How It Goes
Chapter the second: Free…Sort Of
Heiji heaved Shinichi up to his feet, slinging one of Shinichi's arms over his shoulders and wrapping his arm around Shinichi's waist. He supported Shinichi's weight as he limped over to the cell door and opened it slowly. Thankfully, it made no noise and he and Shinichi slipped out silently.
It took what seemed like an eternity to get down the hall and to the top of the stairs, but Heiji and Shinichi didn't rush. If they made any noise, they would be caught and killed on the spot. The door at the top if the stairs was unlocked.
They slowly and silently hobbled down hallway after hallway until they finally found the exit. They slipped out unnoticed into the cold. Snow whipped around them as they breathed fresh air for the first time in ages. Heiji laughed out loud and tears fell from Shinichi's eyes.
Free at last.
Heiji held up Shinichi as they walked through the snow, staining it red with every step. Heiji spat roughly, clearing his mouth of the familiar blood.
"Where are we?" Heiji asked no one. He was getting desperate. There were no signs of like anywhere. Shinichi's knees buckled and he fell heavily into the three feet of snow. Heiji knelt down quickly and pulled Shinichi up, wiping the snow off his face. They shivered violently, neither of them in the proper winter attire.
Heiji hunched his shoulders and braced himself as the wind whipped past them, stinging his bare back. He hugged Shinichi's limp body for warmth, trying to keep them both alive. But neither of them could survive off body heat alone. Not for long.
"Hey!" Heiji heard a faint cry. Was it real? He looked up. He couldn't see anything through the heavy snowfall.
'I must be hearing things…We have to get out of the snow,' Heiji thought. He got to his feet slowly, knees and arms shaking uncontrollably. He took Shinichi's hand and helped the other boy to his feet.
Heiji's head shot up as he heard the voice again. He couldn't have imagined it that time. The voice was clear and strong, with concern etched in. But he couldn't see anyone. All around him was just white.
"Did you hear that?" Shinichi asked quietly. Heiji nodded.
"I think so," he answered. "We better get out of here." Shinichi nodded in agreement. They started to go off again but Shinichi tripped and fell again, bring Heiji with him. This time, Shinichi lay motionless. Heiji brought himself to his hands and knees and shook Shinichi roughly, but Shinichi's eyes stayed closed.
"Stop!" it was that voice again. Heiji tensed and squeezed his eyes shut tightly. He jumped when he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He spun around, hovering in front of Shinichi like a shield.
"Are you okay?" the teen asked. Heiji squinted. The boy was dressed all in white, looking at him with concern. Heiji's eyes widened in realization.
"Kaitou Kid?" he gasped out. Kid crouched down and heaved Shinichi upright. Kid checked his pulse with two gloved fingers then looked at Heiji.
"You must be Kudou and Hattori," he said.
"What are you doing here?" Heiji asked, not answering the question. Kid already knew the answer anyway.
"I saw you from the sky. You shouldn't be out here, it's freezing," Kid said.
"Better to be out here than back in that place," Heiji replied quietly.
"Let me help you," Kid said.
"How can you help?" Heiji asked. "Why would you want to?"
"Just because I'm a thief doesn't mean I'm heartless," Kid answered. He stood slowly. "I'll be right back." He promised, before he disappeared within the swirls of wind and snow. Heiji held Shinichi close to him, but exhaustion and cold overtook him and he fell unconscious.
Kaitou shook the snow off of his hat and brushed it off his white suit as he entered the museum through the window at the top floor. He replaced the hat on his head and went swiftly through the halls, dodging security cameras and guards expertly. He made it to the third floor, and leaned over the ledge slightly; eyeing the gem he was supposed to steal. It was surrounded by the police. He smiled in relief. It was just what he needed.
He jumped off the ledge and landed in front of Inspector Nakamori, who stepped back in surprise.
"Kaitou Kid!" he exclaimed. But before he could say anything else, Kid stopped him.
"Hey, I know I came here to steal the gem and all, but right now I have bigger problems," he said. Nakamori hesitated.
"How do you know I won't cuff you right here and unmask you in front of everyone?" Nakamori asked.
"If you care about the lives of Hattori and Kudou, you'll help me," Kid said.
"Kudou and Hattori?" Nakamori asked in disbelief.
"Yeah. I found them, but they're both sick and beat up. There's no way I could get them here by myself," Kid said. "We can save them if we get there soon. But it was obvious Kudou was dying."
"And Hattori?" Nakamori asked. Kid was silent for a moment.
"He looked worse. Covered in blood, no shirt, blood coming out of his mouth," Kid said quietly. "I'm not saying I want a truce. Just help for tonight. And tomorrow, I'll be back and that gem will be mine. Deal?" he held out a hand. Nakamori considered.
"Lead us there," he said, grasping Kid's hand. Kid nodded and they departed.
Nakamori squinted through the white blurs at what Kid was pointing to.
"I don't see anything," Nakamori grunted. Kid moved forward to where he'd seen Heiji and Shinichi last, almost invisible in the snow. He knelt down at the spot and dread filled him. He dug into the mounting snow, barely noticing Inspector Nakamori falling to his knees beside him. Finally, he found them.
Heiji and Shinichi had been buried under a thin layer of snow. Nakamori inhaled sharply in shock. With shaking hands, he reached out and lifted the snow-covered Heiji off the ground, cradling him in his arms like a baby. Kid lifted Shinichi onto his back, grasping the smaller boy under his knees. Shinichi's arms fell around Kid's neck and his head rested on Kid's shoulder.
