Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan.

Journeys

"Don't try to hide it from me," remarked Ran, her footfalls in exact rhythm with his.

"You didn't mind school that much. I actually caught you listening to the teacher a couple of times."

"You were watching me!" he said, his mischievous grin once again festering across his lips.

Ran turned pink. "Of course not. I just…you know, noticed."

"Oh, right," agreed Shinichi as he nodded. "Since it was so easy to see me with those eyes in the back of your head and all."

"You would think that about me, you jerk," she muttered. " 'She's a pretty cool friend, if you can overlook how scary she can be sometimes.' Gee, thanks. That really made me feel appreciated. Besides, you're more likely to have eyes in the back of your head than me, considering all the snooping you do."

"Snooping! I'm making my career here!" he protested. "Besides, would you rather I admit the truth in front of everyone? Because once you tell Sonoko something, you might as well have told the world."

She thought about it a moment, and sighed resignedly, smiling. "You're right, as usual. Thanks. Just…don't get used to it."

He returned her smile and asked, "Don't get used to what?"

"Hiding the truth. You're a detective. Your job is to reveal it. Besides, even if you weren't one, you might make lying a habit. And trust me, if you keep it up, one of these days you'll regret it. If it's for a good cause, like the way you lied to me, which, I regret to admit, had a touch of sense in it, or if it was to protect privacy, or if it was because lying would be the only way to defend yourself, then it's okay. But it's nice to refrain from it…because the truth is something that makes our lives. That's your motto, isn't it? 'There is always only one truth.' Or, at least, that's how I interpret it. I know all too well that sometimes it hurts, or can harm, but the hurt or harm you receive if that lie remains what it is is so much greater eternally, because it can damage your own spirit, and maybe others around you too, if you care for them or if they care for you. Besides, sometimes the truth can heal. Our truth did. And sometimes, although rarely, the truth can be better than anything we could hope for dreams to be. At least, that's what I think." She grinned softly to herself as her own words echoed in her mind: The truth can be better than anything we could hope for dreams to be.

That's my Ran… he thought to himself. Then he remembered what she had said before, something so like this, and one of the reasons she was coming over. He would save that for later. "You know…it wasn't all a lie."

"Hm?" She turned to him. Didn't she just say the same words last night?

"Or at least, I didn't try to make it a lie. When I called you and told you it was a really big case, it was a really big case. A case that still hasn't been completely solved."

Her only reply was a slow nod and a flash of decisive eyes, but he saw more in them than if she had spoken. The case isn't completely solved, yes, and I'm going to help you solve it, even if it meant risking my life, and more importantly, yours. Whether you like it or not. Because if we don't solve it, you might as well have died. I know you, Kudo Shinichi, and I know your degree of determination. And it surprises me. It always has. You will leave nothing unsolved if you can help it, and as long as it's done by humans, you can always help it. It's in your power. It's in your will. It's in you, and you are Shinichi. And I won't ever let you die.

They walked the final block in silence, each basking in his or her own thoughts. He unlocked and opened the gate that had obstructed him into getting into his own house on his first night as Conan and closed it shut behind them, not a word exchanged between the two of them in the companionable atmosphere. He was about unlock the door when he stopped and turned to her. "Thanks a lot, Ran."

She raised her eyebrows in a wonder short of surprise and smiled. She should've known he would see her so well. And that had nothing to do with being a detective. She dropped her school things on the couch, hearing the "beep" of the answering machine. "Shinichi—"

"I know, I know." He was already at the phone. He pressed the flashing green button, and soon Inspector Megure's voice filled the room. "Kudo-kun, good morning. I know you're at school right now, but when you get this message, please come to the police station as soon as you can. We need to conduct an interrogation with the two you brought in last night, and I want to make sure everything they say matches by your source."

"I'm coming too!" Ran had crossed the room to stand beside him. "You're gonna need a bodyguard."

Shinichi sweatdropped. "Why would I need a bodyguard during an interrogation?

Even if something does come up, who's to say you're not gonna get scared? You're gonna need one more than me."

"I won't," she answered simply.

He cocked an eyebrow at her doubtfully.

"Shinichi!" she protested. "I'm just trying to do my part. To make up for…for it all."

'Besides, with you around, I know you'll be there for me if I do get scared. You've always been there for me, even as Conan.

"Ran, you don't need to make up for anything. Nothing was your fault—it was all me."

She glared at him—he found the way she pouted in that childish way adorable. He grinned, and sensing a small argument looming ever closer, resigned more than willingly. "Sure, why not. C'mon."

"Yes!" Her grin radiated a childish giddiness that amused him once again. She headed for the door after Shinichi, and stopped. "Hey, don't you think we should bring Ai along? She's bound to be helpful, since no doubt she knows a lot more about the Kurozukume than you do."

He nodded. "Yeah, as long as she's home. Let's go see."

Suddenly in a burst of impulsiveness--or rather, a burst of revenge for his months' absence--Ran stuck her foot in his way just as he was on his way out the door, laughing almost evilly as he hit the ground.

