Thalia: * stretch * Finally finished editing this chapter! Yah!!!!! Thanks, Saki, for your review!

Heji: IS KUDO HERE?

Me: NO!!!!! GET OUT BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE!!!!

Kazuha: Sorry, he isn't like that all the time.

Me: Apology accepted, but please get him out of here before I blow my top!

Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan!!!!!!

*~*~*~*~*~( Chapter 7: Commencing of the Plan)~*~*~*~*~*

Saturday came just like any other day. The bright sun smiled gently down the earth and the soft, cotton-candy like clouds floated lazily in the clear blue sky. Everything seemed to be perfect but little did they know, the day was not going to be like any other day.

" This is their headquarters?" Shinichi asked, pointing at a ruined building which was obstructed from view by leafy bushes and creepers. He was in disguise for this mission, wearing a big overcoat and a broad brimmed hat to hide his hair. Like Shinichi, Heji was also dressed in black.

" Yes. Don't ask me why they built it here. I don't know either." Ai answered nonchalantly, adjusting knobs on mysterious machines which hummed softly in response.

" Kudo, nobody will suspect anything here." Heji interrupted, adjusting the transmitter on his clothes.

" Remember to keep in constant contact, Shinichi, Heji." Yusaku reminded them as casually as he could but could not stop worrying.

What if the plan fails? No, he stopped himself, I shouldn't be so negative. They will succeed.

Yukiko hugged her son. " Shinichi," she said softly, " Please come back safe and sound. For us and ... Ran." " I will, Mum."

" Good luck to both of you." Agasa said, walking up to them to shake their hands.

" See you later, high school detectives." Ai waved her hand without looking at them.

Both of them stepped into the building and melted into the shadows.

Be safe. Please come back in safe and sound.

~ Mouri Detective Agency

Kazuha pressed the doorbell and waited impatiently. She was angry with Heji who had ran off early that morning to meet his client. He had left a note saying the client had a busy schedule and could only meet in the morning. He also wrote that he will tell her something after his return.

" Kazuha? What a surprise! Come in." Ran opened the door and let her in.

" Where's Heji? I thought you two always come as a couple?" teased Ran. " Don't mention him! He left me alone just to meet his client!" Kazuha was fuming.

" Oh." Ran thought for a moment. " How about going to the new shopping centre? It just opened yesterday and there's a opening sale today!"

" Sale? Maybe I can get something for Heji... Ok, let's go." Kazuha's anger evaporated quickly and got up.

" Wait! I need to change first." Ran threw a apologetic smile at her and hurried into her room.

What should I get for him? A new shirt? Or a pair of shoes?

The doorbell rang.

" Please get it for me, Kazuha! Thank you!" Ran shouted from her room.

" All right!" She yelled back and answered the door.

She found nobody.

" Huh?"

A hand clamped over her mouth and she sniffed a pungent smell.

Chloroform!

Kazuha's eyes grew wide and struggled in vain as she slipped into unconsciousness.

" I'm ready to go, Kazuha! ...... Kazuha?" Ran looked around the house.

" Kazuha, where are you?" She called out worriedly.

Suddenly, she felt a cloth over covering her nose and mouth.

Ran's world went black.

Shinichi... That was the last thought she had.

~ Ruined building

From their hiding place, they peered out at the guards.

The guards were burly and armed with guns. Their faces were cold, hard and emotionless. If their chests were not moving up and down with each intake of air, one would mistake them as two life-sized statues.

" The hard way?" Heji whispered.

" Yes." confirmed Shinichi in an equally soft voice and looked around.

Perfect!

*Crack! * Both men went down almost immediately, with trickles of blood

oozing from the wounds inflicted. Broken glass pieces littered the area

around them.

" Let's tie them up." Shinichi said grimly.

They quickly tied them up with some strong rope they had brought along and hid them behind some crates. For safety reasons, they took their guns as well.

Kazuha, if I get out of this alive, I will tell you everything... including I love you...

" Ran, wake up!"

Unwillingly, Ran opened her heavy eyes and tried to stretch herself. She couldn't.

" Listen, Ran. We are kidnapped and tied up." Kazuha said quietly.

Calm down, you need to escape. Ran thought quickly.

Ran studied the room they were held in. It was bare and the dull grey paint was peeling off. there was no windows and a naked bulb hanged melancholy over them, giving off weak, yellow light.

" Got anything sharp, Kazuha?" Ran asked after examining the bonds that

held Kazuha's hands. Kazuha thought for a moment and shaked her head. "No, but I got a glass ornament in my jacket. Will it help matters?"

Without a word, Ran reached as deep as she could into the blue denim jacket and groped for it. She broke the glass heart into two sharp shards, not noticing that her hand was bleeding.

" Here, take one. It will cut the ropes."

Determined, Ran and Kazuha began to cut through their ropes.

~ Van, outside ruined building

"You are in the basement? ... Turn left." Ai was speaking into a microphone. " ... Okay, keep in contact." Ai turned towards Yusaku, Yukiko and Agasa. " They are reaching." said Ai wearily.

" But I still worried about them, Ai. How can they be gone for so long yet they have not met anyone?" Yukiko was concerned about the two boys.

She had wanted to go with Yusaku but Shinichi stopped her.

" This matter does not involve you, Mum. This is between me and them. I have to do this personally. If you insist, a friend will help me. You and Dad can help us contact the police once we get evidence of their crimes. Please I want both of you safe and sound."

