One Step Closer

By Raining Dreams ("Bunny")

Panic attacks are scary: This is the final chapter to One Step Closer. And for all my fans: Don't fret. Yes, I am saying what you think. There will be a third and final installment in the Last Shot at Love series. You may all love me now. Please bear with delays while I adjust to my new workload and stress, and while I finalize on the way I want this to happen (I have three main ideas). In other words, don't expect it up for the next week or two. I also have an idea for an entirely separate fic (there will be some Last Shot connections, but it's not part of the series) and will be writing a Teen Titans fic soon as well. I'm also planning to write my novel (It'll be mystery humor! All I'm waiting on is the Forensics book from my anthropology teacher). So, with all that said, I will now write!!

Disclaimer: I now own Detective Conan!! YES!! HOORAY... -person comes on from off stage, whispering something in Bunny's ear- What?! You're kidding. Aw, crap. Turns out I don't own it. I just own a model of Conan made entirely of frozen tapioca pudding...

One Step Closer: File 6

After a lot of careful moving, Rachel snuck into the bathroom, pulling the medicine cabinet mirror open, adjusting it carefully. All she could do was hope Jimmy was correct. If he wasn't, she wouldn't be living to see the light of another day. Jimmy wandered into the room just behind the bathroom, pressing himself flat against the wall. With a heavy sigh, he pulled out his bow tie and steadied his watch, setting the voice to Rachel's.

"Oooohhhh... Mr. Cunningham. You are in trouble now. You killed me. You killed all of us. And now we want revenge." he called in the spookiest way he could. Rachel blinked, pondering how on EARTH he was making his voice like hers, but hiding the emotion. It wouldn't work if she showed emotion... There was a scuffling of feet and soon, the figure of a man appeared in the hallway. He gaped. The girl...the teenager. She was wearing a white dress but her head was floating above her body. He glanced down at the gun in his head, eyes wide.

It was a simple illusion, really. Rachel's face showed up in the medicine cabinet. They'd rigged it so the mirror was wearing one of the ball gowns, and when the hall lights were dimmed JUST right, it made it appear that her head was floating above her body. The man shook rather violently, his gun falling the the ground with a clatter.

"What...what in God's name are you?!" he whispered, stooping to regain his weapon.

"I am no longer living. I'm not anything, any longer. It's because of you, and I will get my revenge."

"Your...your lips aren't moving!!" he stuttered. It was clear their plan was working.

"I no longer need to move my lips to speak, your blundering fool!" He fumbled with his gun, wide eyed. With a shot, the mirror was shattered, the dress falling to the ground.

"You shouldn't have done that!" Jimmy hissed into his bow tie, firing a needle and hitting dead on. The man's eyes fluttered, and he fell over, passed out. Rachel jumped from her post, eyes wide. She prodded his neck intently. Jimmy walked over, placing a reassuring hand on her neck, pulling out several sashes and scarfs they'd nicked from the closet, starting to tie the man up.

"You okay?" he asked, glancing up at her while he tied. She just nodded, gingerly brushing shards of broken glass away. Soon he was bound and the mirror pieces were, for the most part, swept into a small heap. Rachel wandered to the parlor, plopping onto the couch with a sigh.

"That was...interesting." she commented it a tired sort of way. She batted her eyes sleepily, staring at no where in particular. Jimmy sat next to her, staring at her for a moment.

"Rache?"

"Mmhmn?"

The music from downstairs could be heard drifting dreamily up through the silence, and Jimmy's throat constricted yet again when he attempted the words 'I love you'. So instead, he gave her a sly sort of smile, grabbing her hand.

"Conan called me up so you could have a dance partner. So, shall we?" he gave a sort of bow...thing. She grinned, stifling a giggle.

"But of course." she stood, wrapping her arms around his neck, allowing his to fall around her waist. They did a few slow steps, staring over the other's shoulder. "Jimmy...where have you been?" A twang pinched at his heart. He couldn't tell her... No.

"I can't tell you. Direct orders." She gave a sort of sigh. The one a child gives when their mother or father breaks yet another promise. She paused, pulling her head back ever so slightly so she could stare at him directly.

"I've missed you..."

"I missed you too, Rache. I missed you too..."

Their eyes locked and they slowly closed the distance between them when...

"KUDO! GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER!" A disgruntled Richard Moore screeched. He didn't need to take his hands off though. They both jumped nearly a foot back, going rigid at the sound of Mr. Moore's voice.

"Dad!! We were DANCING. That's all!!!" Rachel moaned, flopping onto the couch so she could sulk. The storm had since subsided, and the police soon arrived on the scene. Everyone went into the kitchen, where Rachel and Jimmy had stashed the sleeping Mr. Cunningham. This left them alone once more.

"Rachel..." Jimmy began after staring at her for a while yet again.

"Yes?" she answered absently; she was staring intently out the window. He walked over, summoning all of his courage.

"Rachel I--" he was cut off by the sudden searing pain, like his bones were melting. No...NO. Not again!! Please not again!! "--have to go. Sorry!!" he dashed off with all the speed he had, rushing out the front door. Rachel stood, stunned for a moment, before glowering and tearing off after him.

"JIMMY KUDO!!" she shrieked. "GET BACK HERE!" she yelled, waving her fist furiously at him as if it would help. He rounded the corner, before ducking into some bushes, writhing for a moment as he started to change. Rachel's pace slowed as she turned after him. She stood there for a moment, looking very upset over the fact he'd left again, before glaring.

"I'm going to KILL him..." she mumbled stalking back off towards the house.

It took roughly 20 minutes to change, and Conan managed to stay up the entire time. He ran back to the house, sneaking in and faking a sleepy look. .

"Morning Rachel..." he murmured, jumping up into her lap. She smiled.

"Morning' sleepyhead. You missed a whole case."

"Really? I would have never guessed." he said with a smirk. That mischievous smirk. The smirk of the one, the only, the infamous Jimmy Kudo.

The torture is over!!: ... that SUCKED. That really, really sucked. Meh... I have started on the sequel, however. It'll be up soon, and the first chapter is already considerably longer that this one. Again, I'm sorry it's short and rushed. I'm just really stressed at the moment. Review guys. Luff you allllll!! -mwah-