KudoEdogawa presents...

"Everlasting"

***

Chapter 10::

Shinichi walked slowly up the hospital steps, Ran's weight inflicting great pain upon his injured shoulder. He wondered how Shuichi and Jodie were doing, had they found his son? Or did something else happen? The automatic glass doors of the hospital opened and he walked in, lost in his own thoughts.

"Ah!" Gasped an older nurse at the front desk, "Yuki-chan, go upstairs and tell the officers that Kudo-san and his wife has returned!"

"Yes, Nakashima-san," the younger replied and hurried off.

Nakashima-san got out of the counter, "How are you, Kudo-san? The officers upstairs were worried!"

Shinichi looked at the speaker, but he could not see clearly, his visions seemed blurred, and he felt dizzy. He dropped Ran's legs and nearly knocked Ran onto the ground, seeing this, Nakashima-san hurried and supported Ran for him.

"Goodness, Kudo-san!" the nurse gasped, "You're hurt!" She cried, staring at Shinichi's blood-stained left sleeve.

He's hurt, was he? He might've been, he couldn't recall. He looked at Ran, who was in Nakashima-san's support, Ran was safe, he had got her back. His body lacking blood, and the bullet injury untreated for so long, he could no longer take it and fell forward onto the ground with a loud thud! that echoed throughout the empty lobby.

***

Wake up, Shinichi... wake up!! Wake up!!" Someone was slapping at his face... and sitting on him. Shinichi, still feeling somewhat weak, opened his eyes. There was a blur at first, then everything came into focus as his eyes are met by huge, round sapphire ones, ones that resembled his own eyes as well as Ran's.

"Hiro-kun!" Shinichi exclaimed as he realized who was on him.

"Daddy!" Cried the little boy joyously. Tiny arms were outstretched as the boy's father sat up on his bed. Shinichi reached his own arms out and grabbed his son close to him.

"I'm sorry, Hiro-kun, were you scared?" Shinichi asked, looking at the healing bruise on his son's cheek.

Hiroichi snuggled against his father and shook his head, his hair tickling Shinichi through the thin, patients' clothes that he had been put on while he was unconscious. "I knew that you'd find me! And Shuichi-kun and Jodie-san were with me as well!"

Shinichi looked up to see two people leaning against the wall, one not too glad to be referred to with '-kun' by a five year-old, the other not too glad that she wasn't referred to with '-chan.' Nevertheless, they smiled at Shinichi, who smiled back at them appreciatively.

The doors opened and in came the Detective Boys and Heiji, who walked to the side of Shinichi's bed, "Finally woke up, huh? Had us worried there for a while," he grinned, and, out of habit, punched Shinichi in the shoulders.

"Aw, damn! Hattori! Dammit!" Shinichi shouted, teeth clenched as pain surged from his shoulder.

"Sorry," Heiji said, though he sure doesn't seem it with his trademarked sly grin.

Hiroichi, however, gasped, "Daddy!! You said a bad word!!" Shinichi opened his mouth and let out an inaudible 'Ah...,' while Heiji tried to hold back a laugh. "I'm going to tell mommy when she wakes up!" Hiroichi threatened playfully, but those words sent shock to Shinichi.

"M-Mommy's still asleep?" Shinichi asked, looking at Heiji, whose face was no longer mocking, but instead filled with sympathy. He motioned towards the bunk next to Shinichi, and Shinichi turned to find his wife, appearing still to be unconscious.

Holding his shoulder as he got up, Shinichi walked slowly towards his wife and stared at her peaceful face. What now? He had gotten Hiroichi back, that was what the Old Man said, wasn't it? To recover what is most important to us... and Ran is still unconscious. A strand of hair covered her face, and Shinichi brushed it away gently.

"Ran..." he said softly, unaware of the laughter that Heiji was trying to muffle behind his back. "Ran...." He said again.

!

Did Ran just give a snort? Shinichi examined her face for other signs of conscious, it seems like her lips are curling. Behind them, Heiji let out a snicker that he could no longer hold back. Shinichi turned around and raised an eyebrow at Heiji, who, upon seeing this, burst out laughing. Just when Shinichi was mixed in fury and confusing, a giggle of a familiar voice rose up behind him.

"Darn it, Heiji-kun! I was waiting to see what he's going to say!" Shinichi's face was filled with surprise and joy when he saw Ran sitting up on her bed, looking perfectly well. Other in the room joined in the laughter as well.

