Authors Notes:
Surprise! I decided to post a New Year's Chapter!
So here's my first attempt at a flashback… I tried to make it as seamless as possible… it happened sooner than I thought it would…

Warnings: Foul language… blood and violence. Animal mutilation… and murder… you know how it goes.

The Lycanthropy of a Shrunken Detective

Chapter Three

After the attack…

The first thing Conan noticed when he came to was the noise. The consistent sound of air conditioning dancing under the rhythmically incessant beeping noises that sounded nearby and far off. Muffled voices were everywhere and the sound of rushing wheel's and feet rose and fell with varying levels of urgency. He heard breathing soft but noisy in his ear fighting against the sound of his own slow breaths. His head hurt, his chest felt heavy, and his limbs were numb.

Forcing his eye's open he blinked back the painfully bright white light that invaded his retinas. "Conan?"

He flinched at the volume of the voice next to him his eyes finally adjusting enough for him to make out the blurred form of his best friend. "Ran…?" He knew he was whispering but even his own voice pounded into his head. Closing his eyes for a second he took a steadying breath.

"You're in the hospital." Ran whispered loudly.

He went to rub his temple with his hand only to find his arm trapped in a hard cast, unable to bend it or straighten it. A dull sharp pain registered with the movement. He groaned using his other hand instead. "What… happened?"

"From what Shinichi said you were attacked by a wild bear."

Ice filled his vain's at the name. "Shini…chi?" His brain was kicking into high gear trying to remember what the hell happened.

"Yeah, he said he ran into you trying to catch Kaitou Kid. Don't you remember? He wanted to stay and see you when you woke but you know him, the moment he heard you were stable, he had to go back to his case."

Images flashed through his head from the night of the heist. Kudo- Kaitou Kid dressed as Kudo- kissing Ran's hand right before he revealed himself. "Kid…" Conan felt white hot anger shoot through him. The bastard kept using his face!

The look of anger he couldn't quite hold back had Ran concerned. "Are you feeling okay? The doctor's said your arm was broken, torn, and fractured… I guess you're pretty lucky to still have it… though it might not ever work properly again." The last part was said so softly that it actually felt like a whisper to Conan. He cringed as she asked suddenly. "Are you in pain? Should I call a nurse?"

"Ah!" Conan shook his head frowning. "No- I just have a headache… probably from the morphine…"

There was a sharp intake of breath and Conan looked to see a perplexed look on Ran's face. He stared stupidly at her for a breath and a half before he realized that no seven-year-old would say something like that. "Ah- ta- ta!" He stumbled to fix his flub. Laughing slightly. "That's what that one character from tv said after waking up in a hospital!"

A frown fell on Ran's face as she studied him but she seemed to shrug it off quickly enough. "You're not in pain though?"

Conan shook his head sitting up. "No. I'm good." He forced a smile.

"Okay…" Ran said her eyes shifting from the call button to the door. "I think I should still let them know you're awake…"

Conan nodded still smiling. "Maybe some water too?"

"Right. I'll get you something to drink and grab a nurse." Ran stood and as she left the room Conan felt his face fall immediately.

Anger directed at himself rolled in his gut. It wasn't like he was hiding in plain sight for no reason. Ran was the one person who couldn't know he was really the shrunken Kudo Shinichi. If she found out she'd want to help- she'd get into danger… she'd hate him… whatever the cost, he just couldn't bear the thought of losing her. Conan found himself fighting back angry, confused tears.

It hadn't hurt this bad to lie to Ran since he left her at that fancy restaurant after he failed to confess. Not that it didn't alway's hurt… it just became a dull ache. It didn't feel that way at the moment. It was sharp, deep and jagged and he hated it.

Everything he hated about himself seemed to be rolling to the forefront of his mind all of a sudden. How stupid it was to leave Ran behind to chase after that stranger in black at Tropical Land. How dumb it was to have forgotten the man had a partner. Being forced to take a drug that was supposed to kill him but shrunk him instead. Fearing every day that it might be discovered that Kudo didn't actually die. That Shinichi was, in fact, running around as the seven-year-old Edogawa Conan. Shame that his arrogance nearly got him killed. Anger that his current shrunken state left him virtually helpless.

