And now... the last chapter to Dance with Destiny. BOOHOO! Although, I may write an epilogue dependant on the length of the chapter... and it's a looooooong chapter...
TO REVIEWERS: I would like to take this opportunity to really thank all of the reviewers for all the suggestions and support. Your reviews really helped me with the writing, as well as made me feel good about this piece. I hope to do more stuff for you guys and we'll see how that goes!
Disclaimer: Standard
And onto the fic!
Jimmy wondered over the following days why he didn't see it before.
His only problem now was planning the culprit's next moves, and how to thwart the guy while also giving the police evidence that would clear his own name.
This task was proving difficult.
Chapter 8
"You two are looking good," Rika commented at a dance practice. "Just see if they won't give you first place now! Your freestyle dance is gonna win, I just know it!"
The day was the last day of the competition. Now more than ever the people believed he was guilty and, as a result, he was feeling very down. He had confided only in Harley the identity of the culprit, and Hartwell and he had corresponded during the rest of the week about what to do. There was no plausible opportunity to unveil the culprit, while keeping Jimmy in the clear.
Unless he planned to unleash another attemt at murder tonight.
"Hello you two! I have brought drinks!" Jet Takino said, entering the room with his tray and placing the tray with the four drinks on the table.
Jimmy looked suspiciously at the cups. Experience had taught him not to trust any drinks given by a relative stranger.
Rachel, however, just took a cup and drank. Rika followed suit and Jimmy, albeit reluctantly, took another glass.
"To victory," Jet toasted.
"To victory," Rika responded. Jimmy and Rachel held up their glasses, but neither of them said anything.
"Don't count your chicken's just yet," Rachel said after a sip. She quickly walked over and clung to Jimmy's arm. Gesturing at the two of them, she said, "We may have been voted off, you never know,"
"I doubt it. Your fan club seemed determined to keep you on another week," Rika said.
Jet remained silent, glancing over at Rachel. This went unnoticed by the recipient, but Jimmy caught it. Glancing at Rachel himself, his overprotective side got the better of him, and he quickly dismissed the both of them.
"Well, we'd better go, Rach. We want to be on time and ready for the competition,"
"Right," she said. Putting down her glass, she walked toward the door.
"We're going to be there tonight," Jet said. Jimmy and Rachel turned. Glancing at Rika, Jet continued, "At least, I am,"
"I wouldn't miss it," Rika said in reply.
"Great," Rachel said. "Your support would really help,"
Turning back, Jimmy held out his arm for her. Taking it, she smiled at him. On a whim, Jimmy glanced back, noticing Rika in her own fantasy world, and Jet looking slightly disgruntled and uncomfortable.
They saw the other dancers in the hall when they arrived at the hotel. Jimmy, able to tell that they were uncomfortable with him around, quickly parted ways with Rachel, so she could feel free to talk to them. She would relay it all to him later, but still...
Nearing the stairs, Jimmy heard sharp whispers. Turning back slightly so as to get a glimpse of the conversation, he was surprised to see Rachel in the middle of the crowd, getting along with them. Feeling slightly alone, Jimmy turned and continued his way back up to the room.
Upon entering the room he and Rachel shared, he was immediately surprised to see a large array of flowers and gift baskets of chocolates set up in a dazzling display all about the room.
"What's this?" he asked rhetorically.
Entering the room after the initial shock of the sight, Jimmy found the gift baskets and flowers had both Rachel's and his names on them. Wondering, finally, if this was a trick, he settled for opening one box of chocolates labled "To: Jimmy, with lots of luck From: Rika" thinking that it was a nice gesture for his teacher to be sending him chocolate, and that nothing should be wrong because she actually knew who he was... literally.
Finally checking out the flowers, he spotted plenty from people he didn't know, accompanied by a picture and a phone number. But one such bouquet caught his eye.
It was by far the largest in the room, graced with a bunch of different colored roses. On it, stuck out plainly were three pieces of paper: one said 'Jimmy', another said 'Rachel', and finally one was for the both of them, wishing them good luck.
