KudoEdogawa presents...

""The Summer Without You""

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Chapter 7::

Ran walked with heavy footsteps, she stopped at the landing on the third floor and grasped the cold metal doorknob. For some reason, just twisting the doorknob took her a lot of energy. She pushed the door so slowly that it creaked, attracting the attention of the people on the third floor.

"How is he?" Eri asked. Ran shook her head.

Sonoko, who had came as soon as she heard what happened, burst into tears. "Why? Why did they take Kazuha-chan? What did they want? Who are they?" Ran went up to Sonoko and they cried as they embraced.

Conan sat on the sofa with the rest of the Detective Boys, his expression solemn. Everyone--Conan, Takagi, Satou, Megure, Kogoro, Eri, Mitsuhiko, Genta, Ayumi, Ran, and Sonoko--stayed motionless for a while. Suddenly, someone knocked. Conan, being the only one who feels like doing something, got up and opened the door. It was Hakase, who was holding on to Kaito Kid and Ai for support.

"Kaito Kid!" Megure explained.

"Shut up, officer." Kid said. "I'm on your side this time."

The detective boys removed themselves from the sofa to let Hakase sit. "Hakase..." Ayumi said softly, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Hakase said and managed to smile at the innocent little girl. Conan could hear weakness in his voice. "Conan-kun." Hakase said.

"Huh?"

"Would you go downstairs and get Hattori-kun?" Hakase said.

Conan didn't know what Hakase wanted, but nevertheless he went downstairs and opened the door. Hattori was still sitting there, in that same place.

"Hattori..." Conan began slowly.

"Just go away, Kudo." Heiji said. Conan could see that he was trying to hold back his tears. "Leave me alone..."

Footsteps. Conan turned around; Kid was coming down the stairs, his white cloak wavering behind him. He stopped in front of the door. "Get you butt of the sofa, Hattori Heiji!" Kid shouted.

Heiji turned around. The sad angst in his eyes instantly shifted to deep hatred. "You!! It's all your fault, what hell of a plan was that? You..." Heiji could hold back normal he rushed forward and punched Kid in the stomach repeatedly.

"Hattori, listen!" Blocking a punch. "Hattori!" And another. "I SAID LISTEN!!!" Kid yelled and punched Heiji in the face. The commotion attracted everyone and everyone was now involved, trying to break the two apart.

"Hattori." A stern voice said. It was Ai.

She reached into her pocket and took out a small, black box. "She sent this. There was a note attached with an address." Ai proceeded to open the box--It contained a pill. Conan and Heiji both stared at the pill.

"Haibara..." Conan said, "is that..."

"The antidote," Ai said, "to APTX4869."

"T-the antidote?" Heiji repeated. "That means..."

Ai nodded. "She's still alive, that why she sent this to us..., to challenge us again."

"Um..., sorry to interrupt the conversation..., but what's going on?" Sonoko said suddenly.

"I think we would all like to know that," Kogoro said.

But Ai ignored the questions and looked at Conan, "Well, Conan-kun? Hattori-kun?"

The atmosphere was tense, Kogoro was grinding his teeth out of frustration. Conan and Heiji looked at each other and nodded. "Let's do it," Conan said. Heiji, Ai, and Conan headed for the door. But a voice stopped them.

"Wait." They whipped around--it was Ran. "Let me help you, Conan..., no..., Shinichi."

Conan stared in bewilderment, and so did everyone else.

"Um..., are you okay, Ran-neechan? I think you need to rest." Conan attempted.

"No, I do not need rest..., all I need is the truth." Ran said, her eyes watering up. "You've always said that there is only one truth..., and now I've discovered that one truth. My instincts were right all along, but time after time you've managed to make me believe that Conan and Shinichi are really two different people...not anymore."

"How did you..." Conan began.

"I overheard you talking to Hattori-kun a few days ago..." Her eyes were watery, but she wasn't crying. However, Conan can tell that her heart is deeply hurt and injured.

"Would someone please tell us what's going on?" Eri finally shouted out of frustration.

"I think we should have Conan explain it." Ai said and held the pill in front of him. "Well..., it's your decision...Edogawa."

