KudoEdogawa presents...

""Everlasting""

(A/N: The characters and settings of this story will be in accordance with events after Volume 42. More changes on Ai/Sherry: Sherry in this fic will be referring to the Sherry in "Always," while Ai will still be Ai who refused take the antidote.)

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Chapter 2::

"America's famous Chris Vineyard returns to Hollywood after eight years of mysterious absence."

"Oh goodness...," Ran whispered and clasped her hands to her mouth.

"It's impossible..., she committed suicide when the Organization was destroyed!" Shinichi shouted at the television.

"Knowing her..., it is possible..." Ai said quietly next to them, a feeling of fear overcoming her. "And I thought at last I'd be free from all this madness."

The report shifted to a movie premiere, Shinichi sat on the sofa, still shocked. A tense feeling of dread looms over the living room. Mitsuhiko and Genta looked at each other awkwardly and decided that it was for the best to turn off the TV and call it a night. A shrill ringing broke the silence, bringing Shinichi back to reality. He picked up his ringing cell phone; there was no caller ID. Shinichi stared blankly at the cell phone for a while, hesitating, and then at last pressed the talk button.

"Moshi, moshi?" Shinichi said in a deep, stern voice.

"Hello," came a seductive voice of a woman, "...Cool Kid. I believe you've seen the news by now?"

Vermouth! Shinichi thought as his expression tensed with shock and anger. Wait..., did she just call him "Cool kid"?

Shinichi calmed and smiled, at last letting out a chuckle, confusing Ran and the Detective Boys. "You had me scared there for a while," Shinichi replied, "Miss Jodie."

"Oh, how very clever of you, tantei-san!" Came Jodie's ever so cheery voice. "I thought for sure that I could trick you, seems like I still have to work on it."

"Vermouth would've called me 'Cool guy,' you knew that, didn't you?"

"Oh, yes! But staying on topic: you have seen the news right?" Jodie questioned.

"Yeah, saw it a while ago. I thought she died though." Shinichi said sternly.

"Oh that woman, she won't die that easily. She has achieved to not age, I wouldn't be so surprised to see her pull off some stunt that made it seen like she died. But this is good, too, I still haven't repaid her for what she did to my family."

"So what do we do now?" Shinichi asked.

"Meet her." Said Jodie.

"Meet...what?!"

"Meet her," Jodie repeated. "A couple of days ago James was injured, we believe that it was Vermouth's work. We received a letter a few days later, warning us that it's just the start. The letter says to go to London, so Shuichi and I decided it would be the best to contact you to let you know that we're on our way to Beika."

"Beika?!" Shinichi exclaimed. "This has gone a bit far, Miss Jodie. I have a family now, and besides, isn't the FBI responsible for the Organization?"

"Yes," Jodie replied. "But although the letter was sent to me, it was addressed to the 'highly honored Kudo Shinichi and Hattori Heiji.'"

Shinichi's expression tensed. Ran stood worriedly next to him, hearing him grunt and nod. At last Shinichi said, "I understand, I'll contact Hattori right away." And they hung up.

"What did Miss Jodie want?" Ran asked

"She received a letter from Vermouth, but it was addressed to me and Hattori. She wants us to go to London, Miss Jodie and Shuichi are coming to Beika to meet us, and apparently their London correspondents have not any contacts with the main base for the past half year, which was when Chris Vineyard began filming her new movie."

Shinichi got up from his seat and proceeded to his second-floor office, "Honey, pack some things for me." He said to Ran before shutting the door and engaging in plans and discussions with Heiji.

~*~

"So do you think you could pick us up?" Shinichi said. Jodie, Shuichi, and Heiji were standing next to him, ready to board the plane. "But it might be dangerous. Uh-huh, yeah, okay. Thanks, we'll see you then."

Shinichi turned to his partners, "Yeah, we'll have a ride once we get there."

"Who?" Heiji asked

"You'll see in a while, I'm sure she'll be glad to see you again." Shinichi said and smiled. "C'mon, let's go." And he headed for the gate with Jodie and Shuichi, leaving Heiji in his thoughts.

"She? Again? ...It won't be her would it?" Heiji looked up to see his friends walking through the gate. "Hey, wait up!"