"Ran!"

"That's the first step to not provoking the karate fighter—don't provoke the karate fighter."

"You tripped me. That had nothing to do with karate!"

A little girl, aged six or seven or so—if one determined ages by outer appearance only—stuck her head through the halfway opened door and acknowledged the visitor with a nod and a "Kudo" by way of greeting.

"Hey, Haibera."

Her eyes flickered to the person at his side and widened in shock and something that resembled a little of…fear? "Ran?"

Ran grinned, unaware of the other one's reaction. "Good, you're home."

Ai nodded, slowly, and glanced at Shinichi for an explanation.

"We're going to the police station to see if Gin and Vodka'll answer a few questions. Since you know a lot more about the Kurozukume than I do, it'd be better if you came, too."

Ai's eyes widened even more, with an open mouth to match. Although her expressions generally alternated between vaguely amused to nonchalant, Shinichi's easy words would falter anyone who had the sort of background she had.

"Uh, Shinichi, I think you just forgot to mention one vaguely important thing," chided Ran. To Ai, she said, "We'll explain it on the way to there. Inspector Megure said to come as quickly as possible."

Ai immediately closed the door behind her and slipped on her shoes, forgetting temporarily all her caution to Ran as she said, "Okay, I want to hear everything."

"Then we'll try to give you everything," she answered. "And thanks, Ai—Shiiho. For the antidote." She smiled softly at the younger-seeming girl on the doorstep. "And for everything. For helping Shinichi—er, Conan out on the cases, and helping him by pretending to be Conan when I suspected what was going on—" she turned sharply to Shinichi when he cringed "Yes, wonder-boy, I know she had to have been helping you on that one. She's the only one short enough who knows what's going on—no offense, Ai."

"None taken."

Ai vaguely wondered why it was Ran who was thanking her for what she had done for Conan/Shinichi, but shrugged. She knew what it was like to have feelings for someone—she just didn't know, with the sheer conviction Ran did, if those feelings were love. She walked a little behind the others, watching the way they walked together, as if they couldn't worry about anything as long as they had each other. She sighed, a hopeless envy making up a large portion of that sigh, an envy drenched in decision and a strange sort of rebirth. She had stayed Haibera Ai not only because of the Kurozukume, although that was the only reason she gave Shinichi. There was also another one—to tell herself that what Shinichi and Ran had—it wasn't for her. That was one of her envies. Their relationship, how they knew everything about each other but still found out new things every single day. It was no mystery to her that Shinichi loved Ran, enough so that she would always come before anything in his life, and that Ran loved Shinichi, enough so that no other guy would ever stand an inkling of a chance against Shinichi's mere memory. And there were other guys.

She had stayed Haibara Ai so that she could tell herself Shinichi wasn't for her. He had surprised her, time after time again, with his actions and his determination, and soon, her wonder at him turned into a fondness. But it also was no mystery to her if Shinichi returned her feelings or not—he only regarded her as a friend, and one of his confidants back when he was still trapped within Conan's identity. There was only room for one person to fill his heart, and because of that, she had avoided, maybe even feared, that one person. It was no surprise to her why Shinichi loved Ran so much…her optimism was contagious, her faith in him everlasting, her purity empowering to anyone who dared to feel it, like one steadfast river breathing life to all it touched, lifting life and soul into Heaven. And sometimes, no one could help but feel it. Ai had no place in Shinichi's mind, nor his heart, except as a friend.

Driving all these thoughts—strangers to a mind so rooted within science and practicality—into the darkest corners of her mind, where she wouldn't be able to feel them even if she wanted to (and she was certain she didn't) she said, "So how did you manage to catch them? Both of you look intact enough." That was a harsh understatement—both of them looked like the relatively ordinary teenagers they must have been a year ago. Inwardly, she marveled at their ability to forgive, but not forget. To look beyond, but also at.

"Ran received a call the day you gave me the antidote from Gin and Vodka, and I happened to be listening in. I realized something was up, so I waited until I heard Ran leave the house at around midnight to follow her."

"The two guys—Gin and Vodka—told me to go alone to the amusement park," Ran picked up. "They were planning to kill me. I think they had heard talk that Shinichi was still alive when according to them, it was obvious he wasn't. I guess they figured out sometime that I had started the talk, saying that he would call me every two weeks or so, and that I even saw him on some accounts. That got them suspicious, and they wanted to ask me a few questions. I lied my way through it and said that I had made it all up—it was a miracle they didn't find out that other people had seen him too, when he 'came back'—wait a minute. Shinichi, how did you transform back while you were Conan, anyway?" She stopped and looked pointedly at her best friend.

"Actually, I don't really know. The first time, I was sick and Heiji gave me that Chinese liquor. And the second time, it was when Haibera came up with the counter-cure…'though it only lasted a day." He shrugged.

