoko told her airily.

          "Ran," Kudo began to grin.
          "No!" Vermouth screeched. "She's dead! She was in the lab when it exploded!"

          "Of course not!" Kid replied gleefully. "I saved her life,"

          "You!" Vermouth glared at him. "What do you have to do in any of this?"

          Kid shook his head as he grinned maniacally at her.

          "Tell your men to put down their weapons, Vermouth." Miyagi commanded her.

          "Never!" Vermouth screamed as she fired her gun. However, the only thing that came out of it was a yellow rose. "What?"

          "Oh, I took the liberty of playing with your gun when you weren't looking," Kid told her.

          Soon, the Men in Black who were loyal to the Black Organization were cuffed.

          "She can get out of handcuffs," Hattori warned Miyagi.

          Miyagi grinned at him. "Don't worry. We use specialized handcuffs. The more they struggle, the tighter it becomes. I dare even the Phantom Thief to get out of it."

          Kid looked at it with interest. "Maybe next time," he said. "Shouldn't we be helping Mouri-san right now?"

          "Who is it?" Professor Agasa opened the door quizzically. There was no one there. But I could've sworn that someone rang—

          He didn't even have the time to finish his thoughts as he suddenly fell down, limp as a rag doll.

          Beside him, Gin grinned. After hitting the elder man on the head, he was out like a night-light. Gin smiled. She's near. He entered the house, dragging the professor inside so no one would see him.

          And now, let the games begin…

          One by one he searched the rooms of the house. It was only a matter of time before he finds her.

          And find her, he did. She was in the basement turned laboratory.

          Gin grinned to himself. "Hello, Sherry,"

          "Where's the nearest place we can land on?" The pilot shouted over the din.

          "Tentai Elementary School. They have a soccer field there." Miyagi replied loudly.

          Right after the arrest of the Men in Black and of Vermouth, Miyagi immediately called for a helicopter to bring them back to Beika.

          "How soon can we get there?" Kudo asked.

          "Ten minutes," the pilot replied.

          Ten minutes. Kudo's mouth was set in a grim line. Then it'll be a five-minute walk to the Agency, less if we ran.

          Hattori placed a comforting hand on Kudo's shoulder. He knew just how his eastern counterpart was feeling. He then gazed tenderly on the girl sleeping quietly in his arms despite the noise of the helicopter. "Ahou," he whispered to her softly, knowing that she wouldn't be able to hear.

          Huddled to his left was Sonoko, trying desperately to contact Ran, but to no avail.

          Ran, Kudo's eyes squeezed shut in a silent prayer. Keep safe, you idiot. I know you wouldn't let anything happen to Haibara.

          "She'd be dead by now," Vermouth told them.

          Kudo glared at her. He didn't understand why Miyagi absolutely insisted to take that woman with them instead of leaving her with his companions' custody. But Miyagi claimed that Vermouth was too smooth for his men and that they were the only ones who could take care of her.

          Of course, just to make sure that she wouldn't escape, the Phantom Thief had taken great delight in wrapping her up, literally with giant colored ribbons and bows.

          She looked ridiculous, of course.

          He looked proud and even beamed when Kudo called him an idiot. Then, he bowed and told everyone that his work there was done, and to wish Mouri-san good luck for him. And with a puff of smoke, he was gone.

          Kudo seethed. One of these days, that Kid was going to get what was coming to him…

          "Hello, Sherry,"

          Blue eyes swiftly turned towards the doorway, and then flitter to other parts of the room in a desperate search for a way out.

          "So, we meet again," Gin smirked evilly. "Finally, I can do what has been denied me for so long." He then raised a gun and pointed it to Ai.

          Ai turned pale. She closed her eyes, knowing that she had come as far as she can. This is it, the end…

          "Ai-chan, run!" A high-pitched voice shouted.

          Ai's eyes flew open, in time to see Gin and Ran tumbling down the stairs.

          Ai froze, unable to do anything except to watch in horror.

          At the bottom of the stairs, the two adversaries sprang apart, the gun knocked out of Gin's grasp.

          "You!" Gin lunged at her.

          Ran tried to duck, but she miscalculated. After a few moments of useless struggle, Ran was now being held by Gin, her back to him, his arm around her neck while the other one was snaked around her waist.

