Disclaimer: Not our charries sighs Unfortunately.
AN: And here it is Uh about two weeks late ducks Eia who throws another book at her head I'm fully to blame.. sorry... I'll try to get the next one up sooner... and uh update my other stories too... hides but here ya go. Hope its good enough
Chapter 2
That shocked him. No anger. No fire. Just- "You forgive me?"
"I wouldn't say entirely...but it's a start," Ran said, "I'm just so glad you're back." She had regained herself enough to start wiping some of her tears away. "You probably thought I was going to go through with all those threats when you came back...but..." The faint smile showed itself again, "How can I hurt such a cute little kid?"
He actually managed to look exasperated, "Oi, you too! First Hattori and his "Kudo-kun" then my darling mother," he pouted, then gave a hopeful smile, "You aren't really going to bash me like you did that poor game at the video game show though? I was scared there for awhile..." he gave a small grin.
"Well...if we hadn't been just shot at and threatened...and you were in your normal body...I might be tempted," Ran said, her smile growing a bit.
This time it was Shinichi's turn to smile back, somewhat bitterly, "I guess that does change it then doesn't it?"
To himself he thought, If I were in my normal body right now I might just be tempted to do something else... but seeing as how I'm stuck as a bloody 7 year old. Though on the other hand.. maybe it's safer this way... I've seen what you do to people you hit out at- He grinned. "Makes me wonder why I was worried"
Ran sniffed a little, but still kept the smile on her face. "And those darts that woman mentioned...those wouldn't happen to be the secret behind Sleeping Kogoro, are they?"
Shinichi's face turned crimson and he stumbled with his words, "Uhhhh… well… erm… you see I thought...uhhh heh heh he..." sweat trailed down his forehead.
"Don't worry about it, although I think it might be better if he doesn't find out, even when you get back to normal." Ran grinned.
He snorted, "I didn't exactly plan on telling him... murder by your father wasn't exactly what I had imagined. And I get hit on the head by him enough trying to figure out the details of the case without facing him with the information I'm doing the work" he smiled at her, "Though sometimes it can be fun. And you've helped a lot."
Ran blushed slightly. "Oh...it was no big deal...you were just rubbing off on me is all."
Shin-chan grinned, "Of course! Even trapped in the seven year old body as I am my title of Great Detective of the East stays steadfast!" Before she could say anything he added, "I'm joking. Its detective work that got me stuck here in the first place. If it meant I could've just stayed where I was- I'd give it up..."
"Don't say that," Ran said, a little sharply, "detective work is what makes you who you are, I wouldn't have it any other way."
Shinichi's cheeks turned redder, "Thank you Ran, that means a lot..." he sighed then looked around, "You realize we should probably get away from here? I don't want to risk Vermouth coming back with Gin and Vodka..." as an after thought, "Those are the men who drugged me."
Ran looked around, now aware at how many deep shadows there were nearby. "That's...that's probably a good idea," she said, standing up. "When Vermouth ran off, I think I heard sirens coming from that direction," she pointed.
Shinichi nodded, "That way then?" He suddenly broke into a grin, "Its a bit nicer being able to converse with you where to go… instead of dragging you away..." he reached for his glasses, "Guess I should put back on these if I have to face the world. Where there's sirens there's Megure, and where there's Megure there's your dad..." he sighed.
Ran smiled. "If not, I'm sure Megure had the sense to contact him after getting a call from a babbling, terrified me." She then remembered the other call that she had been told to make, "That's what the message to Agasa meant, isn't it? That the Organization is here?"
"That was who shot us" Said Shinichi sighing, "It explains why Vermouth cornered up... Ai's running from them…and if they came after me, then they'll be after her... Ran we really should-"
Ran had stopped listening to Shinichi about halfway through his explanation. She had the feeling that someone was watching them from behind. Turning around, she had caught the metallic glimpse of a gun, not aimed at her, but down lower at Shinichi.
No! I won't loose him again! Ran suddenly lunged out at him as the gun shot off. She knocked him out of the way, but pain suddenly burst in her chest, somewhere at the base of her ribs. She felt herself falling towards the ground...
Shinichi turned and yelled, "RAN? Ran!" He saw her fall to the ground and a long blond haired man just steps from her, cold eyes glittering.
He got ready to attack, but the man reached down for Ran, smiling coldly. "Now now… do you wish to have her hurt? Talk to Vermouth if you wish to see your girl again..."
Shinichi stared helplessly.
Holding her hands over her injury, Ran could dimly make out the blurred shapes of Shinichi and the gunman. As he reached down for her, Ran instinctively brought one of her arms up in a fist that she punched out at him. It made contact, but it lacked the force her attacks normally had, the most that would result from it would be a minor bruise.
"Wench" said the man slapping her, "And I wouldn't think about it Kudo… unless you want her dead by morning?" The man's eyes glittered as the helpless detective stood, eyes wide with fear.
His voice however was as cold as Gin's. "Give her back."
The man laughed and began walking backwards with the girl. "Until later, Mentaitai!" And with that he disappeared and Shinichi fell to his knees.
He stayed there, staring in the direction Gin and Ran had disappeared in, for several long minutes before he finally pulled himself together and took off running, furious with himself for being so unprepared.
Following the sirens, he fought through a crowd, panting, and yelled, "Where's Megure-keibu? Or Kogoro-keibu!"
One of the nearby police officers heard Shinichi's yelling and noticing his panicked expression, brought him straight to the nearest inspector, Kogoro.