Yukiko was defeated by his words and let Shinichi go unwillingly.

" Mum. if I lose this game, please tell Ran how much I love her and I'm sorry for not keeping my promises." He whispered to her, before setting off with Heji.

Please come back, my son. Yukiko prayed silently, a glittering tear rolled down her face. Yusaku put his arm around her.

~ Mouri Detective Agency

Having drank a dozen cans of beers the night before, Kogoro was drunk in bed and did not knew that his daughter and Kazuha was kidnapped. When the hour hand finally pointed to eleven, he was finally sober enough to get up.

" Ran?" Kogoro called out sleepily, " Have you made breakfast?" He noticed the floral print note taped to his bedroom door.

' Father,

Kazuha and I are going to the opening sale at Sakura Shopping Centre. We will be back by twelve. Breakfast is on the table.

Love,

Ran '

" That Osaka girl is also here?" He mumbled and walked into the kitchen to get breakfast.

~ A while later

" Miss Yoko! I will always support you!" Kogoro yelled at the television, shaking his mug of water.

Ever thought why I like her? It's because she reminds me so much of you, Eri. Her smile and confidence. It almost you. He thought sadly, looking at the pop star. I know I am wrong in the past, but all these years... haven' t your anger subsided? Ran needs you. I also need you, Eri.

He glanced at the clock, surprised at how much time had passed.

" It's one already. Where's Ran?"

~ Ruined building

" Ai, we found a room filled with cabinets and a laptop on a table. It turned on." Heji waited for a response.

" Find a zip disc codenamed Hell's Minions?"

Both of them began searching through the cabinets which held stacks of files and diskettes.

" Vermouth?" Heji waved the surprise find at Shinichi. He came over immediately and scanned the file's contents.

Name: Chris Vineyard

Alias: Vermouth

Nationality: American and Japanese

Family members: Sharon Vineyard ( decreased)

Christine Vineyard ( missing)

Occupation: Actress

.

.

.

.

.

" Vermouth is Chris Vineyard?" Both of them were stunned by this information. Who would know a famous movie star to be involve in this kind of thing? " That explains quite a lot about Ai's sixth sense." Shinichi broke the silence and closed the beige file.

" Christine Vineyard, missing. Who is she?" Heji asked him while he mulled over this mysterious person. " Chris, Christine..." Shinichi murmured in response. " Could it be..."

" Jodie Saintemillion?!" They said in unison, putting together all the missing pieces of the jigsaw. Their eyes grew wide with excitement. " They might be twins! That explains why they look so alike to each other." Heji deduced. " And the words... A secret makes a woman woman... They are completely the same... And Ai's reaction on the bus!" Shinichi added, but his detective intuition told him that it was not the real answer. It was just another piece in the vast puzzle.

" Let's take the file with us. " Heji took the file and put it into his coat, tucking it deep into the pocket.

They resumed their meticulous search, careful not to leave any trance of them in the dim room. Half and hour went by before they found the red zip disc.

" Shinichi, Heji. I think someone coming down your way. Hide yourself quickly. " Ai said hurriedly, noticing two more dots coming towards them on the green monitor.

Both of them had carried heat detectors with Ai acting as a lookout for incoming people.

" Hurry, Heji. " Shinichi hid himself between two cabinets while Heji flattened himself against the wall.

~ Outside the room

" Sh, Kazuha!" Ran reminded her companion in a small voice.

They had finally cut through the thick ropes and made their way out of the grey, dreary room. They had wandered the endless corridors for two hours but cold not find a exit. Ran and Kazuha was hungry and exhausted.

" Let's rest, Ran. My stubborn legs refuse to move a inch any more. " Kazuha pleaded with Ran. " All right, but let's find a safe place first. I don't feel like meeting another man in black again." Ran had knocked out a man who was going to shoot them a hour ago. They took his gun and tied him up with the remaining pieces of rope they had thought to bring along.

" Look, Ran! I think it's safe in there." Kazuha pointed at a dark room with its door slightly ajar. Ran looked into the room. " All right, let's go in." She stepped into the room cautiously with Kazuha following her. Immediately, she saw two people lurking in the dark. Without thinking, Ran unleashed her best karate moves on the shadows.

" Hey!"

" Ran!"

Those voices! Ran was taken back.

" Heji?" Kazuha called out, groping in the dark.

It can't be... Ran refused to believe the truth. She felt a hand grabbing her

and was pulled into the darkness. Ran felt tears coming and coming at light's speed.

" Be quiet! You don't want them to hear you." Heji spoke, flashing a small light into their faces. " Who is that person over there, Heji?" Kazuha demanded an answer. " It's Kudo. Now shut up. There's people outside." Heji snapped back.

What the heck are you doing here? Shouldn't you be home where it's safe and sound? Shinichi was engulfed by a flood of emotions. Angry, apologetic, surprise and more. It was like swallowing a many flavoured sweet and felt like spitting it out but cannot bear to do so.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Questions:

1) What was Shiho's parents names?

2) What is Shuichi's full name?

3) If possible, please give me a full description of Ai. Eg. the colour of her eyes, what is the EXACT colour of her hair ( I found descriptions of her being red, brown and in the manga, she was ' a tinge of brown in red' and ' blond tinged with red' )

Thalia: The next chapter will be on Shiho and I have already started writing. Hopefully it can be finished by next week. Please review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!