~*~

Shinichi stepped out of the air conditioned lobby, carrying his bag, and greeted the city of London. Five years ago he was here and a car accident influenced his life, bringing him and Ran closer to each other. Five years later he came back, and possibly risking his life.

Jodie squealed excitedly behind him. "Wow, I've never been on a mission to London! It's so exciting!"

"Shut up," Shuichi said coldly. "Unless you want to let everyone in the airport know that we're here on international business concerning the greatest crime organization in the world."

"Fine, make me feel bad," Jodie pouted.

Heiji was the last to exit the airport, not feeling particularly glad. "Oy, Kudo..."

"Yeah?" Shinichi turned around to find Heiji staring at him.

"Why did you contact her?" He pointed next to him, blond hair with slight red dye, smiling cheerfully--Shiho.

"Well, we needed some form of transportation, and Shiho knows the place rather well, so..." Shinichi said matter-of-factly.

"Hey, come on, we haven't the time to stand around and chit chat." Shuichi said and approached Shiho and handed her a piece of paper. "We need to get to this place, do you know the way?"

Shiho looked at the note handed to her and broke into a smile. "Of course! Every British knows this place! Just follow me!"

"Get moving, then," Shuichi said, turning away, "We haven't got all day." And he proceeded towards the parking lot.]

"What's his problem?" Shiho asked angrily.

"Don't mind him," said Shinichi, "You just remind him of someone..., even your name, it's exactly the same."

"Must be his ex," Shiho said and followed after Shuichi to the parking lot.

"How did she ever guess?" Jodie mused behind her. Shinichi shrugged. Heiji stared at Shinichi, still waiting for an explanation, but was instead returned with a "let's go."

~*~

"...And lady and gentlemen, we have the most romantic street to your left. It is filled with various Italian and French parlors and cafes, and the plaza has also a lot of local merchants and you can buy things for a price cheaper than usual." Shiho was explaining to her guests in a tour guide-like manner, taking the time while waiting for the traffic light to change.

"That's enough, if I ever want a tour, I'll ask for it." Shuichi said coolly.

Shinichi stared out the window, as noon approaches, the plaza is becoming more and more lively. He scanned the merchants sitting under the trees, selling their products. There was an old man selling jewelries, he looked familiar. The man turned his head and saw Shinichi; he smiled and waved to him like an old friend would. Shinichi raised an eyebrow. The traffic light changed and the car proceeded forward.

At last the car stopped in front of a magnificent cathedral and Shiho stepped out of the car. "That's it!" She declared. "This is the place!"

"Seems pretty peaceful to me," Heiji said as he stretched.

Shinichi and Shuichi were scanning the environment. "Jodie, does the letter specify a time?" Shuichi asked and Shinichi walked up the stony steps to the door of the cathedral.

"No it doesn't," Jodie replied, "but let's be on our guard."

"There would be no such need," came Shinichi's voice from the door of the cathedral. "Come look at this!" The others approached the door and he pointed at a small carving in English:

A baker shouldn't leave his shop. V

"A baker shouldn't leave his shop?" Jodie repeated.

"We've been tricked." Shuichi said. Jodie looked at him.

"She sent you that letter to get us away from Japan. A baker shouldn't leave his shop..., if we're the bakers then Japan is the shop." Heiji explained.

"She's planning something, she even specified where." Shinichi said.

The other four looked at him.

"Baker." Shinichi said.

"What about it?" Shiho asked.

"How would you write it in katakana?" Shinichi said.

Heiji thought and muttered, "Be... i... ka...... Beika!" He exclaimed.

"Vermouth is after me..., we'd better get moving." Shinichi said.

"I'm going back to!" Shiho said.

"Too dangerous!" Shinichi replied right away.

"Too bad, I'm going anyway; I'm worried about Ran-chan." Shiho countered.

"Shut up and get moving already!" Shuichi roared, and at his command, the group made to leave.

A man stepped out of the shade of the tree and smirked. He reached into his pocket for his cell phone and dialed a number. "Do it, Latte." He said and hung up.

~T o B e C o n t i n u e d~

This chapter was done throughout a long span of time so it doesn't flow as well due to all the pauses. Plus I got rather lazy.