He glared down at the cast around his arm. Now he had Ran worried because he'd let his guard down- because no one gets hurt at Kid's heist. He was lucky it wasn't a member of the organization and just a strange wild animal… Conan shivered at the memory of the beast's golden eyes.

He found himself looking around wearily as if he'd see the creature lurking in the corner. Only to jump when the door opened. "Oh, you're awake!"

A nurse with long dark hair smiled sweetly at him as she pushed in a lunch cart. Her voice was soft and melodic."I was just bringing you your lunch. I'm so glad you've woken up."

"Thank you." Conan said but felt the hair on his arm's raise as the nurse came closer. He felt a rumble in his throat as his eyes narrowed. "Who-" Somehow he knew right away who it was. "Kid!?"

The nurse had stopped at the growling noise Conan didn't realize he was making, their face going blank. "I'm just checking on my favorite little detective." The thief's unaltered voice said with the young nurses look. "An acquaintance of mine told me… after hearing about what happened, that I should check on you."

"Acquaintance?" Conan deadpanned.

"Not important. I was just wondering… do you feel any different?" Kid asked switching back to the nurse voice.

Conan gave the thief an uninterested look. "No."

"Not even a little? Like touchy or-

"NO!" Conan growled. "What is this about?"

Kid hesitated. "My… contact… has informed me that we may have encountered something a little… strange."

Conan snorted. "Of course. Wolves in Japan went extinct century's ago. To run into one in the wild would suggest that one escaped from a zoo or smugglers…"

"If only…" Kaitou Kid mumbled looking at her watch. "What do you know of werewolves?"

Conan glared at the disguised criminal. "They're fictional creatures."

"Hum…" Kid gave Conan a weak smile. "Well, maybe not so much?"

After a staring contest that began to feel a touch uncomfortable Conan laughed. "Very funny! I knew you were a trickster but to pull something like this!"

"Hey…" Kid said slowly.

"Don't you have better things to do than mess with me?" Conan asked feeling the anger in him grow. "I'm not in the best of mood's right now- what with nearly losing my arm and all." Narrowing his eyes Conan spoke accusatively. "I'd think pranking someone injured like this would be beneath you."

"Of course I have better things to do." The nurse smiled then shook her head heaving a loaded sigh. "I knew you wouldn't listen to me, but I had to try…" With a shrug, Kid walked to the door. "I guess this is goodbye… for now."

"Be ready, Kid, I'll catch you next heist." Conan shot back.

The smile that the nurse sent his way was sad. "I don't think you will." Was all Kid said as the door snapped shut.

Conan was still steaming as he was wheeled out of the hospital by Mouri Kogoro. He glanced at Ran who, walking beside them, gave him a gentle smile. "I can walk." He groused looking away. He'd been irritable and snappy ever since he'd woken up. A part of him knew that he was overreacting but he just couldn't help himself and Kid's visit didn't help matters. 'So annoying. I'm just going to forget that encounter ever happened.' Conan decided silently.

"It's hospital policy. Just relax and enjoy the ride you brat." Kogoro said back just as irritated as he pushed the boy.

He glared at the man only to flinch at the sound of the doors sliding open. All at once the noise and smell of the city hit him. As if those doors had been holding it all back. "Ah…"

"Conan?"

It was overwhelming. Conan wasn't aware that he'd curled up until he felt soft hands on his back. Squinting up he was met with Ran's blue eyes. As he studied her worried features the overwhelming sound seemed to fade away. "Are you okay?"

He stared at her as warmth filled his face. "It… just got really loud all of the sudden…" Conan said slowly. "And I think I smell pee." His nose scrunched up in disgust.

Kogoro leaned on the chair since they were stopped. "Well, there are a lot of bums in the area maybe you're smelling one of them." He laughed his painfully loud laugh he did when he thought he was being clever.

"Dad!" Ran reprimanded helping Conan out of the chair as it slid away from the older man. "Let's just go home."

The daughter and father bickered lightly as they made it to the taxi waiting for them. Conan watched Ran as they walked hand and hand. She made the world around him calmer and he just couldn't understand how. He also wasn't sure he wanted to know how. It was one mystery he could live without solving.

Taking a deep breath he tried to take hold of the calm she'd created for him as he settled in the back seat of the taxi between the two Mouri's and tried to relax or at least block everything out. It was harder than he felt it should be. Irritation was bubbling in his stomach and he felt himself twitching every time a loud noise cut through his mental block.