"After I heard how the liquor changed his body back, I isolated the chemical that had really done the job, and then made it stronger. But obviously not strong enough—the only reason the liquor took any effect at all was because his body was already weak from the fever. Even though it was made several times stronger than at its normal state, the chemical still could only last him for a day."

"I guess if that's the best answer I could get…" Ran trailed off before continuing her short narrative to Ai, "Even if they believed me, they were still gonna kill me because I knew they were connected with Shinichi's 'death'."

"Before I could do anything, Gin had already fired. Somehow she managed to dodge the first bullet and before he could fire another one, she gave him a good one in the stomach. Then Vodka went at her with the knife, and that time I managed to kick the case they brought with them to knock it out of his hand. They were planning to force-feed the APTX-4869 to her, if they had the chance."

"Luckily they didn't," Ai inserted. "I only made one batch of the antidote."

"Why?" wondered Ran.

"So I don't tempt myself."

The two turned to her, eyebrows raised in almost the same half-concerned, half-curious expression, but she shook her head and said, "Never mind, go on."

Ran still looked at her questioningly, but a hint of understanding touched her eyes and she nodded. "While we were busy with Vodka, Gin had righted himself again and grabbed the gun. They said something about reporting the whole thing and were about to bring us to their boss, or whatever, but during that time I managed to trip Gin, and Shinichi got the gun from him. When Shinichi picked up the gun again—Vodka was out of commission because I was threatening to twist his arm off—" Here, Ai raised an eyebrow and Ran laughed.

"—she had him in a death grip—" volunteered Shinichi.

"—and that's basically it," topped Ran to the awkward explanation.

Ai looked from Ran to Shinichi to Ran again and raised her eyebrows. "Either now I have a vague idea of what's going on, or I'm more confused than I was before."

Shinichi and Ran looked at each other, both with a similar half-grin on their faces.

"You're more confused that you were before," said Ran.

"Basically, we kicked Kurozukume butt," said Shinichi.

"I guess I'll have to believe that," Ai answered.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Ran ventured, "Ai…so you're really going to live your life over?"

The blonde girl nodded. "Even if my enemies stand a chance of being defeated, there's still so many memories I'd love to forget. Being Shiiho—it won't let me forget."

"But Ai…" murmured Ran softly. "Even if you have another identity now, you still have the same brain, the same memories, and that'll never change. Even if you are Ai now, you still can't forget."

Ai reluctantly pondered over this, running her tongue over her top teeth. "You're right. I won't forget. But Ai holds a better chance of a future to look forward to than Shiiho, as long as I don't let my true identity leak out to anyone. Except for those who already know."

"True, true. I never doubted your decision. After all, you've been through so much—if I was put into your shoes, I'd probably do the same thing," said Ran earnestly. "Although…do you want to forget about your family as well?"

"Them most of all. And my parents died in a car crash. They—" by "they", every one of them knew whom she was talking about "—killed my sister, Akemi, a few months ago," Ai responded flatly. "They were going to kill me, too."

"I-I'm sorry," said Ran softly, and her countenance and eyes looked it. "You loved your family, didn't you?"

Ai didn't say anything. Finally she nodded, slowly.

Ran broke into an encouraging smile. "Then you don't have to be afraid of

remembering."

"I'm not—" she cut herself off as she realized what Ran said was true. She was afraid. But…how had that girl, drenched in the beautiful innocence she, Ai, had lost a long time ago—might've never even had in the beginning anyway—known?

Ran grinned embarrassedly. "At least, that's what I think. And I'm sure they did good things."

Ai nodded slowly. After awhile, she said, without any trace of bitterness despite the context of her words, "They did do good things. That was why they died."

"Mm?" she turned to her, blue-violet eyes saying clearly that she was there to listen if the other wanted to tell her.

"They were going to betray them. But then…they found out. The Kurozukume, I mean. Then they rigged the car crash and killed 'em."

Ran nodded, not saying anything. And that was enough for Ai.

"Guys…" Shinichi said suddenly as he realized something. "If we turned up with a seven-year-old at the police station, wouldn't Inspector Megure ask? And then…when we spill out the truth, Haibara…"

Ran sucked in her breath and said quickly, "He doesn't have to know. If Ai doesn't come, he would never ask, and no one would be the wiser. Ai, you may know a lot more about the Kurozukume than Shinichi, but we can—"

"No," Ai cut in sharply with a firm shake of her head. She heaved a sigh and muttered, "You're right…Ran. The past is going to haunt me, whether I'm Shiiho or Ai. I need to pay for the crime I've done. Helping you catch the bad guys doesn't mean I don't have to face the consequences, just like anybody else."

"You're sure?" asked Ran.

Ai nodded. Besides, there are other people who deserve to know the truth, too.

Shinichi cut in, "Well, it's too late for you to change your mind anyway, Haibera. He's spotted us."

True enough, they had reached the station earlier than they had thought, and the orange-clad inspector was hurrying their way.

"Kudo, what took you so long?"

"We had to bring Haibara," he answered, grinning at the inspector's bewildered expression. "Let's go inside, Inspector. This is going to take awhile."