Jimmy opted for his own letter, thinking it would be very rude to open Rachel's (although it probably would have been safer). The letter was as follows:
---
Dear Jimmy,
Whilst we know you are the only suspect in this murder investiagation, we just can't come to terms with the fact that you're a cold-blooded murderer. So the others and myself have decided to write a formal apology, for thinking you would murder two people you hardly knew, and for giving you the silent treatment for the past few weeks. Although this leads us with no explanation for the murder, we hope you will recieve our deepest apologies with forgiveness.
Luck from us,
Mariah (writer)
With credits to: Gary, Zoey, Ron, Jessica, and Christopher
P.S.: You really should thank Rachel, she was the one who believed steadfastly of your innocence
---
Jimmy smiled at the letter. He'd hoped they would come around. And Mariah really did have a way with words.
'Rachel,' he thought. 'How did she ever convince them? I dunno what I'd do without her,'
He smiled to himself and returned downstairs, where everyone was waiting for him, apparently to hear of his forgiveness.
Jimmy just smiled at them.
They cheered, running to hug him and shake his hand. Rachel stood on, looking proudly upon the sight.
After a while, a buffet of congratulatory fruit made its way into the back room, and the partying dancers followed it eagerly. A television screen portraying pre-competition coverage (kinda like the red carpet) also found it's way into the back room, and the dancers had a fun time with the celebrities they were showing.
"And here is the famous actress and pop singer Yoko Okino! I never knew you liked dancing!" the commentator, named Leslie Samson, said.
"It's always kinda been a secret hobby of mine," Yoko said, unfazed.
"And now the big question: Who are you rooting for to win?"
"I don't think I can really say," Yoko said, slightly blushing. "But I know the girl of the pair and she's definately worked hard. And she picked a good partner too!"
In the real world, everybody cast glances around the room, just waiting for someone to say they actually knew Yoko Okino. There was only one person who wasn't looking (well actually, two weren't because one already knew the girl knew Yoko. He himself had actually met her a few times, although she wouldn't recognise him). Pretty soon all eyes fell on her.
"Rachel!" Mariah shouted. "You know Yoko Okino?"
"I've just met her a few times, really-" but she was cut off by the television.
"Well here's a surprise! Retired actress Vivian Kudo, and her husband famous mystery author Booker Kudo!"
Jimmy spat out his drink and Rachel turned astounded to the television.
"Oh! And one of our own, Famous detective Richard Moore!"
"WHAT?" Jimmy and Rachel shouted simultaneously at the TV, earning stares from all who had heard them.
"And he looks like he's escorting his wife, lawyer Eva Kaden!"
Rachel almost fell over.
"Know them too?" Mariah asked sarcastically to the astonished couple.
"Now, which couple are you all voting for?"
"Er-" Jimmy's dad started, "I think that's best left unknown for now,"
"But we can tell you this, we're all rooting for the same couple," Eva said, indicating them all.
"Well then, let's see what's going on backstage with the judges!" Leslie made a seguay into another segment.
"Well I'll be," Jimmy said, turning to look at Rachel.
"I never expected them to come!" Rachel said. "How am I going to dance now? In front of all of them!"
Biting into a piece of pineapple, Jimmy said, "You'll find a-" he cut off. A searing pain had just entered his chest.
Everyone was put on alarm. Jimmy put a hand to his chest, clutching it.
Letting loose a mangled yell, Jimmy crashed to the floor.
"Jimmy!" Rachel shouted, kneeling beside him. "What is it? A heart attack?"
"No-" Jimmy croaked out. "Murder-"
"WHAT?" everyone shouted.
"Someone- put something- into- something I- ate-"
"Someone get a medic!" Rachel shouted. Everyone disbanded ion different directions. Turning back to Jimmy with a determined face, she said, "Don't you dare die on me, Jimmy Kudo! I've waited for you too long for you to go off and leave me agai-"
"Stop-" Jimmy cut her off. "Rach, right now I need you to listen to me," he seemed to be struggling with talking. Just stringing words together was difficult. "Rachel Moor, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a long time-"
"Jimmy, don't. You need to rest-"
"No Rach!" he cut her off again. "Rach, I- I was Conan,"
"W-what?"
