Fixing errors, lots of them.
The biggest one is still the plot
might as well throw that out the window since all honestly i want is
.
Ḧ̶̠̟̙́͑̊̑͋͆̕i̶̡̩̰̩̬̺͉̰̫͖̞̽̇ş̴̞͚̞̫̰̰͓͒̍̉̑̇͋͜ ̸̡̛̼̪̬̝̟̬̄̏͒͛̃͝p̸̳͖̪̺͖͇̪̞̰̣͋́̋͊͌͊̉̉̒̍̕͝ͅͅa̸̦̕i̸̧͓̜͗́́̊̒̈n̸̬͎̝͉̱̺͔͚̺̰̼̣̳̭̑͐̑̂̈̓̒̌̋̕͜ ̸̡̧̫̠̻͓̜͔̙̾͋͆̊̑̽̐̐̐̚͝͝ą̴̡̛̭̽͒̈́̂̽͂̀̀̎̔̌̈͝n̷͔̯̐͗̇͒d̵͈͎̅͆͆̀͗̈́̃́͑̀̄̌́̕͝ ̸̨̡̧̯̰͇͖̦̖̝̪͈͙͉̉͂̚͜s̶̨̝̆̌u̵̯̮̙̮̬̰̐̃́̐͂̉f̵̧̛̑͑̂̃͂̐̚f̷̢̹̱̟̼̰̦̱́̇̾͌̉̋̍͜é̴̮̯͓̼̩̓̽͛͒̎̐̈́̍̕̚r̴̡̢̢̢̡̧̦͎͓̪͔̳̲͍̈́̄̔į̴̀͂̅̄̓̅̇͐̑̈́͆̃̑͊̈͜n̷͔͉̦͇͖̟̬̗̹̟͉͓͚͉̿̀̒̑̀́́͆g̵͎̹̟̰̗̭̠̔̓̔͠ ̶̻̱͎̘̯͇͋̿́̈́͜͝
.
"Shinichi, i'm so glad you came back! We have to catch up, if you won't have any more cases, that is. I found some great restaurants with Kazucha-chan, and she was sure you would like to go there with me! There is also a very nice place to play soccer at, so we can invite some people and...and...!"
"Ran, Ran, slow down! We just solved a murder, give me a break!" He laughed, also happy to see his old friend. Now that he was back, there was no reason to stop himself, no reason to hide and run away. No reason to hold his feelings in secret, no reason to stop healing his relationship with Ran (although there was plenty of reasons why he should also still hide and be careful), and yet... every time he thought about being himself again, he couldn't help but see Hattori, handing him the vial with the antitoxin, his shaking hands treating it like the most precious thing. He couldn't stop this thought, the simple truth that it's all because of that, and that he himself didn't do enough. A few months ago he wouldn't have believed that he can be free, that his best friend would do such a kind act towards him... just like he wouldn't believe just how stubborn and hurt Hattori really was all this time. He couldn't really explain it well with words but there was this thought lingering in his head for some time.
He felt as if his friend was strong, but more fragile than he thought.
Even if this all will be over when they bring the BO down, forever, it won't change the fact that it's thanks to his friend... that he was something worth saving enough to risk life of others, himself included.
Ran obviously noticed his unfocused state, as the edges of her smile grew strained as well as eyes going calmer. She knew him for a long time, and he knew her, too. She started, letting go of his torso and holding his hand instead: "Let's start off slow. Something simple, like a visit to the caffe close by. I never was in this part of town, so let's try this out with a few of my... our friends? I need to get you caught up, since i don't know when i will get another chance, knowing you." She winked, then smiled gently and warmly. "Let's go, you already wrapped this up, right?"
Shinichi wondered for a second. - I deserve a break, what's gonna happen if i go relax?
"Yeah, of course i did. Let me just part with my companions and then i'm out."
"Great. And, Kudo?"
"Hm?"
"Welcome back."
The edge of the forest, sunset
The day was calm and nice. The trees were rustling from time to time, but the clouds provided the perfect darkness for a walk. Not even birds were going above the loudness that was no longer pleasant, as did the squirrels and people around the caffe. That's enough reason to enjoy this time to it's fullest, to laugh along people you know and want to talk with, and here Kudo was, missing something... someone all this evening. The depressing sight of Kazuha in front of him also didn't help, as pressure of the professor and Ai's fear of being followed by the BO. The clueless people were the only ones happy really, making Shinichi miserable by not being able to join. He thought he wanted this, that he can relax, but nope. Destiny didn't plan things to go that way with his socially awkward head functioning at half the capacity it normally does. He thought he was ready, dammit.