Conan stared at the pill for a moment. Then, with a determined expression, he reached out his hand and took the pill from Ai. Kid handed him a set of adult clothes and Conan put them on.

"Well," Conan said, smiling, "sayonara...Edogawa Conan." He swallowed the pill.

The most amazing thing happened in front of the rest of the people. Conan's body began to steam, and his face reddened from the heat. Kogoro and the officers took steps back into the stairwell, Sonoko and the Detective Boys' eyes widened, Eri braced herself and Ran was completely stunned at the transformation taking place in front of her. There was a great puff of smoke emitted from Conan's body. When the smoke cleared, Edogawa Conan was no more, and Kudo Shinichi replaced the child.

". . ." Ran remained silent.

"Please Ran, I'll explain, but it'll have to wait, right now we have to save Kazuha." Shinichi said.

"I understand..." Ran said.

A second knock of the day penetrated through the doors. "Who could it be?" Eri wondered aloud. Shinichi motioned the others to step back and they did as they were told. Shinichi took one careful step towards the door, the person outside knocked again. Shinichi moved slowly and carefully towards the metal doors and his hands reached for the doorknob. The person knocked a third time and Sonoko let out an excitedly little squeak, dashed forward, pushed Shinichi out of the way, opened the door and squealed "Makoto!!"

The prince of karate was somewhat shocked at the sight of his girlfriend who leapt up and hugged him. "Why are you here?" She asked excitedly. "How did you know that we're here?

"Ran called me and said that you guys need a little help." Makoto said simply. "So, what's going on?"

~*~

Three cars left the shabby-looking apartment. The first one, driven by Officer Megure, carried Shinichi, Heiji, Ran, and Ai. The second one was driven by Officer Satou, carrying Kid, Makoto, Kogoro, and Hakase. The final car was driven by Takagi and held the three protesting children.

"It's not fair! Conan got to go, why couldn't we?" Genta protested loudly.

"But as you just saw, Conan isn't an ordinary kid, in fact, he's not a kid." Takagi replied.

"But Ai-chan go to go as well!" Ayumi chimed in.

"Well, since Hakase's her guardian, and she's got Hakase's permission..., besides, I think she has more connection to this case than we assumed."

"It's okay if you don't let us go, Officer Takagi." Mitsuhiko said suddenly.

"I'm sorry kids, but Mitsuhiko, thanks for understanding."

"No problem," Mitsuhiko said with a mischievous grin. "We'll just tell Officer Satou how much you love her."

"Yeah!" Ayumi and Genta joined in.

Takagi sighed. I just can't handle this job... He made a U-turn and headed for the police department.

~*~

Hours.

Hours that felt like an eternity.

For hours they drove, and an atmosphere was beginning to build. No one was talking, no one dared to. Heiji reached into his shirt and grasped the good-luck charm tightly. Shinichi sat next to him, occasionally looking at Ran, who, although still hurt, volunteered to help out in the rescue mission, despite Shinichi, Kogoro, and Eri's fierce protest.

The two cars skidded to a stop near an old, forgotten warehouse, far away from Beika. Shinichi, Heiji, Ai, Kid, Makoto, and Ran got off the car. They looked at each other, and nodded. Shinichi approached the door of the garage and placed his hand on the rusted metal door. The door creaked as Shinichi opened it. Darkness. There was nothing except a few boxes. Shinichi looked at Heiji, who shrugged. They scanned the area and suddenly lights were turned on within the warehouse and Vermouth was standing in the very center, staring at them with her cruel eyes.

"Welcome," she said.

"Where is Kazuha?!" Heiji roared.

Vermouth's lips curled into a smile and she snapped her fingers; Gin and Vodka entered through a door on the right, pushing Kazuha in front of them. Her hands were still tied together and her mouth duct taped.

"Kazuha!!" Heiji cried and ran forward.

Wham! Someone had got in front of Heiji and kicked him in the face, making a cut across his dark face. A woman just as beautiful as Vermouth was in front of him, her hair a deep, bloody red.

"I see that you've met Bloody Mary." Said Vermouth.

The woman code named Bloody Mary stared cruelly at Heiji.

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