"I know you suspected it. It was true. Get full details from Dr. Agasa later. Right now I need to tell you something else-"
"You were him... the whole time?" Rachel said, a blush coming to her cheeks as she thought of all the things she told Conan- as a little brother. She seemed to forget she had a dying Jimmy on her hands.
"Rach! Stay with me here! I'm sorry! I really am! You should know, though that I- I've liked you for a long time-" he stopped as a searing pain grasped his chest. "And I want you to be happy-... That's all I ever wanted-..." Jimmy was losing consciousness and Rachel, although slightly mad at him, was getting really worried. "And-... the murderer-... It's-"
He saw black.
A pain not unlike that which he experienced with the aptoxin gripped his senses as he once again opened his eyes. Letting out a loud groan of pain, his vision blurred and then cleared, to finally show him Rachel, standing over him looking relieved.
"He's awake!" she shouted to no one in particular.
Then she kissed him.
He wasn't expecting it at all, but she did.
"Get a room, neechan!" someone shouted from the door.
Rachel broke off and looked at Harley unfazed. Brandishing a hand at the hotel room, she said, "Technically, this is my room,"
Harley noticed this and a blush came to his face. "Er- right..." he said. "Anyway... Kudo! They said you'd be alright to dance tonight. They gave you the cure for that poison before it got in your bloodstream,"
"Poison... right," Jimmy said, comprehension dawning. "It must have been in that chocolate. The one inside this room, that was the only thing I didn't eat with someone else,"
"Is he alright?" came a voice from the doorway. The trio turned to see Zoey, Jessica, and Mariah step in. "Jimmy? We were worried," Zoey finished.
"Yea well, you can't get rid of me that easily," he said. They giggled.
Rachel, who was getting slightly jealous again, quickly pecked him on the lips and said, "Well, Jimmy I'll leave you to rest. Plus there's probably a lot of things you want to discuss with Hartwell over there,"
She left the room. The others, staring, probably wanted details and quickly followed her out.
"So, Jimbo! Got yourself the girl you always wanted!" Harley said.
"Yes... but at what price?" he asked. Harley looked at him quizically. "She's my girlfriend, sure, but I had to almost die to get her that way. And if my assumption is correct, who would be the next target?"
"Oh no... Rachel..."
They sat in silence for a while. Then Jimmy said, "I got it,"
"Got what?"
"A plan,"
"You what!"
"But I can't do it alone,"
"I'm here," he replied.
"Harley... how fast can you get a certain item?"
"Oh, Jimmy! I'm so nervous! What if we mess up! And in front of all these people, too! I think my legs are shaking. I think this costume's a bit heavy. I think-"
"Rach!" Jimmy shouted "Stop! You are going to be fine," he said, hugging her. She was wearing a cowgirl vest and jean jacket, along with a skirt, her hair slightly curled. He happened to be wearing a cowboy hat and vest with jeans (which are heck to dance in, but...). Their freestyle dance was a western.
"But Jimmy!" she said, then she hissed, "My dad and mom are out there, your dad and mom are out there, Yoko Okino's out there, and if I'm not mistaken, I heard Serena out there too,"
"Rach, it doesn't matter how many people there are. We know this dance inside, outside, backwards, forwards and everywhere in between! As soon as the music starts you forget all about the audience. That's just what happens,"
"Oh, I don't think I can, Jimmy," she said.
"We'll get through this, Rach, no problem," he said, pecking her on the lips.
A voice-over announcer finally announced their names, to which they came out onto the stage. Their dancing arena was a little different this week, since it was the finals of the new hittest show on TV. Many lights decorated the area and many cheers came up as they walked out. She and Jimmy stood there as the other two pairs came out, each to tumultuous applause.