He understood fully that it may take time for him to get used to this after such a long pause, but he lived with Ran for so long it didn't pose a question that he would be less reserved than this. They even talked briefly about Conan for god's sake! Still stressed and tired afterwards!
What was happening? Is this ominous feeling not gonna let up as long as he is out in the open for the organization to get before he gets them? Is that it? It felt just like before all this started, before a crying girl visited his home, a feeling...
Ran looked happy, though. She has been trying to cheer up Kazuha-chan for some time after the talk became less involving, holding her shoulders, leaning on her and talking about nice things. From what Shinichi's mind is imagining right now, everybody needs a Ran from time to time. He would love some cheering right about now - yet he can only count on himself...
Ai touched his shoulder, providing unexpected reassurance. "Stop that, Shinichi. Just relax, it's alright, we will get back on track in no time. See how Ran is looking at you? Look happy, at least for her happiness." Ai and Ran weren't close, but both girls didn't have anything against each other. Kudo knew what the former OB doctor was more saying it for him, also all being true.
Especially as in that exact moment Ran decided to lean on him just like she did on Kazuha, the latter joining her on his other shoulder, smiling and talking and acting as if nothing was on her mind. Unknown to him, she probably was tense in case she does something wrong to cause Shinichi to disappear again, which wouldn't be so nice. "... You... are going to stay in Tokyo, aren't you?" The fated question elevated the interest of others to a 100, the tension cracking in the air. She knew. He knew. Everybody knew, and everybody waited.
"I..."
"Shinichi."
"As soon as i can, i will stay for good. I promise."
The smile he got back was brighter than anything he saw in his life. This... now, he can do this.
Woods, evening, the roof of an abandoned factory
"I cannot believe this guy!" Kaito switched his clothes, struggling to put on his new mask as he failed to notice his monocle was still on his real face. "The final clue in the house, the venom used to kill the victim having hand-made substance from this region, and he goes for a coffee? Hanging out? What happened to being the ever-persistent-little-shi-" And he finally put his mask on. How convenient
It even made a slight 'pop' as it slid on his face!
"He probably didn't even read the report, too occupied with his ex-girlfriend dancing around him and his partner going back to precinct to set the case files straight..." Murmuring to himself, cloaked by the darkness of the night, the thief slid down his rope onto the first floor, cautious as ever to not bump into any Black Organization members. This was a way too big base for some incompetent people, that's for sure. He was more and more going with the theory that the organization slipped up instead of it all being a big scheme, despite not being completely sure yet.
He got this job in his pocket, no prob. Even if this is a bit different than his usual stunts...
"At least i knew the best time to act. It's almost a sixth sense now, with all these robberies and preparations. As long as there is a plan, a time, some laughs to chill, i am the master at the perfect timing!" He quieted down now, his shoes making a soft 'thump' on the metal bridge above some side factory making line. It was a big base indeed, he wouldn't have thought that under such calm sky, in such a building, at such time, there was people working on the darkest crimes at peace in their sweet control room.
His stress slightly arose only when Kaito suddenly realized...-
-That through the opened door to the room in front of him he could see black cloaked bodies on the floor, one very persistent hatted detective stealing all documents he could find from the biggest computer in the place.
He didn't have much time to react really. One second you see your most recent ally, the second second you hear a gun clink behind you, and as the shot rings, so does the third second. Everything froze for a moment, the silence swallowing his head and thoughts just enough that he didn't hear himself slide down the closed door, the obvious red stain following. He saw the Osakan turn around, his mouth set in a gasp, his figure running towards Kaito at surprising speed.
He snapped back to attention as Hattori shook him by the shoulders, simultaneously dragging him towards a wall instead of thin door that more bullets could pass through. He looked panicked, but Kaito couldn't help but not care as his side was hurting bad enough he wanted to puke his innards out.