          "It'll be too easy to break your neck," Gin snarled. "Watch your friend die, Sherry."

          "I admit I underestimated you," Ran interrupted. "But it seems like you overestimated yourself." With that, she brought her head violently backwards into Gin's face.

A sickening crunch was heard, Gin's nose being the pitiful target.

          His grip on her loosened as he inspected the damage. Blood ran down his nose and dripped to his chin. "You bi—"

          But Ran wasn't finished yet. She kicked Gin's right knee as hard as she could.

          Gin fell down in pain, further damaging the knee. As his head dropped down, Ran immediately made it snap back up with a kick.

          He groaned in pain.

          "Let's go!" Turning around, Ran grabbed Ai's hand and together, they ran out of the room.

          They were already out of the house when a gunshot was heard. It was pretty nearby so Ran whipped around to see where it came from.

          It was Gin, a bit bloody, but totally in control.

          "Not so fast," he snarled at them. Once again, Ai found herself at the loosing end of a loaded gun.

          "That man is not human," Ran muttered. Normally, all her kicks would've taken down even the strongest wrestler in the world. But here was a guy taking it in stride.

          Of course, Ai knew that Ran stood no chance. While it was true that it was Gin who was the brains in the Gin/Vodka partnership, that doesn't mean that he was a pushover. On the contrary, he was quite skillful. He was trained to ignore pain and inflect them in the worst ways imaginable to his enemies. Ran was right. He was not human. He was a monster.

          Ran pushed Ai out of the way as Gin fired another shot. Ran then lunged at him and grappled with the gun once more.

          With a kick, the gun went flying out of the man's hands.

          Ai saw that now that Gin was on the offensive, Ran was having a tough time. Blond hair contrasted with brown in close combat.

          Ran knew that if this keeps up, she would be dead soon. Her endurance was running low. She knew that Gin wasn't even winded.

          If I survive this, I swear I wouldn't complain if sensei keeps me in practice even after session hours. Ran winced as Gin's elbow slammed into her back, causing her to stagger. Great. A new bruise to add to my collection. Now I can add a backless dress to add to my list of clothes that I can't wear anymore. Another kick to her hips. Focus girl. Keep your mind on the fight. And when all else fails, cheat! With that, Ran quickly reached into her pocket and brought out a canister of tear gas. She then proceeded to spray a generous amount into Gin's face.

          "Ai-chan, let's go!" Ran shouted as she ran towards the small figure.

          But either she didn't really hit Gin on the face, or Gin was tougher than she thought. Already, he had found the gun he had dropped earlier and was aiming for her.

          "Ran!" A desperate voice screamed.

          "Shinichi?" Ran gasped as she heard a gunshot.

          "Raaaan!"

Police cruisers were everywhere.

          The night had fallen and the sky was illuminated with blue and red.

          There were ambulances, too, but they were long gone. One to bring in Professor Agasa. He was fine, but for a concussion. One was to bring her.

Kudo saw how the paramedics reacted when they saw the body. They may not say anything but he knows how to read faces. He knows that it was hopeless. His heart constricted in pain and helplessness. If only he came a minute earlier…If only he told everyone the truth immediately…If only…Heck, there was a lot of if only's, and they always end up in one thing—that she'd still be alive…

What happened afterwards was a whirlwind of activities. He didn't even notice that the blood on his shirt had already dried up.

Vermouth and Gin were taken in.

          Miyagi had promised the police that they would surrender Vodka, Brandy, and the rest of the men that they have caught.

          Kudo caught the figure of the now tired Eri Kisaki talking to the police. He knew the two of them would have a talk later, a long, tiring talk.

          As if sensing that someone was looking at her, she turned around and caught his eye. She forces a smile.

          It's over now. It's finally over. A solitary tear fell out of the detective's eye, unnoticed. But what a high price we, no she, had to pay. She paid the highest price of them all…

          What had happened was now etched in his mind forever. Unmercifully, the scene unfolded before him once more…

          "Ran!" Shinichi screamed as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

          "Shinichi?" Ran gasped.

          "Raaaan!" A high-pitched voice, that of a child, had screamed as she lunged forward and tackled Ran's legs to move her out of the way.