"Well, since it is the way we work, it's now time to find out who got voted off last week. There are only three teams here tonight, and only two will be competing for the chance to win. The teams are Jimmy and Rachel... Gary and Jessica... and Mariah and Ron... Now each of these teams deserves to win in their own way, but only one will become winner of the Dance with Destiny prize... which still has yet to be revealed. Now, without furthur ado, let's see who will be leaving," she turned to the dancers.
"Now, Mariah and Ron, you were placed last by the judges last week. Tonight... you are safe, and will be dancing your freestyle for the prize!"
Mariah and Ron hugged furiously, recieving loud cheers and applause from the audience.
"This leaves us with our two top teams. Jimmy and Rachel, you were placed first, and Gary and Jessica, you were placed second. The team going on to the finals tonight is...
...Jimmy and Rachel! Yes, despite all their troubles, you have still voted them to be in the finals tonight! So without furthur distractions, let's get the dances started!"
Jimmy and Rachel hugged, huge smiles on their faces, amidst loud cheers from the audience. Among these cheers were heard a few select voices:
"I always knew you had a thing for him, Rachel!" (Serena)
"Oh that's soooo KAWAII!" (Vivian Kudo)
"That's my Rachel!" (Detective Moore)
Jimmy and Rachel blushed and soon departed for backstage, where they were to await the time when their dance would be performed.
Loud cheers greeted both teams inside, too. The other dancers congratulated everyone, giving their sincere hopes and regards.
"I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this,"
"You can. And you will," Jimmy put it simply, trying to calm the obviously nervous Rachel.
"I'll let everybody down, Jimmy! I can't!"
"And who would you be letting down?" He asked, then whispered to her, "It's not like we're actual dancers,"
"But I still feel like-"
"Rach. We don't do this for a living. I'm a detective, remember? You won't let anybody down,"
"And now for Jimmy and Rachel! Their freestyle dance is a popular western tune with, appropriately, squaredance-like qualities. But will this be enough to win them the title?"
Jimmy grabbed Rachel's hand and practically pulled her onstage.
"And here they are! Jimmy, Rachel, you both have worked very hard. And as newbies to dance, it's very surprising that you could make it this far. Have any words to say?" she held the mic to Jimmy.
"Well, just many thank you's to the people that helped us get here, and that we've worked hard to be here!"
"And, I heard earlier some of the cheers you were given. How does it make you feel to have that many famous people voting for you to win?" This time she held the mic to Rachel.
"Er- It's relly great... Gives a lot of confidence," she put it.
"Well then. If the judges are ready, let's see your freestyle!"
Jimmy and Rachel departed for their spots: Jimmy in one corner, and Rachel in the complete opposite.
The music started with a fiddle intro, during which Jimmy and Rachel trapsed to the middle of the floor, appropriately starting to do-se-do once the full music kicked in.
As was usual, Rachel forgot all about nerves once the dance started. She let loose and was having a good time, smiling and seeming to enjoy the closeness of the dance.
Jimmy's point of view, however, was a little different. Tuning his hearing to anything that may be a little strange, his expression showed one of enjoyment, but his mind was otherwise occupied. 'Come on,' he was thinking, 'I predicted you'd do it here, so where are you?'
When Rachel and Jimmy started square dancing during the middle of the song, the audience erupted into loud cheers. They had never, being in Japan, witnessed a western U.S. style square dance, and this came as enjoyment beyond anything.
Jimmy's eyes narrowed. The time was now.
A faint click.
Jimmy pulled Rachel very uncharicteristically toward the floor, doing his best top keep her out of the line of fire.
One gunshot.
One hit.
A second shot.
Another hit.
The final shot.
One last hit.
Jimmy stiffened on top of Rachel as all three made contact with the small of his back.
Rachel screamed, along with many others when they realised what had happened. Rachel, worriedly flipped Jimmy over and sat up on her knees.
"Jimmy?" she asked.
"Heya, Rach,"
"Jimmy Kudo! What the heck did you do!"
The whole audience quieted at that.
"Well. That's our murderer, and he was aiming for you,"
"...what?" she almost whispered.