"You...What are you doing here?!" Heiji prepared a gun by his side, peeking through the door carefully and attempting to shoot Kid's attacker. "Know wha'? Don't answer. I'm getting you out of here first-"
-And the tranquilizer dart hit the black cloaked member. Heiji looked back at Kid's bleeding form, the latter holding his abdomen with his left hand, his disguise black cloak seemingly only wet, and yet the case was much more serious. Man. He hesitated to leave his injured friend, but left before he felt too guilty.
Dragging the unconscious Organization Black member into the room, he looked around and heard if anymore people will be coming to them. Thankfully, the abandoned factory didn't make sound travel too well, so Heiji stayed on guard only half as attentive as he was sure there was more people in the base. 'Yo' never know.'
He ran back towards Kaito, taking in his condition. It wasn't looking good... but not so bad either. He dealt with worse, hence his certainty Kaito would pull through. He knew the pain however wouldn't let up for a good chunk of time, so he tried his best to not touch until the right moment arises.
"Oi, can yo' hear me?" The boy had his eyes squeezed in a pained grimace, so obviously Hattori was worried he may pass out on him. How did he even get here? He must have figured it out, just like i did... - a thought hit him. Did this thief read his reports? The classified ones? What a find.
"Yeah...Would be e-easier to-ghh-!" No loud talking today, who was he kidding.
"It's better if you don't speak, save yo' energy." He grimaced just looking at the stain, trying his best to hide his growing concern. Maybe a bit of fear.
The tiny bit that's actually a LOT.
"God, i hope it didn't get through anything important... Damn it." Heiji's guilt overwhelmed him, his hold on the thief's side slightly getting shakier. He swallowed back his words though as Kaito looked at him with determination, slowly straightening.
"W-What were you even doing here?" Kaito was halted in his attempt to stand up by Heiji putting him down on the ground, his jacket mysteriously already folded under his head for comfort. His rescuer's sleeve was ripped off too, already painfully wrapped around Kid's side, not even a minute after he blinked. His vision was getting a bit blurry from the pain, but he was sure he didn't pass out even once yet... right?
"Whtat'cha mean? Ah, whatever, maybe yo' need a good distraction - as do i, hones-nevermind! "
nice.
save.
- " The situation is delicate. I have no idea how you got it, but it was obvious by the source of the substance the woman was poisoned with, created around here. It wa' similar to my own venom, and this base n' hideout may have some info on another ones, so i- i came here for info, for a search. Hey! Stay conscious, Ahou! We can't stay too long, these guys gotta think they weren't found yet. "
"So...you called the police i presume?"
"'Course i did. Sent them the locations of few other places too, but they gotta catch them all at once, at most 3 days needed for tha', else they will slip through or just commit suicide one by one. The big fish hunt has to be sneaky, i suppose." Shifting Kaito's position, Heiji tried his best to ignore the thief's pained groans and tears. He couldn't stop himself from squeaking a low "sorry, i'm so sorry!" every now and then no matter how hard he tried.
"Just hold on until then, i will get you immediate help as soon as i can. Also can't have you die before tha', so please just..."
"Nah. I survived worse as well."
" ? "
"Oh don't make such a face, you could say the same! No worries."
"If ya' say so... I just don't like, well, seeing my friends like this... I'm trying not to think about it, yet it is kinda hard with all that blood...gonna haunt me for weeks..."
"Just...try."
...
"When they get here...who will you introduce yo'self as?"
"Kuroba. I was here on a...walk?"
"Funny, Kid. Very."
They stayed in the room, the computers Hattori was pulling info from buzzing and humming in the silent night. All the people Hattori found while clearing this area were on the ground with darts at their throats, the boy probably calculating that he cannot risk alarming people too early. Kaito noted with surprise that his bleeding was letting up, which meant the tight makeshift bandage was working and his pain caused enough shock he thought it worse beforehand. The thief himself was feeling up to sitting against a wall now, Hattori helping as much as he could, his face stern and focused as he did so. Kid would laugh if he was capable to, the face of the teenager way too serious to mach any of Kudo's stories at the moment. That reminded him that this one jig must have taken the inexperienced police-boy a lot of courage to pull, so he started throwing wits out of boredom.
