After that, Conan stayed at Gata's house almost every day. He often thought, "Is my bait not attractive enough to their liking? No, I shouldn't be doing this. What if Gin kills Gata? Gata is just part of my plan, he cannot die…"

2 weeks before Ran left, this happened. Gata was asleep at that time when two suspicious looking men in black were loitering near his house. Conan's first thought was "Gin".

Conan immediately sprung up from his sit and sprinted gingerly towards the deserted stretch of road. As he approached them, he recognized their faces. His guess was correct.

Conan's heart pumped with the rhythm of the engine as fear overshot his excitement.

Gin lighted up a cigarette and said unhappily, "I don't understand why Boss instructed us to kill that stupid fellow."

"Big Brother, we have no choice but to follow his instructions. Anyway, one more dead is better than one more alive, right?" Vodka assured as he took the lighter from Gin.

"That's true."

Then, with Gin leading the way, they set off. Conan followed behind as he took the voice-changer from his pocket.

"Who are you looking for?" Conan asked in Gata's voice.

"Gata?" Gin questioned doubtfully as he turned his head around.

"Are you looking for me?"

"Since you're here, I shan't deny that."

"Are you one of my supporters out there?"

"Yes, I am one of those people who love your slogan of peace and now, I have a present for you."

"What's it?" Conan asked confidently as he tried to hide his fear.

"Well, it is this!" Gin bellowed as he dashed towards the huge pillar that Conan was hiding behind. When he was about to pull the trigger, he saw Conan. Astonished, his gun fell to the marbled floor.

"Boy, what are you doing?" Gin questioned as he bended his body to pick up his beloved gun.

"Uncle, I am just testing this new device. Oh yes, who were you actually looking for? Ah, is that a real gun?" Conan said in a lilt voice as he pointed at the gun with his index finger.

"Boy, this is not a place for you to play. You should be at home sleeping at this hour."

"Uncle, can I touch that…gun?"

"I warn you not to make me angry or else…"

"What is it, uncle? Are you going to shoot me with that gun?"

"Are you challenging me?" Gin said threateningly as he clenched his right fist. He pointed the gun straight at Conan's face. "Do not force me to pull this trigger!" Gin shouted as he stomped off with Vodka following closely behind him.

"Excuse me, sir. May I have a look at that weapon?" a security guard asked sternly yet politely.

Bang! The security guard fell onto the ground lifelessly with blood flowing out from his head. Conan ran hurriedly towards Gin, trying to halt him.

"Uncle, please stop. Do you know the device that I was testing out just now?"

"No idea," Gin replied without much thought.

"Are you interested to know what it is?"

"No."

"I will tell you then. It is a newly invented tiny video camera that is smaller than a child's palm."

Gin's eyes widened. He asked, "You didn't take down what happened just now, did you?"

"I did."

"Idiot, you are digging your own grave," Gin remarked as he took out his gun again.

"Uncle, wait. Do you know where the camera is now?"

"With you, of course."

"You're wrong. I had already sent that video to one of my friends who will pass it to the police if anything bad happens to me. Stop this lame game right now, Gin!"

"You're no ordinary kid. Who are you?"

"You should remember my name, right?"

"Eh?"

"Oh, maybe you'd forgotten it because you had harmed too many people. I shall help you to remember it. Do you remember a high school boy whom you almost killed a few years ago?"

"High school boy? Don't tell me you're referring to Kudo Shinichi?"

"Precisely."

"Ha ha, what happened to you? Now, right in front of me is a curious, annoying young boy."

"Do you remember feeding me with that drug of yours? Now, I want to use that video in exchange for the antidote!"

"What if there is no antidote?"

"I…" I can't say that it was Haibara who told me that. He will harm her. Conan thought.

"It just happened that there was no antidote for this."

"If that is the case, I will hand the video tape to the police."

"Ok, I lost. Kudo Shinichi, follow me."

Gin leaded the way to his black Porsche and cruised off to the place that had the antidote. Conan smiled to himself and thought, "I won. Ran, wait for me. I will not let you go."

Finally, they reached the destination. It was a dilapidated white building located in a deserted countryside. Gin ordered Conan to stay in the car while he fetched the antidote.

About fifteen minutes later, Gin came back with a bottle in his hand. "Here, this is the antidote," he said in an unpleased tone.

"Thanks."

"You must delete that video or else I will kill you."

"I know it. See this." Conan showed Gin the video of his killing and then clicked on the delete button.

"Kudo Shinichi, I really admire you for using this trick without any fear of death."

Conan was not listening. He had wandered off in his own thoughts.

Next morning, there was a knock on the door in Ran's house. Ran opened the door and saw a rose on the floor with a note attached to it. It read as followed: Ran, sorry, I was not here when you were laughing, crying or shouting. Believe me, it was not my fault that I was away. I begged you to forgive me and forget about the Osaka University. I know I have no right to stop you but I can't prevent myself from doing so because I love you too much. Sign off, Kudo Shinichi.

Ran smiled to herself. "Shinichi, are you here? Shinichi?"

"Ran," Shinichi called out from the corridor. Ran then dropped the card and ran towards him. Shinichi placed his hands around her shoulders and hugged her. "Sorry for making you wait for me," he whispered into her ears.

"I am not going anywhere, Shinichi. I am not leaving…without you," Ran murmured as she cried.

After persuading Ran to stay, Shinichi went to Professor Agasa's house and look for Haibara. Professor Agasa was bemused to see him and congratulated him for his success in getting back into his original form. Delighted, he strolled towards Haibara's room. He then narrated the whole process to Haibara and apologised for his failure to get an antidote for her.

"Never mind, Kudo", she said in a tone filled with hope, "I prefer to stay as it is now. You can get back what you have lost but I cannot get back the only sister whom I lost."

"I will visit you as often as I could," Shinichi reassured her.

Late in the evening, Shinichi went to the graveyard himself. Carrying a bunch of flowers, he headed for the grave next to a huge tree. He placed the flowers down and bowed. There was no sign of dust or weeds on the marbled grave. Shinichi whispered, "Thank you very much, Kimura Ishi."

A day before Gin arrived; Kimura asked Conan, "What can I do for you, boy? There is not much time left."

"I don't know."

"Why not like this: when Gin arrived, you will confront him and bait him to take out the gun. Taking out or not taking out is not important. Anyway, after that, I will act as a security guard and order him to take out the gun."

"No, he will kill you!"

"I don't mind."

"But I do-"

"Anyway, if you hand me over to the police, I will be hanged for murder as well, right? I know you are a good boy and I want Ran to have absolute happiness. Do you understand? This is the only way."

"I can't do that."

"You have to. Can you think of any other plans?"

Conan shook his head.

……….

THE END

I hope you will like the story ending and please R & R. Thank you for reading.