"Got him!" a shout came from the stands. "Oi! Kudo! This your murderer!" Harley shouted.
"That's him!" Jimmy shouted back, struggling to stand. He leaned on the judges table, immense pain filling his back.
"Jimmy, you shouldn't stand!" Rachel insisted as the went to help him.
"Oh yeah, and Kudo! How'd that bullet-proof vest work out?"
Rachel froze and looked at Jimmy.
"Like a charm!" he shouted back, stealing a glance at Rachel.
"Jimmy Kudo you are infuriating!" Rachel shouted at him, removing her arm. This left Jimmy without a prop and he stumbled back, leaning on the judges table.
"Jimmy... Kudo?" Cindy said into her microphone. "As in the P.I. ?"
"At your service," he said back.
(Out in the police station, Inspector Takero, who was eating a donut and watching the TV show, dropped said donut which was jelly-filled and started to stare at the TV)
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here in response to an anonymous tip-off someone gave the police. Still not sure who that is, but..."
"And who is this?" Cindy asked, pointing to Rachel.
"Rachel Moore, daughter of Detective Moore,"
"Rachel!" said man called.
"Are you okay?" Asked her mother.
"I'm fine, but I can't say the same for Jimmy!" she said, glaring at the high school detective.
Jimmy looked a little nervous. This talking time had given Harley time to bring the suspect down to the stage.
"Hey, Jimbo! Looks like you were right!"
"I've noticed. And don't call me 'Jimbo',"
"Who killed Lizzy and Michael then?" Mariah (who had come out with the rest of the dancers when Jimmy was shot) asked.
"One Jet Takino, Rachel's and My dance coordinator," (alright who guessed it?)
"What?" Rachel asked, befuddled and astonished.
"Also know as Mr. Jake Summers, an old dance teacher of Lizzy and Michael's,"
"Really?"
"No way!"
"How in the world-?"
Jimmy held a hand up for silence. "Mr. Summers had always aspired to be a dance coordinator. When said dream came true, he respected and honored his first dancer, Elizabeth Montague,"
"Lizzy?"
"Yep. But she left, and met Michael, and together they pursued dancing, only with a few different teachers. After a while, Elizabeth suggested that they try her old teacher Jake Summers. When she came back to him, he got a little posessive, as wel as obsessed with her leaving. He made a pass on her, after all, they weren't very far apart in age. But she refused. He assumed it was because of her partner, and then hated Michael. Soon after making another pass, Lizzy got a restraining order for him, and they left the school,"
"You have no evidence of this!" Jake demanded.
"But I may have a witness account, right, Rachel?"
Rachel backed off, "What?"
"Did he, or did he not, make a pass on you?"
"Me?" she said. "Well, I thought-"
"You thought he slipped up or something in the dance, Rach. But you should know a professional like him doesn't make mistakes when it comes to holding his partner's waist,"
Rachel looked at the floor and reddened.
"Well," she started, "Then, yes. He did,"
"He made a pass on my little girl!" Richard yelled.
"Father!" Rachel shouted, embarassed.
"But you said he was obsessed with Lizzy, not Rachel!" an audience member pointed out.
"But Rachel was the first girl he taught since his obsession with Lizzy, and that made her prime target for another of his posessive crazes, even if he had changed his name. When we signed up for the tournament, Jake came after the first week. Lizzy happened to be in our room when he stopped by. I think she sort of recognised him. Thinking this would be a good time to see how she really felt, he probably asked her again. But she said she was in love with Michael, right?"
"Right," Rachel confirmed.
"But you don't even know her! How did you know she was in love with Michael?" Jessica said, slightly hurt that her friend hadn't told her this peice of news.
"She told me," Rachel said.
"So he murdered Michael, and framed it on me, thinking that if Lizzy didn't wish to come to him, he'd still have Rachel. But he thought that he would have to get rid of me first, this would happen by getting me in jail. Then he would recieve Rachel with open arms with me out of the way,"
"But why did he think he had to get you out of the way to get to me?" Rachel asked.