"Man, you did well for your first break in. Kudo will be surprised! So many guys out like light, nobody hurt 'n all." To relax the atmosphere (and to get Hattori from clutching the gun tight in his hand from all this tension and stress) Kaito petted the dark-skinned boy on the shoulder briefly. As the male looked at him in confusion, he continued, slowly - in case it would make his wound worse. "I can kind of s-see why he treasures you as a friend. You are the golden hearted-sacrificing type. Such a good helper, hard to come by, lucky bastard even found a detective that is useful at the same time! Though... " Heiji just continuously stared, kind of confused in all this mess but listening nevertheless - which Kaito picked up on.
"The way he describes you in his stories is... kind of not what i expected. Heh." Kid let the silence fall, again making Hattori uneasy about his consciousness. Shaking his head, he nodded, not really into the gossip and more into the state of the other. Surprisingly, he relaxed a bit at the sudden appreciation.
-and then...
"What did you mean by 'info' and 'your own venom' by the way? Just wondering."
-The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
Oh. Oh no- Did... Did he spill while he was panic talking to keep this guy awake? Crap-crapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap-
"By the reaction i guess you have something more important going on, am i wrong?"
Fudgeee
"You really are one of a kind, you know?"
"Well, yes, i think it would be beneficial to all of us honestly. I would not risk the greater good for you, after all."
"The only thing now is fuel. We got almost all of them, the fbi's documents burning along their holders. It's just these two left."
"It's always better to be cautious, so just in case, we will send the last good squad to other locations."
"...That may be too much, split them in half."
"Alright then."
Park Soccer field, sunset
"Op, i... wait a second with that! You know i can't catch that ball if you use your fighting skills to kick it so hard! You want to kill me, Ran?!" Kudo just nearly dodged a deadly projectile of an incoming soccer ball, Ai and professor actually tensing just by watching. This guy...has the weirdest choice in friends ever.
He at least is a bit more relaxed now about sudden death by BO, which was better.
"Oh, seems like your skills have fallen, great detective Kudou-kun! You wouldn't win against me even if your life depended on it!"
"Oh come on, it's just late. If it was by the day, i would totally-" Shinichi tried to come up with excuses, deemed to fail less than a millisecond later.
His self-motivating speech stopped as a very normal paced ball got through him anyway, landing right in the middle of the goal.
"Yeah. You will have to train some more with me, it seems." Ran was just swimming in opportunities tonight. The nice go-out to the cafeteria, ice cream, soccer game in the evening... she really didn't want this all to end!
Kazuha-chan was right! If she just went for it, maybe it can keep him here for longer, once more. Even her other friends cheered for her as they all parted, some even thanking her for bringing Kudo back. And just as she was about to set up another meeting and invite him over...
More than five police-cars, some big and cargo intended and some just simply loud, blared their sirens loud as hell passing by.
"-What's all the commotion?" Ran turned to Shinichi, her childhood friend looking after the cars as well as her, his brows only a little more furrowed in concern than confusion than her.
"I...I don't know-"
He toned out the sirens, his attention turning to quiet whispering of Ai and Agasa behind him.
"Professor, i think this is earlier than planned. You think he-" Ai talked just a tad too loud in this moment.
"Ai? Professor? You two know something i don't?" Shinichi walked towards the two, obviously judging the way they were staring at each other. He was almost sure his predictions were right.
"..."
"..."
"..."
the three way silence. Ran's least favorite kind.
"-Ekhem. May i ask what..."
"...I think Hattori broke into the black base."
"He WHAT?"
What. a. disaster.
He really should have closed his mouth, especially since he says nonsense when he's stressed. And now the damn feather bomb of a man knows almost everything. He doesn't need yet another person to worry! First Kudo finds him all passed out, then Haibara figures stuff out, then his dad- his dad for god's sake!- and then this guy that he barely knows and should be arresting right about now.
Well, when he gets out of the surgery, he could, that is.
Not even an hour before he thought he had this under control. Well, doesn't look like it now.
He can already hear Shinichi coming down the hallway, his fast pace indicating how much he ruined his free time.
Well, yes, he knows the blue-eyed wanted to spend some time with his friends today. Other best friends, than him, that is...
So he tried to leave him out again, even though it felt a bit wrong...
Welp.
What a way-too-fast way to continue the plot! I'm just crap at fillers! and a sucker for this scene that gotta be happenin' there soon
I HATE IT WITH PASSION! SEND ADVICE! CURE THIS THING!
or whatever, - cheer e s zz
Gotta correct this later too mannn