File 8.  Return

          "Ran," said Shinichi, "what're you doing here?"

"Of course I'm invited," answered Ran.  "How about you?  Why do you come here? And Ai-chan also."

"We're also being invited of course," said Shinichi.  Ai felt that it was better leaving Shinichi and Ran alone, she said, "Kudo-kun, I go inside first.  Take your time to spend with Mouri-san.  See you later."

There was an awkward silence between Shinichi and Ran; Shinichi suddenly noticed that Ran was extremely beautiful today.  She was wearing a white satin dress, just looked exactly like the angel in his dreams.

Ran could feel that Shinichi was staring at her, "Shinichi!" 

"You look beautiful today," said Shinichi.  They both blushed slightly.  After a moment of silence, Shinichi said to Ran, "this isn't the right place for you to be here, you should leave immediately."  He immediately pull Ran's hand and led her to the entrance.

"Wait!  Shinichi!"

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          "We're waiting for you, Angel, Silver Bullet and Sherry!"  said a blond-haired woman in a cold voice.

"It's time for our revenge," said a man in a cold voice, "let's go!"

"You can't escape this time, cool guy!"

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          "Go back home now," said Shinichi.  He brought Ran to the elevator already, "see you later."  

"Why can't I stay here?  It's not right for me to stay here, but it's right for you and Ai-chan to be here?"  Ran did not want to leave now; she knew that Shinichi was hiding something from her again.  Moreover, Shinichi was going to stay here with Ai-chan.

"Are you jealous?"  asked Shinichi.

"Jealous?  Who?"

"You're jealous about Haibara staying here with me," explained Shinichi.

"Who will be jealous for a baka-tantei?"  Ran was about to fight back at Shinichi, the elevator door opened.

"Sorry to interrupt your little fight with your beloved boyfriend, my sweet angel," said a blond-haired woman.  "It's time for you to have a little sleep."

Both Shinichi and Ran fell to the floor immediately.

"I'll take care both of them, you go and find Sherry," said a man in a cold voice, "Vermouth, don't fail this time."

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          "Kudo-kun, he was so late," said Ai to herself, "wondering how he's doing with that girl."

"The one you are looking for would never come here," said Vermouth in her usual cold voice. 

"You're Vermouth," said Ai in a frightened voice.  "What have you done to Kudo-kun?

"Bingo!"  said Vermouth, "but it's none of your business now, as you would die soon."  She picked her gun out and ready to shoot Sherry, the traitor of the Black Organisation. 

BANG!

Vermouth was shocked as she had not even hurt Sherry a bit.

"You looked surprise," said Ai.  "it's the bullet-proof vest.  Don't you remember what you've said, 'a secret makes a woman woman.'"  As Ai was removing the mask on her face, she continued her conversation with Vermouth. 

"Jodie Santemillion!"

"You've no where to escape," said Jodie, "Hattori-kun and Shuichi had this building surrounded."

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          "Where am I?"  Shinichi looked around and found Ran lying beside him, "Ran, wake up!"

"Huh?  Shinichi," said Ran as she was rubbing her eyes, "what'd just happened?"

"It seems that we're trapped here," said Shinichi, "this must be a certain wine cellar, we need to find a way to escape."  The door suddenly opened, and a man entered, "long time no see, Tantei-san."

"You're Gin?"  Shinichi was carefully observing the man in front of him; he looked a bit different from the photo Heiji given him before.  But he still had the same cold stare from his eyes, the pair of cold eyes he would never forget. 

"Thanks to Vermouth, her disguising skill is really good indeed," said Gin. He picked out his gun out from his pocket, "farewell, Kudo Shinichi."

BANG!

Ran fell down between Shinichi and Gin, "I save you this time, Shinichi." 

"Ran!"  Shinichi immediately kicked the wine bottle on the floor directly to Gin's face, and then he had his gun ready.  "Gin, surrender now before it's too late, you can't escape!"

Policemen already rushing into the wine cellar after the first gunshot, and Gin was arrested in no time.

"Kudo-kun, is everything alright?"  said Megure.

"Ran was shot," said Shinichi.  "Send her to the hospital at once!"

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          "How is my daughter?"  Kogoro asked the doctor immediately once he came out from the emergency room.  

"The bullet was taken out," said the doctor, "she would be fine."

Kazuha, Sonoko, Eri were already weeping, "Ran is a strong girl, she would be fine," said Sonoko.

"Why did all these bad things had to be happened on Ran?"  said Kazuha.  Heiji was comforting her, "she would be okay, just leave Kudo staying here with her."

"I would look after her," said Shinichi.  "You're all so tired, go and get some rest."  Everyone left the hospital, leaving Shinichi all alone, waiting for his princess to wake up.

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

          "Sorry, Ran," Shinichi said to the sleeping princess in front of him, "I let you suffered so much.  I should be the one to suffer, not you."  Shinichi held Ran's hand tight in his, "please wake up soon, Ran.  I have lots of things to tell you."  Upon looking at Ran's pale face, Shinichi felt his heart was aching painfully, "I would do everything to protect you."  He could feel liquid flowing out of his eyes. 

Ran was sleeping peacefully, and then she felt something cold dropped onto her face.  'Water?  Tears?'  Someone was crying, and then she opened her eyes, and saw Shinichi was sleeping next to her.  "Shinichi?"

"Ran!  You wake up finally!"  Shinichi immediately hugged Ran tight in his arms, afraid that she would disappear again.

"Are you crying?"

"Baka!  Who's crying?  I'm just too happy that you're alright."  Shinichi then got a small blue box from his pocket, "I'd bought this a long time, and finally I could give it to you."

"A long time?  You finally remember everything, you know who I am now?" 

"How could I answer so many questions all at once?  Do you want to open it?" 

"It looks like a jewellery box, what is it?"  said Ran as she was opening the box, which revealed a beautiful diamond ring.  "Shinichi!"

"Would you marry me?"  Tears already flowing out from Ran's eyes, she nodded her head and answered, "Yes."  And then they shared the happiest moment in their lives --- they were kissing each other.

                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~

~The END~

This is last chapter, what do you think?  Please read and review.  Thank you for everyone reading my fanfic, and thanks for all the reviews!  They're really great reviews!  Some notes on the story…Yukiko helped Jodie to disguise into Ai, and Shinichi also wore bulletproof vest.  There maybe a sequel for this story about Shinichi, Ran, Heiji and Kazuha going on a vacation, wondering if there would be anyone want to read this…