"Remember when we first learned that mexican-bullfight dance? How we stayed after in the room, and actually got it right, emotions and all?"
"Yes... but that was just acting,"
"But it was very good acting, making Mr. Summers, who was spying on us, think you were in love with me,"
"Oh..." Rachel said, blushing.
"So he had Lizzy, and Rachel, his fallback plan. But, when confronting Lizzy for a second time, after murdering Michael, he accidentaly let slip that he killed her partner. This meant that if she didn't come with him, he would have to kill her too. And that's just what happened. So all he had left was Rachel. After not getting me in jail on account of insufficient evidence, he resorted to poisoning me. This happened earlier this afternoon. All of you can testify, you all saw me go down. But he still didn't get rid of me. So, finally cracking he forced his resolve to be: If I can't have her, no one can. This is why he tried to shoot Rachel during the dance,"
"You don't have any proof of this!" Jake shouted angrily.
"I can prove that Jet Takino is Jake Summers through a simple black-and-white picture. And I can prove you almost murdered Rachel or myself because there's a gun in your pocket and gunpowder on your hands. I can prove that you were not supposed to see Lizzy through this restraining order," he pulled the slip of paper out of his pocket, "The copy of which you stole from the police station and probably destroyed,"
Jake hung his head.
"This alone should-" he groaned, "Get you in on a life sentence- but you'll feel better if you confess- about- Michael- and Lizzy-" Jimmy put a hand to his stomach. He wiped his forehead, which was slicked with sweat.
The cameras which were recording the events quickly swung toward the accused man.
"Alright, I did it. I couldn't help it. She was my first student. Is it wrong to have an emotional attachment?"
"Of that kind, yes," Jimmy answered.
Harley quickly handed over Jake to the police, cameras catching the whole thing.
"Jimmy!" Vivian Kudo greeted, "Wonderful job! I must say, I was surprised when I was channel surfing in the U.S. to see my son on TV, dancing no less!"
"And then she called me, and we called Eva, and she called her husband who had already heard it from Serena," Booker Kudo said.
"Well that was- a long chain-" Jimmy panted.
"Now where is that Yoko Okino, I wanted to ask her something," Booker Kudo said. "Ouch!" he then said as his wife elbowed him in the side. But they still both went off to find Yoko.
"Well, Jimmy, I gotta hand it to you-" Rachel started, but then said, "Jimmy? Are you alright? You don't look so good,"
"I'm fine Rach," he said. Nevertheless, she reached up to feel his forehead.
"Jimmy! You're sweating! You should take off that vest," she said, reaching to undo the vest.
"Wait Rachel!" But it was too late.
Rachel screamed.
All cameras quickly zoomed back to Jimmy and Rachel, now showing Jimmy's bloodsoaked white shirt that was under the vest.
"Kudo!" Harley shouted. "What happened?"
"This vest isn't-" Rachel said, picking up the vest to examine it. Then her eyes widened in stark realization. "You didn't-" she said, leaving the end of the sentence open.
Jimmy solemnly looked at the ground.
"No!" Rachel shouted, tearing off her jean jacket and finally her vest.
She hung the piece of clothing in her hands, silently crying over its weight and padding.
"Why did you do that, Jimmy? Why!" she shouted at him, hurling a punch in his direction. She stopped before she hit his nose.
"He was aiming for you-" he panted. "I couldn't let you get hurt,"
She started clinging to him, "But you-" she stopped. He had suddenly gone limp under her. "Jimmy?" she asked. "Jimmy!" she repeated, louder this time. Separating herself from him, she saw him struggling to stay conscious. "Somebody help!" she shouted.
Jimmy returned from the hospital a few days later. The gunshots had missed the major organs, so he was relatively okay, but Rachel had yet to get through with him, and he sensed an extra-long conversation with a lot of yelling.
Jimmy decided that the best place to take her for this conversation would be Tropical Land. After all, he had promised...once.
Rachel decided to take the initiative when they happened to get off the mystery coaster.