"Great...it's the brat...you always seem to show up when trouble's around don't you," he muttered. "So where's Ran?" he asked, looking over the officer's shoulder as if to see his daughter standing there, "Megure said she was the one who called."
Shinichi's eyes were glittering…he wished he could just run off without telling the old man but this had to be done... "Kogoro-sama... Ran…Ran was taken! This man in black, he…he shot at her and then took off with her after threatening me. I had to come get you... I didnt' know what to do…" his voice was strained and he knew it. I need to call Ai… and Heiji... they need to be warned better.
Kogoro blinked a few times, obviously hoping Conan was just trying to pull a joke. The look on his face eventually convinced him otherwise. "You're not kidding are you..." He suddenly yelled at the officer nearby. "Find Megure now!" he yelled, before storming off himself to find the inspector, half yelling things along the lines of "When I find that guy" and "Eri is going to kill me."
While Kogoro was busy, Shinichi mixed into the crowd. He pulled out his cell phone, thankful that he had it, and quickly called Heiji. Frustrated that the idiot wasn't answering, he had to leave a cryptic message about alcohol. Then he decided to phone Ai before trying to figure out where Vermouth was. What surprised him was when Agasa answered and told him that before the detective did anything, he had something that might help.
Agasa must have seen Shinichi running up his front yard several minutes later, because the professor was waiting for him at the door when he reached it. "Ah, good, you got here quickly," he said as he hurried Shinichi inside as he rambled on, "Such a horrible thing to happen, this'll make things difficult...well...more difficult than they already were. Luckily Ran doesn't know Conan's true identity...other wise she could be in much more danger than she is now."
Shinichi froze, "What? What are you saying? Doc... please. Tell me." He looked up at the old man, "Where's Ai... What's going on..." Fear lit up inside of him. "Ran… Ran does know…it was a choice of telling her or Vermouth shooting her... on a whole I'd rather the first…but if something's going to happen..." his stomach dropped.
"It stands to reason that if she didn't know anything, they would only use her as a hostage to get at you, but if she knew anything, they would reason she would know what you knew and-" Agasa suddenly paused as his brain processed the entirety of what Shinichi had said. "Old age must be catching up with me...you didn't just say you told her?"
Shinichi looked away, "I didn't have a choice! That woman…she basically told Ran. Kept baiting her with clues and throwing me traps to tell her... and I either had to take the bait or watch her shoot Ran. Not much of a choice. Agasa…you have to warn Ai... they might come here"
"I will. She disappeared somewhere around the time you called, so she's somewhere around the house..." Agasa replied.
The detective sighed, "Fine then…she knows what she's doing... what help did you have for me? Agasa I have to hurry... I don't know what they might be doing with her…and… If she knows…" he shuddered, "They know she's friends with Jodie too. If it was just Vermouth... but it was Vodka who took her, and he had no morals."
"Ah yes, the help..." Agasa moved to a desk and started digging around in its drawers. "I thought I put it here somewhere..."
"What was it professor?" Shinichi was barely holding down his self control... every inch of his body wanting to tear off after Ran, "Maybe I can go without it…just grab my skateboard and..." he frowned feeling his heart give a squeeze.
Suddenly Ai appeared off to the side, cold eyes facing him. "I shouldn't give this to you, but here... I have it professor." She walked up, "This should change you back to normal for a while…I'm not certain how long but," her eyes glistened with fear, "Long enough to do what you need to... Do you understand?"
Shinichi stared, "It'll turn me back?"
Ai nodded, "It's supposed to for at least a few days...but then I'm not sure. I've had it for a few months, but its dangerous Kudo."
Shinichi shrugged, "I'll risk it..."
Ai shook her head then said, "I'm going downstairs… Be careful"
Shinichi looked at the little pill Haibara had given him. "I'll run next door and take it in my house, then go after Ran... At the moment I don't think it matter's if I'm in Kudo or Conan form…the Organization is after both of me." He sighed, "If you need me professor call my cell alright?"
Agasa nodded, "Good luck, Shinichi, and be careful."
Shinichi ran next door and quickly changed into one of his older suits. He was still in a state of shock from earlier but when he looked at the pill, it gave him hope. With his full height he might have a chance to face Vermouth and get Ran back.
He quickly swallowed the antidote and immediately felt pain over take him as he passed out. He woke up a short time later and, while he did admit to feeling somewhat weak and aching, he found himself back in his normal shape.
Clambering up he bolted out of the house and headed towards where he had last been forced to part ways with Ran.
And now for our lovely reviewers (with muchlies help from Eia))
Silv3r Magician and Silverwind-we're glad to see reviewers want more...so we have more ready
Heart of Perpetual Ice- (giggles) It did take a while but here it is XD
Southpaw-thanks for pointing that typo out.. that'll probably be one we'll need to go and fix at some point ;; Also thanks for the approval about Ran's behaviour, it makes Eialyne happy when she knows that she can channel a character well.
YumeTakato: heheheh yeah we hoped it would be Glad you enjoyed it (grins)
Fincache-really glad you love it so much
Snotty Chim-chim - hehe thanks Sorry the update took so long ;;
Yama and Ryoko: Thank you! Yeah It does seem to appear that way sometimes in the manga... As for Jodie... you'll find out later
Fiona- ((giggles)) PAMS? Heheh I uh hope that's a good thing ((sweatdrops))