Author's Note: Ahaha...sorry for the suspense! Don't get mad at me :P I'm currently having a little writer's block, so I'll be slow again...enjoy this for the mean time.

File 7

Shinichi collapsed at the top of the stairs, still gripping his heart. He could barely catch his breath. Am I---am I going to turn back to Edogawa Conan again? It---couldn't be. Please, don't turn back now...not when---not when---

Suddenly, the feeling disappeared like magic. "Eh?" Shinichi lifted his head in surprise. He looked at his hands and body. I'm---I'm still myself?

"You know you should be careful." Shinichi looked down and saw Shiho at the bottom of the stairs. "If you get too excited, you'll eventually shrink again," she told him. "If you don't want to turn back, calm yourself."

"Oh...thanks," Shinichi murmured, getting up. He rushed down, grabbed the medicine that was left in the hallway by Araide, and ran up again. But he stopped when he heard Shiho speaking up again.

"Work things out with Mouri-san yet?"

Shinichi blinked at her. "What?"

"You know what I mean." Shiho looked at him knowingly. "You like her, don't you? Tell her then."

Shinichi bit her lip. "Er...well...I don't really know how to begin with, I mean...we were best friends since we were young, and we've been together so long, it just isn't---I mean, it doesn't seem right to---I just can't, okay?" he retorted.

"I see...what did you do to the real Kudo?" Shinichi blinked. "You heard me. What did you do to the real Kudo?" Shiho repeated. "The real Kudo Shinichi is not a coward. If he is, why did he diligently seek for the truth through deduction? Why did he risk his life to save others? Why did he---" ---believe in a girl, who once belonged to a dangerous organization, like me? she wanted to add, but did not go on.

Shinichi was speechless for a moment. He started to open his mouth, but Shiho cut him off with a whisper, "But, if it was the real Kudo Shinichi...why didn't he save Oneesan?" Without hesitation, she rushed out of sight. Even though Shinichi could not see her face, he knew how she felt. He started to have a flashback of Haibara collapsing in front of him and crying...

The real Kudo Shinichi is not a coward... this sentence ran through his mind several times as he walked slowly back to Ran's room. He silently gave her the medicine, still thinking about Shiho.

Ran peered at his thoughtful face. "Daijoubu, Shinichi?" she asked.

"Ah? Err..." Shinichi started to panic again. Then he heard Shiho's voice at the back of his head: what did you do to the real Kudo?...the real Kudo is not a coward...

I'm NOT a coward!

"Ran," Shinichi said abruptly. Ran looked up at him. "I---er---" He took a deep breath.

"W-when this is all over...will you go out with me? I mean, not the usual going out," he added hastily. "I mean like...date. Become more than just friends." His voice was getting softer by the seconds, but he hoped that Ran had heard him.

There was an awkward silence.

"Okay," was the first word that came out of Ran's mouth. Shinichi lit up as she gave a small shy smile. "But...only if we get through this," she added in a whisper, placing her hand on Shinichi's. "We will get through this...right?"

"Of course. I'll always be there for you, Ran," Shinichi whispered, grasping her hand.

Their eyes met for a while. They started to lean towards each other with real intention. Their lips were only less than an inch away...

Then both pulled away very fast, blinking at each other. "Err, have you taken your medicine?" Shinichi asked hastily, trying not to look into her eyes.

"Oh...not yet," Ran murmured, her head lowered too to hide her blush.

"Take it then...here's your glass of water." As Shinichi handed it to her, he started to yawn. He did not realize how tired he was.

"Are you tired? You should have some rest now," Ran told him softly. "I'm okay now."

"Oh, okay...but holler if you need anything." Shinichi stood up and stretched. "Oyasumi, Ran."

"Oyasumi..." Ran watched with disappointment as Shinichi left the room.

---

An hour after dawn, Ran was fully awake. She had taken a short nap and by the time she woke up again, she was slightly better. Only slightly.