"Kinda like deja vu, isn't it?" she asked, not really expecting an answer. "This was the last place I really saw you, I mean really saw you, for a year,"
"Yes but, I was Conan," Jimmy said, indicating that it was okay to talk about it.
"Why didn't you tell me, Jimmy?... You were there the whole time. You listened to me cry. You were always there for me, but as someone else..."
"To be honest, Rach, I wanted to. It was Dr. Agasa that made me rethink that decision. And I think he was right. The organization that shrunk me was just recently disbanded and apprehended, so it was only now actaully safe for me to tell you who I am without fear of you and Richard getting hurt. I've seen what they could've done to you, and believe me, I could never want that... I'd give up my own life before I saw you get hurt,"
Rachel, somewhat taken aback by this last statement, didn't respond.
"But, you knew, right? You were so close to guessing so many times!"
"I guess I always knew it. But there were so many things that made me think it wasn't possible. Physics, for one thing,"
They both chuckled, stopping to sit on a bench near the tilt-a-whirl. It was getting late, and the park was going to close soon.
"You know," Rachel suddenly said, "You didn't have to take me back here,"
"I know, but this was the place where it all started. I think it's the place where it should end, too,"
"Well then, consider it ended," she said, pecking him on the cheek.
Jimmy smiled at her, then leaned in, but before they could fully continue, the loudspeaker announced that the park would be closing.
"Er- I forgot about dinner, how about we go to my house and have something to eat?"
The deserted house was a very good place to go. A lot of privacy, dimmers on all the lights, and a very wide selection of guest rooms.
The dinner was quaint. Something that brought back memories from when they were kids: macaroni and cheese.
After that, a late horror movie was shown on the wide-screen projector home-theater system in the basement. This had Rachel clinging to him throughout the movie on very comfy leather couches.
"Yes! I knew it was him!" Jimmy shouted at the movie screen.
"Can I open my eyes now?" Rachel asked, having hid herself in the arm of Jimmy's shirt. Horror wasn't exactly her genre.
"The movie's over, Rachel, I think it's safe," he said. Then, being very forward, said, "Unless you don't want to,"
"Huh?" she asked, a blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Well it would be very unnatural of you to open your eyes if I said I was going to kiss you,"
"K-k-kiss me?" she asked, detaching herself from his arm, but keeping her eyes closed.
"Yes," he said. "You know I like you. And you kissed me many times that last day of the dance competition... and once before that,"
"Oh, right," she said, remembering, but still with her eyes closed. "Wait- before that?-"
"And since you haven't opened your eyes yet-" he leaned forward and captured her mouth, closing his own eyes in the process.
She slid her arms around his neck, whilst his went to her waist. Jimmy then, as it is very uncomfortable to kiss your loved one when you are both sitting in the same direction, pushed Rachel down onto the even-comfier-now leather couch, with her beneath him, without breaking the kiss.
But, being as they were both rather new to kissing, they needed some oxygen. Jimmy, having gotten his fill but noticing Rachel still gasping, moved to kiss her neck while she refreshed herself.
"Jimmy," she whispered to him, very seductively, "You don't know how long I've waited for you to do this,"
"I think I have some idea," Jimmy said between kisses. Suddenly stopping, he picked his head up to look at her, "Having your lover so near you, without them knowing it's you in the body of that seven-year-old is very exasperating too, y'know,"
"Oh," she said, a blush rising in her cheeks. She hadn't had time to imagine what life as Conan, or as any seven-year-old, would have been like. But now that he mentioned it...
He took advantage of her silence, once again capturing her lips, but this time licking her lips with his tongue. Gasping, she allowed him entry, almost subconsciously.
He wanted to memorise her mouth. He still wanted to remember it even if he was turned into a seven-year-old Conan again. He wanted this to last, although he was sure there would be many more kisses to come, some even more intimate and passionate than the one he was sharing with Rachel now.
Getting used to the feeling of an invasion of her mouth, Rachel started to fight back with her own weapon. The battle of the tongues came to a close when they once again felt the need for some gaseous life force.
