Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan... never did... never will.
Conan stares blankly as flames violently consume what was once a two story high warehouse. He and Mouri arrive in time to find the warehouse ablaze. Conan immediately screams for Ran-neechan and Mouri knows that his daughter must be trapped within. The fire truck arrives soon afterwards but finds no sign of Ran's body anywhere.
Mouri, held back by two firemen, screams to save his daughter. The poor man's heart sinks when the last firemen comes back empty handed but Conan feels his stops when he notices Ran's burnt jacket in one of the firemen's hand.
"Gomen nasai, sir," the fireman sadly hands Mouri the jacket, "but this is all I can find."
Mouri takes the jacket in his trembling hand. No words can describe how he feels that very moment when his last hope of ever seeing his daughter alive is gone. As for Conan, the hope for mistaking the entire idea is no longer possible. Ran did follow him and the burnt jacket is proof.
Something horrible must have happened to her.
Tears streams angrily down his cheek.
Kudo, Baka! You promised to protect her but you failed!
"Conan-kun?"
Conan sees Inspector Megure looking at him sadly. The middle age man bends down on his knees so he could look at Conan in the eye.
"Mouri-san is too shaken to speak. Perhaps you could tell me what happen here?" his voice quivers a bit as if he expects to hear the worse.
"R-r-ran-n-neechan is...is..." Conan just couldn't get the words of his mouth. Tears falls freely down his cheeks as he sinks down to the ground. "I-it's all m-my fault... it's all my fault..." he mutters over and over again.
Megure shakes his head. He doesn't bother to question anymore. Inspector Megure tries not to think the worse and his mind shudders to believe. Mouri Ran is dead and there's nothing they can do.
Seven years old Ran Mouri huddles under a tree in the park. Just a few minutes ago, she discovers that she had shrunk into a kid. But what confuses her more is how did it all happen.
How is a possible that I'm a kid again?
She recalls back to what Sonoko-chan's told her the other day.
That drug must be effective because three other people have faced similar fate so I should be water and yet I'm not. But what if...
She remembers seeing the man putting the drug in his right pocket but the pill comes from his left.
Ran's eyes widen.
That's it! It wasn't the new drug he gave her. It was something completely different. And that something must have shrunk her body.
The sound of sirens breaks her chain of thoughts and she looks up in time to see four police cars zoom down the street follow by several television station vans.
" I hear the old warehouse caught on fire again," a man tells his friend.
" But why are there so many police and news reporter?" asks his friend.
" I'm not sure though, but I think a girl was in that fire," answers a woman from behind.
" I hear she died in it."
Ran couldn't believe what she is hearing. Warehouse on fire?A girl died?
When she arrives at the warehouse, she found the place half way in ruins. Firemen trying frantically to put the fire out, polices calming down a group of observers, and the press flashing away pictures for tomorrow's newspaper.
Then she sees something that arouse tears in her eyes. Mouri Kogoro, comfort by Megure, was deadly pale. In his hand, he clutches his daughter's half-burnt jacket. A few feet away, sat Conan was a complete blank stare on his face. She always knew Conan was a serious child, always burying himself in deep thoughts. But seeing him now, she feels as if something in him has died. Ran wishes for nothing else then to run to them and tell them she's still alive. She is willing to do anything to put them out of this misery. She sees the news crew flashing away pictures with a camera and remembers the tall man's words.
We'll know in the papers tomorrow
No... no I can't do this... if I do, I'll jeopardize the ones I love. The two men would stop at nothing if they know I'm still alive. Otuosan, okaisan, Conan-kun will be in danger. No, I can't let them know. It is best for everyone to think I'm dead. That way, it'll convince the two men to give up on me.
Ran tries her best not to remember the look on otuosan's and Conan-kun's face.
Be strong Ran! It's it the only way to save them!
She couldn't take it anymore and runs out into the darkness not knowing where she'll be heading next. She just wants to get away from the place and never come back.
It's the only way... it's the only way... She repeats over and over trying to convince her heart not to regret her actions. Tears muddle up her vision and she doesn't know where she is for a long time. Exhausted, she finally stops.
Somehow, her legs manages to carry her home. She climbes the stairs and a few minutes later, she returns with a backpack full of extra clothes and some money. It isn't until she is out of the building when she realizes that this could be the last time, she'll ever be able to enter it again. She stares on for five minutes thinking of all the best times she spend there before she reminds herself that she must leave before Otusan and Conan-kun come back again.
Be strong Ran. Don't let this get to you. You have to be strong. Otusan and Conan-kun will be fine. They are in pain now but at least they are safe from the two men. At least they are safe and would be safe if you remain dead.
Tears streak down her cheek as she walks on, not daring to look back.
Honto Ni Sumimasen, (i am very sorry) minna-san (everyone), I have to do this but it's the only way. I must think of their safety before my own. The two men are not just ordinary businessmen. There is no telling what they might do.
I promise if it'll take my to the end of the world but I'll find the two men who did this to me. I won't rest until I've found them and bring justice on all the lives you have ruined. Not just mine but the three others, who have so unfortunately fell into your hands.
Ran clenches her fist. From now on, her only purpose in life is to bring down the two men and whatever organization they work for. Only then would she finally be able to reunite with her family as herself again. Ran sighs and continues on.
Unknown by her, a shadow watches her go.
A/N: Thank you for reading and bearing with my horrible, horrible grammar. English is not my first language but I'm learning. I'm thinking about getting a beta reader but no one has offer to help me. Me think it's because there're too many mistakes in my work. b