"So you all knew about this?" Shinichi asked.

"Of course!" Ayumi piped near the door, "Ran-neechan woke up a while after Akai-san and Jodie-sensei arrived!"

"And when she heard what had happened, we came up with this plan!" Kazuha giggled, carrying her sleeping daughter, "You know... to test just how romantic you are."

Everyone laughed again.

Shinichi sat down on the stool next to Ran's bed, "You're not mad, are you?" Ran asked, apparently still trying not to laugh.

Shinichi shook his head and smiled. There was no anger in his face, only relief. Ran's face turned into a loving smile as well, and laughter around the room died down. Noticing the change of atmosphere, the others looked at each other and nodded and, one after the other, left the room. Heiji walked up to Hiroichi, who was on his daddy's bed, picked him up and sat the young boy on his shoulders.

"C'mon, Hiro-kun. Heiji-niichan's gonna get you some ice cream, alright?" Heiji said and carried the boy out of the room, closing the door behind him while ignoring the boy's protests ("But I wanna stay with mommy and daddy!!").

Inside the room, the man and his wife embraced, once again enjoying each others' presence, their love burning brightly like the everlasting glimmering stars in the sky.

Kimi ga doko ka de miteirunda to
Thinking that not matter where you're watching over me
Omoi nagara zutto ikite ikeruyo
This thought has kept me going
Itsumademo togirenu omoi
Forever, an everlasting love
Dokomade mo taenai omoi...
Everlasting, a love that never ceases

***

A few weeks later, Shinichi and Ran have left the hospital, but, in fear of being attacked again, they've decided to move to downtown Tokyo, along with Agasa Hakase, who was the most likely to become a hostage if their enemies were to act. Shinichi had asked Officer Megure to make up some story to tell the media, the main reason being them not wanting to drag anyone like Sonoko or the Detective Boys in danger by giving out their names.

After they had settled, Shuichi and Jodie contacted Shinichi on behalf of the FBI and made up plans to put a stop to Vermouth's actions. The Moriyama family were put on the Witness Protection Service so that they would feel safe after giving information on Vermouth's plans as them, like their deceased father, have also been threatened by Vermouth.

The plan worked. Vermouth probably had not expected her people to betray her, and during a movie premiere in Berlin, Chris Vinyard was arrested. Though, as Shuichi had told Shinichi, she wasn't frustrated, scared, or annoyed, instead, she had left when she was arrested. Shinichi had thought that her downfall had driven her crazy, but the true reason appeared two days after her arrest, on the headline of the newspaper:

"Family of ex-convict Moriyama Kousuke found dead with two dozen police officers."

Shinichi's face became stern after reading the article, apparently Vermouth had found ways to take revenge on the betrayers. How? No one had any idea, but it was certain that Vermouth's minions are still lurking in Japan, waiting, silently waiting for the chance to strike.

The fear of something happening again to their family stresses Ran everyday, unable to stand seeing his wife worry everyday, Shinichi, under the advice of Eri and Hakase, decided to drop his job and move the whole family to America, with Yusaku and Yukiko, starting a whole new life.

Little did they know that it is not over....

-end-

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Now, now, before you guys shout at me with reviews like "What kind of ending was that?!" Hear me out. After I had completed Always, two new ideas sprung up in my head, and I thought they were weird if done separately, so, after tweaking this plot and adding on that, I've came up with two sequels with "Always." In other words, this is going to be a trilogy. But don't get excited yet... because you probably won't get that new fic until the end of year, I think I'm going to finish, or at least add some new chapters to "Feelings." I'm also going to try and improve my writing over the summer.

Disclaimer: Meitantei Conan and its related characters, places, items, events, are copyrights of Gosho Aoyama-sensei and any other affiliated corporations. The song "Everlasting" was performed by the singer group B'z, and is copyright of its respective owner(s). "Gate of Heaven" is copyright of the band Do As Infinity and their affiliate(s).

And now for the thank you's: Thanks to those who have reviewed: lyt0xangelxstarz, Maggie, Ispreno, Bluegirl11375, starfruit-22, Dolphingal75, mysteriousangelgirl, unknown, sari, and Lynn. Thanks for the boosts! Special thanks to Jen who personally e-mailed me! And thanks to anyone who read the fic, and didn't bother to review, and also thanks to those who just simply clicked on the story title and tried my fic. Alrighty, till next time then... Ja ne~!!

KudoEdogawa, April 30, 2004.