Panting hard, both teens captured each other's eyes. Rachel's hands somehow found a way to Jimmy's hair and began combing through it. Jimmy's hands just held onto Rachel's waist, as they were pinned beneath her.
Then, Rachel, being karate champion of the world in Jimmy's eyes, flipped them over so she was the one on top. Jimmy's hands finally free to roam, they turned off the projector behind the couch and then returned to massage Rachel's back and comb through her hair as she showered his face with kisses.
They settled down a few minutes later, their lust satisfied for the moment. Rachel snuggled closer to Jimmy's chest and Jimmy's hands caressed her hair. Staying like this for a few minutes, Jimmy broke the silence.
"Your dad'll wonder where you are," he said.
"So let him wonder," she said. "He'll know where I am. Although it may not be safe for you around the agency for a while,"
"That's okay. I wasn't planning on going near that place for a while," she hit him. "Hey!" he said. "If you lived in that place for a year and then finally were home, you'd want some different sights, too,"
"Yes, but that means you won't come to pick me up for anything,"
"Hey, I didn't say that," he said, trying to alleviate her. "I just meant that with your father..."
She settled back down on top of him again, "I know," she said. "I could always tell him I was over Serena's,"
"But then you'd have to clear it with Serena first and, no offense, but she'll want to know what you were really doing, and I'm not really comfortable with Sebastian knowing our private life,"
"Hmmm..." she said. "But! My father owes my life to you. If you hadn't gotten me that bullet-proof vest or decided to take those bullets for me, I wouldn't be here today,"
"Alright, I'll take that. But do you really want to spend the rest of your life with another detective? I mean, one is enough,"
"Are you saying you don't want to spend the rest of your life with me?" she asked, teasingly.
"No! It's not that! It's just... juggling both your father and I would be tough. Plus, your mother told you to beware of detective boyfriends,"
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to get out of being my boyfriend,"
"What-?"
"I mean, you were just saying how it'd be hard to carry both you and my father, and I can't very well dump my father-" she was stopped by a forceful kiss. Loosening, she let him continue, all thoughts of what she was about to say flying out the window.
"There," he said, releading, "Believe me now?" he smiled. "Will you be going home at all tonight?"
"Maybe. Why?"
"Because I'd have to walk you home," he said. "There are dangerous people out at night,"
"Let's say, you convinced me to stay because of the dangers of travelling at night, and I stayed in a guest room, far away from you,"
"Okay," he said, holding her tighter.
END!
I know! The end! I know a lot of you guessed it. I guess I didn't do a very good job then. But if you think otherwise:
REVIEW!
ALSO! HERE ARE OTHER THINGS I NEED YOUR OPINION ABOUT:
Should I put up an epilogue? I don't think it needs one...
I may or may not update Pneumonia. I know many people asked me to do it, but I dunno if I should. It was meant to be a oneshot...
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING EVERYONE! (I won't say names because I just know I'll forget people)
AND THANK YOU FOR WAITING SOO LONG FOR THIS LAST CHAPPIE!
SNEAK PEEK OF POSSIBLE NEXT CC/DC FIC:
"I was thinking, Jimmy. What if I made a story, fictional of course, about what's happened to you? I think children'll love it! It would be the next Harry Potter," (which I don't own)
"I don't think so, dad. My life isn't that exciting,"
---
"Wow, I didn't actually think the book would be this popular,"
"Hey, Conan! Did you see this! Mr. Kudo even wrote us in! Look! Although, he did make me your girlfriend,"
"He did what!"
---
"Teacher, do we have to read it?"
"Why wouldn't you, Amy? What gives you, Mitch, George, and Conan immunity,"
"The fact that we lived it,"
---
"What's this?"
To: Rachel
I know my son better than anyone. Here is an advanced copy of the story in which Raya discovers Conan is actually Jimmy.
Booker Kudo
"No. He can't mean that Conan is-"
---
There you have it! Hope you're interested!
animebookworm