She got up, coughing. Her throat felt dry. Shinichi was probably sleeping---she did not want to wake him up. Draping the blanket around her shoulders, she staggered out of the room, towards the stairs, and down it slowly. She was a little dizzy, but managed to get to the bottom of the stairs. She paused when she heard the TV in the living room. She peeked into it, and saw Shiho awake and watching the news expressionlessly.

"It's been thirty hours since Kaitou Kiddo disappeared. The police had searched every inch of Sumida River and even the sea where it flows to, but his body is nowhere to be found. It is still a mystery whether Kiddo is dead or alive."

Ran froze when she heard the news. Now that she thought of it, she had not seen Kid the day before. She wondered what had happened to him...

"Surprising, isn't it?" Ran started when Shiho spoke up. Ran was sure she had not made any noise, but Shiho knew even though she did not turn. She switched off the TV with a remote. "He was shot during his last heist, and he fell into the river. They say he's supposedly dead."

"I'm sorry," Ran whispered. "I mean, he was nice to save us..." Shiho did not reply. She looked as if she was pondering. "Umm, where's Hattori-kun?" Ran asked.

"Out, I suppose."

"Oh, okay." Ran decided that the conversation was getting too awkward. Shiho was definitely not like her friend, Sonoko. In fact, she was rather like Ai herself---quiet and mysterious. Feeling uncomfortable, she headed to the kitchen.

While pouring herself a glass of water, she noticed something in the wastepaper basket. She peered into it---and saw a fish. Not alive, but one that was almost defrost, as if it had been messily tossed into it not long ago. Maybe it's bad already, she decided, leaving the kitchen with the glass.

When she went back to the hallway, she was just in time to see Heiji sneaking in through the front door and trying to close it quietly. "Hattori-kun, you're back?" she called.

Heiji jumped in surprise. He spun around, grasping what seemed like a shopping bag. "Oh! Er, ohayoo, R-Ran-chan," he greeted meekly. "Are you better?"

"Yes, thanks for asking." Ran walked over and leaned close to see what was in the bag, but Heiji squeezed it so tightly that she couldn't see. "Where did you go, and what do you have in there?"

"G-groceries! I just popped into a 24-hour grocery store to grab some groceries because I realized there wasn't enough," Heiji replied with an awkward laugh. "D-don't laugh, because I do go shopping for Okaa-san!"

"Oh, so you're the one who threw the fish away?"

"Y-yeah, it was getting bad. I'll throw it out before it smells." He started to walk past Ran towards the kitchen.

"Hey, I haven't asked why you were here."

Heiji stiffened for only a couple of seconds. "Oh, Kudo called me so I came over to help out. Don't tell K-Kazuha because she doesn't know! Excuse me..." He ran off towards the kitchen, Ran blinking after him.

"Don't bother him," Shiho said from the living room. Shuffling of papers could be heard from there. "You should take a rest until you're completely better."

Ran nodded, though she knew that Shiho could not see her. As she started to head up the steps, she heard bangs at the back of the house, and only wondered for a second what Heiji was doing before returning to bed.

Meanwhile, Shiho had heard the noises. Deciding to investigate (since she had nothing better to do), she put down the magazine that she had randomly picked up and headed for the kitchen. She found Heiji grasping his finger with the knife on the floor. "What are you doing?" she asked.

Heiji started. He glared at Shiho over his shoulder. "N-nothing."

"Your finger is bleeding."

"I-I know." Heiji licked his thumb, glaring at her from behind.

"Are you preparing breakfast?"

Why does she have to be so right?! "C-can't I?" he retorted.

Shiho smiled. "That's unexpected from the Detective of the West."

"Hey, I promised to help a friend," he replied, picking up the knife again.

"Let me do it then." Shiho took the knife from him. "Go and bandage that finger of yours."

Heiji looked at her for a moment. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll make a phone call too..."

"To who?"

"Do you have to know?"

"Because you said Tohyama doesn't know you're here. Who else could you be calling?"

Heiji hesitated for a couple of seconds. "Y-you don't have to know!" he snapped. "And don't you dare eavesdrop!" He rushed out very fast.