          Shinichi let out a prayer of thanks as he saw Ran fell down, away from the bullet's course.

          But then, there was a second gunshot. And this one had found its target.

          "Ai-chan!" Ran cried out as she caught the tiny girl in her arms. Shinichi was beside her in a second.

          "Ran!" Kauzha screamed, a gun in her hands. She shot Gin, her aim true.

          Gin went down.

          Hattori whipped around to face her. "You're water gun," he said weakly.

          "Get him!" Kazuha ignored Hattori's comment. "My gun's non-lethal. He's still alive!"

          Hattori sprung to action immediately. He ran to Gin to tie him up and to make sure that he will not be able to get away. "What kind of spy carries non-lethal guns?" Hattori grumbled as he grabbed the fallen Gin. The man was unconscious but breathing. Tough luck. He immediately cuffed the man with Miyagi's special handcuffs.

          Sonoko and Miyagi were trailing a few feet behind, with an uncooperative Vermouth.

          Sonoko gasped when she saw Ai. Miyagi whipped out his cell phone and called for help.

          "Kudo-kun," Ai whispered softly.

          Ran was openly crying.

There was blood everywhere.

          "Don't talk, Haibara," Shinichi touched her cheek gently. "No, not Haibara. Shiho," He corrected himself. "Save your strength, help will be coming soon."

          Ai placed a hand on Shinichi's. "It's nice." She smiled. "Hearing you call me Shiho. I never thought I'd see the day."

          Ran was now trying to stop the bleeding with her hands, tears upon her face.

          "It's too late, Mouri-san," Ai coughed weakly. More blood came. "Take care of him, OK?"

          Ran shook her head. "It's Ran. Call me Ran," she insisted.

          "I'm sorry,"

          "Shiho." Shinichi called out. "Shiho, wake up."

          "Ai-chan!"

          Kazuha's eyes were also streaming with tears. Heiji enveloped her in his arms.

          Sonoko looked away, wiping tears in her eyes.

          Vermouth and Gin grinned evilly.

          A few moments later, two ambulances arrived, one to take Ai, the other for the professor, whom Hattori heard groaning from inside his house.

          Their small group had a few minutes to compose themselves before the police arrive.

          "Ran," Miyagi placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

          But Ran shrugged him away. She gave him a slug. "You!" She shouted. "You lied to me!"

          "What?" Miyagi staggered backward as he clutched his chin where Run's fist connected with his face. "When have I lied to you?"

          "My dad!" Whereas Ran's face was pale before, it was now livid with rage. "Where have you taken him?"

          "Your dad?"

          Sonoko tried to placate her friend as Hattori and Kudo had stood up and tensed in the possibility of facing a new enemy.

          "Don't try to act all innocent with me," Ran spat out. "Kid saw you take my father,"

          Slowly, a grin appeared on Miyagi's face. "I guess this is it. You finally found me out."

-to be concluded

P.S.

The moves I've described when Ran was 'beating up' Gin was what I learned in my self-defense class. A public service announcement for young women out there: if you're being harassed, use the first thing God has given us for protection, our voice. SCREAM! Ask for help. Also use your legs, RUN!

If you were the position Ran was in, do the same thing. Use the back of your head to pound your attacker's nose. Your head is much more harder than his nose.

If you're face to face, kick him on the knees, not on the groin. A kick on the groin is easier to evade. A kick on the knees will cause the attacker to fall down, causing further damage.

If you're much closer, then try poking his eyes with your fingers. I know this sounds gross and all, but well, it's either that or your life.

And once you were able to land a blow at your attacker, don't cease to attack him until you're satisfied that he's dead, uh, I mean, until he won't be able to run after you anymore.

Of course, carrying pepper spray is a much more convenient solution, only don't be so trigger-happy about it.

But don't attempt anything if your attacker has a gun.

However, I don't know how practical all of these are in real life, as I've never been attacked (except by my brothers). All I had practice with was with my instructor (and even then I was too busy drooling, uh, I mean, perfecting my kicks).

And I was told that the most effective weapon of them all is prayer.

Keep safe!

P.P.S.

Next chapter, bluedetective's questions will finally be answered. Who is Miyagi Ken?