The two enemies carried Shinichi and Heiji through the snow and into the nearest building, which they found out was the police station. People stared.
"Kaitou Kid!" shouted one person. "Get him!" Kaitou backed up as they advanced, but Nakamori stepped between them.
"Don't," he said. "If anyone tries anything, I'll make sure they never work in Japan again." All took the threat seriously and backed off quickly.
"I know I'm not really running things here, but can we get an ambulance?" Kaitou asked. The woman nearest to him nodded and dialed. Only moments later, an ambulance car pulled up. Nakamori set Heiji down on a gurney, talking quickly with the ambulance worker. He jumped when a soft voice whispered in his ear.
"What's going on?" Kudou asked quietly. A little blood dribbled past his lips as he spoke. Kid helped him into a chair and faced him, getting to his knees and hastily wiping away the blood. Shinichi slumped foreword, clutching his stomach and moaning.
"Kudou," Kaitou started. "Look at me."
"K-Kid?" Shinichi croaked.
"That's right. How many fingers?" he asked, holding up two.
"Seven?" Shinichi asked, gazing at him blearily. Kid winced.
"Can we get a little help over here?" he asked.
Two men came over and lifted Shinichi, bringing him outside and into an ambulance. They drove off and Kid stood next to Nakamori silently watching.
"Well I guess that's it," Nakamori said finally. Kid nodded.
"Guess so," he agreed. Silence.
"Truce over!" Nakamori exclaimed, rounding on Kaitou.
"Thank goodness," Kid agreed. "Thanks for the help, Inspector!" and he disappeared. Nakamori scowled and muttered to himself angrily.
"Every time, I swear…"
"Oi, wake up," a voice jolted Ran out of her doze. Her eyes snapped open and she found herself looking into the face of Kaitou Kid. She froze and stared at him in shock.
"Why are you in my house?" she asked slowly.
"Just wanted to tell you that your friends Kudou and Hattori are being brought to the hospital as we speak," he said casually.
"What?" Ran asked.
"You know – those two detective guys, teenagers, about this tall," he gestured vaguely about his height. "Hattori's Osakan, black hair, always wears that stupid hat. You're in love with Kudou –," Ran cut him off.
"Are you serious?" she asked. He nodded.
"Would I joke about something like this?" he asked.
"I don't know. I don't even know you!" she cried. "If this is a joke then you're going to wish you never set foot in Japan," she threatened, smacking the coffee table so hard it snapped in two. He backed away slowly.
"It isn't a joke, go find out for yourself!" he said. Then, he jumped out the window. She stared in shock and ran over to the window, but he was gone. She grabbed her jacket and ran out of the apartment.
"Is he here?" she asked as she rushed into the hospital. A man at the counter looked up. "Is Shinichi Kudou here?"
"Kudou?" he asked. He looked down at his list then back up at her. "Room 173."
"Thanks," she said quickly.
"Um, miss," he said. She looked over. "You might not want to go in just yet."
"Why?" she asked.
"Mr. Kudou is sharing a room with Mr. Hattori. Hattori just came out of surgery and is probably sleeping, and Kudou has a high fever and is in danger of going into a coma," the man said.
"In that case I have to see them now," Ran said. The man interrupted.
"There is good news you know," he said. "Kudou seems to have regained his eyesight." She gave him a watery smile and quick thanks before running down the hallway.
She rushed down the hall, passing rooms with closed doors and doctors with clipboards. It seemed like an eternity before she finally reached the room. The door was closed. She hesitated, but pulled open the door.
Inside she saw two beds. Heiji lay in the nearest bed, his left wrist in a cast and a few fingers bandaged. He had a white bandage wrapped around his head and covering his left eye. His chest was covered as well. Two large hand shaped bruises covered his throat. He was asleep.
Shinichi was in the bed near the window. He was incredibly pale, and Ran could tell it wasn't because of the moonlight. His right eye was swollen shut and the skin was stitched closed down his cheek. His arms were bound in white cloth bandages. She walked up slowly and Heiji's right eye opened halfway. He tried to talk, but it just came out as a sort of strangled grunt. His throat still hurt from almost being choked to death.
"Heiji," Ran whispered. She walked over to his bed and kneeled down. He watched her wearily, too tired to move. She squeezed his uninjured hand gently. He squeezed back a little.
"Is – Shinichi –?" he croaked. She looked over her shoulder at Shinichi then back at Heiji.
"The doctor says he'll be fine, don't worry," she assured quietly. She gently touched one of the hand marks with her fingertips, causing Heiji to wince and pull away slightly. She removed her hand and stood up, carrying a chair over and sitting between the beds.
"Get some sleep Heiji, you look exhausted," she whispered. But he was already asleep.
Okay! They're safe again! Or are they?
Detective Girl 2005 - More to come soon
Jeva - Well, it is a little funny I suppose...
Masked Detective - thanks for reviewing
windchaser90 - He'll be okay. Maybe. It depends. Everyone thinks the main character always has to be okay on the end.
Fyliwion - There's not much of a cliffhanger here...I'll try to have one next chapter though
kudo - You'll see what happens...
Silver Sky Magician - No cliffhanger!
Juliechan - I'll be updating pretty often probably...sprained my ankle recently and confined to bed by my mom...Have no fear, the next chapter will be up shortly!
DcLoVer0x - Well I had to continue! How could I not? It would make me and the reviewers go insane!
Silv3r MagiciaN - I like cliffhangers...
Snotty Chim-Chim - I know I'm mean. And it won't stay dark, I promise
Tant - They managed...
