Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. Wish it did though.

Masked Memories

By: mysteriousangelgirl

Chapter 7: Memories

Ran was worried. She had overheard some men outside her door talking about a bomb, and then they laughed loudly. Ran scrunched herself up in a corner of the dark room as tears began to form in her eyes. A picture of a small boy holding an umbrella out to her flashed through her mind. Ran stopped crying and blinked. Who is this?? Though Ran could not recall who this boy was, the smile on the boy's face had given her courage. I must get out of here! Ran struggled to stand up. Once she was stable on her feet, she felt along the wall until she felt the outline of the wooden door.

Ran smirked. Wooden door? You think a wooden door can keep me in forever? Ran backed up a few steps, and then slammed her right fist into the wall. Pain shot through Ran's knuckles up to her arm, but Ran ignored it. Smiling at the splintered wood, Ran backed up again and kicked the door with a roundhouse kick. The door was now dented in the middle. With a final kick, Ran kicked open the door.

Keeping her back to the cool stone wall, Ran made her way out of the room that had kept her prisoner and walked silently down the hall until she reached a set of stairs. Above her head she heard a lot of feet moving and other noises that told her there was someone else there besides her. Just as Ran was about to climb the stairs, a thought reached her brain. What if those people were the people who kidnapped her? Ran shrunk back from the stairs, backed up against the stone wall, sweating in fear.

Another picture flashed through her mind. It was the same little boy congratulating a 6 year old Ran about beating up the bully who had had hurt their classmate. Ran stopped trembling and stood up straight. I know karate now. What do I have to fear? Ran began her ascent up the stairs. In a corner of her mind, something whispered, "Guns..." But Ran pushed the thought aside.

As Ran reached the top of the stairs, there was a single door slightly open. Ran pushed the door open a bit more. She saw nothing but another staircase leading upward. As Ran slid through the crack between the door and its frame, another memory hit her. That small boy was leading her through this very spot. Ran thought hard and heard some dialogue...

"Ran, here, come on, we have to get out or someone will find us!" the boy pulled on her hand.

Ran scrambled to keep up with the boy's pace. "Alright alright. Why do you bring me here in the first place?"

The boy continued to pull her up the stairs. "I just wanted to show you where my dad works...."

"You're dad works in the police department, stupid." Ran stopped at the top of the stairs to catch her breath and then continued up the second stairway.

"This is the police department. This is the basement, where they keep the old files. Too bad they don't lock these doors."

Ran's heart beat faster. I'm in the basement of the police department. Ran sighed and started to climb up the second set of stairs. At least I know where I am. As long as I don't encounter anyone, then I should be fine....

Just as Ran reached the top of the stairway, the door to that opened to the basement burst open. Ran gasped and almost fell down the stairs.

A man stood there. He was breathing hard, his black short hair was wet with sweat and he was squinting to see Ran.

"Ran?? Ran!!" The man realized who Ran was and ran over, embracing her in his arms tightly. "Oh my gosh, thank goodness you're alright!"

The man let her go and Ran finally got a good look at his face. Suddenly a whole bunch of memories hit her.

Ran saw this boy giving her chocolate he had gotten from his mom. She saw themselves eating lunch together, telling each other secrets, chasing each other around, talking during class and getting detention together, going to watch karate tournaments together, and just being the best of friends. Tears were running down her face now as the name of the person she loved the most finally hit her.

"Shinichi...."

The man's eyes widened. "Ran! You....you remember...me?"

Ran looked up at him. "I love you, baka, how can I not remember you??" She threw herself back into his arms.

Shinichi clutched Ran to him tightly and together they walked out of the dark hallway of the police department. Suddenly Shinichi jerked from her grasp and turned to face her. "What....what did you do with the bomb?"

Ran blinked. "What bomb?"

"There wasn't a bomb?"

"No, I don't think so. I'm in one piece, aren't I?" She smiled.

Shinichi frowned. "That damn Vermouth!" He took out that cell phone she had given him and turned it on, true to his discovery, the cell phone didn't even work. He threw it across the brightly lit room and it dropped into the trashcan. "She only gave me that to get me off her trail. Bet she's gone by now." He turned back to Ran and then said, "Hang on a sec."

Shinichi tapped the receiver in his ear and spoke softly into the mouthpiece he had pulled down from the earpiece. "Hey guys, I found her."

A huge "WHATTTT???" exploded from the earpiece that even Ran heard it. Shinichi winced in pain as he pulled his earpiece a bit away from his ear. "What about the bomb??" a voice said.

"There wasn't one. Vermouth did that get us off her trail."

"Thought so," an older man said. "That's why I got some people detectives mixed into her people. She'll be tracked down eventually. No worries."

"You're awesome, Jii-san. Thanks. So...."

The sound of the mouthpiece being yanked away from the current speaker could be heard and a loud voice said, "Kudo, where the hell are you right now??"

Shinichi laughed. "I'll meet you guys in front of the building in 10 minutes. I'll be stopping by Megure's desk before I meet you guys."

Shinichi took Ran by the shoulders and walked with her out to civilization. Winding his way along a whole bunch of police officers that nodded at him, and long hallways, Shinichi stopped in front of a room. He knocked lightly and the door was yanked open. A cranky said, "What again....Kudo!" His eyes traveled to Ran. "Holy! Where'd you find her? You okay there, Mouri-san?"

Ran nodded and Shinichi said, "I just wanted to let you know she's safe and fine. Ran's a bit tired so is it okay if we come in for the statement tomorrow morning?"

Megure nodded and said, "You kids get some sleep. You look horrible...." Megure winked at Shinichi as he closed the door to his office.

Shinichi and Ran continued their journey out of the Tokyo Police Department and finally reached the front door. Kazuha was already running through the automatic doors and came barreling at Ran. She smacked into Ran and threw her arms around her. Shinichi took a step back to keep out of the girls' reunion. Kazuha was crying and saying, "Ran!! I'm so glad you're alright..."

Aoko came running in next. She joined in the girls' group hug, while Heiji, Kaito and Jii-san came to stand next to Shinichi's side.

"So....neesan's got her memory back?" Heiji asked, smiling at Shinichi.

Shinichi smiled back. "Yeah. Don't know how she got it back, but I'm just glad she got it back."

"We called her parents. They're on their way here," Kaito brought up.

Just as Shinichi was going to reply, Eri and Kogoro burst through the front door and screamed their daughter's name.

"RANNN!!!!"

As everyone was crying, talking, yelling, screaming, and making a whole bunch of noise about Ran, Shinichi and his friends were still plotting some way to get back with Vermouth.

-another part of the city-

"I hate it when people ruin my plans!" a young blond woman was screaming. She slammed the table with her fist and knocked the coffee cup over. In frustration, she threw the coffee cup at the wall. It shattered into small pieces, bringing in a man dressed in black.

"Uhh, Vermouth?"

"Shut up."

"Uhh...miss?"

"Shut UP."

"But, miss...."

"Just clean it up!"

The gulped and did as he was told. Then he scurried out of the room.

Vermouth sighed and sat down. Maybe I should go on a vacation....Vermouth got up from the table and stood there. Then she sat down and said, "Get me my cell phone!!!"

The small man came scurrying back in with Vermouth's cell phone held out in front of him as if it were gold.

She snatched it from him and shooed him out once more. Dialing a very familiar number she smiled and said, "Hello again."

-to be continued-

So WHO is Vermouth calling? Her boss? Shinichi? D Wait and find out!!! Thanks for everyone's who's reviewed and special thanks to Lady Bethany!! I hope you'll all enjoy and I think I'll be wrapping this up soon. Please review and I'll see you all in the next chapter!!!