Chapter 2

"Hattori, I need your help."

"Kudo? Long time, no speak! How can I assist the Great Eastern Detective?"

"I'm concerned about Ran."

"Why? Is she missing?"

"Don't jinx me, Hattori. That's the last thing I need right now."

"So, it's just guilt eating at you then?"

"I just want her to know I'm okay. Please?"

"That's a long trip for me to make, Kudo. You owe me big time."

"Oh just get over here."

Ran pulled the scarf tighter around her neck and hunched down against the cold. She wore the matching red gloves she had recieved from Shinichi nearly a year ago, and clutched a small jacket against her body, looking up the empty, dark street.

"For pity's sake, I told him to take his jacket with him!" she mumbled into her scarf and slitted her eyes against a sudden gust of icy cold wind. At the end of the street, Dr. Agasa's house sat quietly, warm light pouring out from the windows and welcoming any passerbyers. Although, no one would be crazy enough to be walking out here at night. Except her, of course. Ran paused at the locked iron gates leading to a large, two story house just beside Agasa's. It was dark and blanketed in snow, no trace of a path being broken into the freshly fallen whiteness. She hadn't expected any sign of the house's occupant, but, she had to check...

The lights of the first floor suddenly blazed to life, and Ran saw a figure come out of the house. They shut the open door behind them and the walkway was plunged into darkness once more. Go figure, the streetlamp was out. She squinted her eyes at the figure, trying to see who it was--maybe a burglar? If that was the case, she had to protect this place. It was the only thing she had of--

"Ran!"

--Shinichi. Ran blinked stupidly as the figure cut through the snow that was nearly up to his knees and fiddled with the gate's lock. With a click, she saw him push it open, slip out onto the sidewalk, and close it once more. She watched his motions in stunned silence. He turned to her and blue eyes sparkled out from behind dark bangs.

"Loss of words?" he chided playfully.

"Shi...nichi...?" she choked back a gasp.

"Of course," he grinned at her. "You didn't think I'd be gone forever, did you?" Ran's eyes widened and she took a step forward, reaching out to touch his sleeve. Her fingers brushed against leather. "I'm real, I promise."

"Where... Where have you been?" she demanded and he laughed.

"Same as always," he shook his head. "I told you, that case I'm working on is really difficult, Ran. In fact, I came here to get some things I needed from my house."

Her eyes fell to the snow-covered pathway: "So, you're leaving again?"

"Not for much longer," he promised. "I have a good feeling about this. I might even wrap this up as early as next week." A hand came to her chin and tilted her eyes up to his. "Have you been worried about me, Ran?"

"I..." she whimpered.

"Ah, enough about me. I don't have much longer to spare," he made a face. "How about you? What have you been up to?"

"Um, nothing..." she blinked.

"I heard you were in a modeling contract. Is that true?"

"It's nothing major..."

"I bet you kill them out there," he winked at her. "I can just imagine you sauntering down that runway."

"You watch your mouth, Shinichi Kudo!" her temper flared as much as her cheeks did.

"There's the Ran I know!" he laughed and touched her arm softly. "I get worried when you're like that. Frowning will ruin your pretty face."

She blushed harder: "Shinichi..."

"Oh, here," he said suddenly and handed her a small package. "I was actually going to visit you at home and give this to you, but, I've gotta get going."

"What is it?" she took it in her gloved hands.

"A belated birthday gift," he smiled. "I didn't forget, I was just busy. Sorry I could only call you so far. But, I'm working as hard as I can on this thing. I promise you, I'll come home as soon as I close the case."

"You promise?" she held the package tighter to her chest.

"Yeah," he grinned. "I'll see you soon, Ran."

She watched him turn and walk up the street. He passed under a working streetlamp, but was already pulling his snow hood up against the cold. He turned at the other end of the block--she could just barely make him out--and lifted a hand. He returned the wave and disappeared. Suddenly, the coldness of the night seemed to slip into her jacket and her scarf and she shivered hard, turning on her heel and rushing to Dr. Agasa's. She banged on the door (a little harder than she intended) and heard voices from inside.

"That must be Ran with my jacket."

"Now why would you make that poor girl walk all this way in the cold? She could get sick!"

"Then stop scolding me and let her in!"

"Oh!" The door opened, and the portly, pleasant-faced scientist nearly pulled her inside. "My dear, I'm so sorry you had to come all the way out here for this little brat." He closed the door.

"Why you--!" Conan growled, then looked up at the un-responsive woman. "Ran? Are you okay?"

"Ah..." she shook her head and smiled down at him, handing him his jacket. "I'm fine, Conan. Here you are. Put this on so we can go home."

He took it and slipped one arm into the sleeve. "What's that?" he motioned with his head to the small box in her hands.

"It's--!" she blushed hard.

"Did you see Shinichi, then?" Dr. Agasa smiled at her and she looked at him. "Yes, he dropped by the house for a moment."

"Did Shinichi give that to you?" Conan smirked.

"Y-yeah," she nodded, a blush rising on her cheeks. Thankfully, her entire face was reddened from the cold.

"Let's see it!" he jumped up excitedly.

"Okay," she bit her lip and fiddled with the tightly-wrapped box. After pulling off a few layers of plain light blue wrapping paper, she wound up with a small white box. Her fingers trembling slightly, she pulled off the top and nearly shrieked. A sharp breath was all she could get out.

"Let me see! Let me see!" Conan jumped up and down. She knelt beside him and offered him the box. He tilted it down to his eye level and smiled at her. "Wow, he must really like you, Ran! Diamond earrings!" They were indeed diamonds, small and finely cut, set in a pair of tiny golden hoops. She was afraid to touch them, they looked so delicate. Conan did it for her. He pulled them out of the box and reached up, removing the small silver studs she wore and inserting the gold ones in their place. As he snapped the first shut, he pressed the diamond further back in place, listening for the click. When he heard it, he nodded to himself and ran to the other side to put on the other earring. Activating this one as well, he stepped back and put the silver earrings in the box, closing it and looking up at her. "They look so pretty on you!"

"He's right, my dear," Dr. Agasa beamed at her. "They suit you perfectly!"

Ran gently touched the diamonds at her ears and let her lips curve into a soft, slight smile.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Heiji Hattori rounded another corner and peered out to the street. Ran and "Conan" were walking back up to the girl's apartment hand in hand. She was wearing the earrings. The kid must have put them on her right away, he grinned to himself. Then, he blinked and narrowed his eyes, looking farther up the street, to the alley they had just passed. Someone was there, he was sure of it. And they had been watching the two walk up the street. Heiji stepped out from his hiding place and slowly began to tail Ran and Shinichi, making sure he was in plain sight, but too far back to be recognized at a glance. He kept his eyes on the pair in front of him, careful to keep glancing back into the alleyways they passed. He didn't like the feel of that person hiding back there. It was almost like Ran and Shinichi were being targeted...but with a famous detective like Kogorou (Shinichi, he corrected himself), Ran herself could be a target from friends or family of apprehended criminals her father inavertedly put away. He knew Shinichi knew that, and that was probably why the radio transmitter earrings were given to her. Safety. I still don't like the feeling I'm getting. Heiji relaxed only when Ran and the boy were safely in the apartment.