It startled him when Kogoro opened the taxi door. He hadn't even realized they'd stopped. He felt like he was still sitting in a moving vehicle. He felt as if his soul and body were not aligned… and that was a frighteningly dark thought. Numbly he allowed Ran to guide him by his hand. "Do you want something to eat?" She asked sweetly.

Shaking his head Conan found himself leaning into her side. "Hey… Ran can I just go lay down?"

"Of course." Ran gave him a gentle smile and he forced a small grin back and headed up the stairs.

Ran watched him go as an uneasy feeling settled in her.

Nearly a month later Ran felt a similar unease as she helped a barely responsive Conan get dressed. "When Heiji came home after visiting ya he said that something was wrong with Conan…" Kazuha said slowly. "I thought he was just being like an overprotective big brother… but… yesterday and today…" She trailed off as she helped Ran bundle the boy up in blankets and they settled together on the bed. "It's clear somethings wrong."

"I'm okay…" Conan mumbled.

Ran frowned. "Don't lie Conan."

The boy flinched at her tone. "I… I'm okay." He said again weaker this time.

Ran sighed suddenly very serious. "I wish you would just talk to me. You and Shinichi both… you're alway's trying to do everything on your own."

Conan looked too Ran a look of pain on his face. "Ran…"

He placed a hand over the hand she had resting on her leg. She pulled it away quickly wiping her eyes. "How about some breakfast?"

Kazuha blinked. "Are ya okay Ran?"

"Yeah. " Ran nodded then looked down at the child who was now glaring out the window. "How does that sound to you, Conan?"

"G-good." Conan stuttered looking down giving a tentative half glance in her direction.

"Hey, Conan, where are your glasses?" Ran asked suddenly noticing their absence.

Reaching up to touch his face as he turned away from her. Conan swallowed. "Lost them…"

"Ah… well, maybe we can find them… or get you a new pair…"

"Hey~," Conan said in the cutesy voice he used sometimes. Giving the window a quick look before turning his gaze to Kazuha. "Where's big brother Heiji gone?"

"He said he had ta look into something." Toyama said biting back her irritation. "He's probably trying ta piece together what happened ta ya last night. Stupid mystery junky. Can't he wait till ya at least feel better?"

"Mm." Conan nodded looking down. "I'd like to help..."

"That's not exactly what I meant..." Kazuha sighed giving Ran an exasperated look.

Ran returned a soft smile. "It's his way of showing he cares." She ruffled her charge 's hair, concern entering her eyes when he didn't respond to the teasing gesture.

"Sure, sure." Kazuha said crossing her arms.

Taking in a deep breath, to calm her self, Ran smiled. "How about we order some room service first. Then we can discuss the mystery. Okay?"

Conan nodded slowly looking back to the window his gaze slightly sad and maybe even a touch worried. 'Maybe it's best for me to stay out of the actual investigation... especially since... I don't know if I want Heiji to figure this one out or not.' Shivering Conan leaned into Ran's side. His eyes slid closed as her fingers slowly pulled through his hair. Warm contentment filled him despite his misgivings. No, he decided it was best to just let Heiji do his thing. If he figured it out, well, then they could go crazy together. If not… Conan figured he'd have to find out alone just how broken he really was.

Authors Notes:
I'll admit here and now… one of the reasons I hadn't planned on writing the month prior to Conan/Kudo's first transformation is because I'm not comfortable writing that deeply from his point of view. I don't feel I understand him on that level and in my mind he isn't super in tune with his emotions.
This make's it hard because the main thing that's effected prior to the change is emotion. As the month drags on he'll become more aware of it, but it's slow… Also, as much as I like introspection that's not what I want this story to be about… so I may throw in a few more flashbacks… but I can't promise they'll be from Conan's point of view. (I kind of think more would be revealed from Ran's point of view…)
I was pleasantly surprised though to find the flashback allowing me to throw in some information I can now cut from later chapters… but it also ad's things to play off of in the future as well… I wasn't planning on Kid showing up too much but that may have just changed… this may complicate things actually… man, I was hoping to keep this story relatively short… (I just can't write a short story to save my life)

Anyway, thank you a million thousand times for reading my story! You don't know what it means to me.

I hope 2018 turns out to be a wonderful year for you all!

(Words used 2,328. Original date chapter posted 12/31/2017.)