Vindicated

Disclaimers: I do not nor ever will own Conan or Shinichi and co. It's a cruel sad world, isn't it?

Hey, it has been awhile. I could give you a thousand excuses- but that would be a thousand more than you'd want to hear. So on with the story.

LAST TIME ON VINDICATED
Agasa was very missed.
"Is this the first time… you have really felt- a death?"
"Nothing will change," Conan said darkly.
"He shouldn't have been the one to die."
"You mean, you should have?"
But all he wanted, at this point, was revenge.
"Go ahead and call him, if you must. It's not like he'll ever answer."
"Why are you being such a jackass?"
"Who the hell cares?" Conan grumbled pushing past her.
Conan didn't have time to react before Haibara smacked him full across the face.
"Hey, hey. I was worried," Hattori muttered.
"Stop him, Hattori. He's too close to the edge…"

Chapter Twelve: Loaded Guns

Cut me from stone
Right to the bone
Or we'll end up alone
Playing the role
I'm somewhat in control
-Lost Realist by Trapt

Hattori spun his spoon through the liquid that churned in his cup. He felt silly for doing so. Kudo's family had a lot of western items in their house, one of them being this tea set that Kudo had fetched them tea in.

It was delicate- the entire set was. Almost as if touching it would cause it to completely shatter in your hands. Pure white and colored with various intricate gold swirls on the rims and handle that seem to cause the outside of the cup to look like the downtown traffic of toyko rather than actual ornate decoration.

Hattori found he didn't quite have the taste buds for western tea. It was much too sweet.

So thus came the spoon- and the awkward silence that Hattori merely filled with the churning of his unwanted tea. Kudo had explained everything, in rather tedious detail, of his current situation. And of the situation that all of them were in now. It was evident that any connections Kudo had, courtesy of Tetra had been mapped out. Heiji had guilty admitted that his father had given audience to Tetra too.

So the strings were tied around all their throats.

Conan didn't seem to like the tea much himself. He just stared at the contents in his cup, idly. As if wondering what to do with it. Only Haibara, almost greedily, drank her tea down.

Hattori seemed to feel their situation was almost equivalent to balancing on the center of a teeter totter. Moving too far to either side lead to some uncertainly- some loss. And yet, not moving, frozen in this one position to keep everything from tumbling apart on them, seem to only lead to the eventual tipping to one side. The body grows tired and sags, leading to a sudden thump as one unexpected side hits the earth.

As if it were only human to want to tilt that plank of wood against the ground. To end it.

Haibara cleared her throat loudly, stopping Heiji from continuing to stir with a gentle touch of his arm. Hattori nodded at the gesture and put the tempting silverware down with his cup. Taking this moment as opportunity, Hattori pushed forward a question that had risen even before they had sat down for this awkward tea session.

"So what now, Kudo?"

Conan didn't answer right away- still mesmerized by his untouched drink. But at long last, just when Hattori was about to repeat himself, Conan spoke up- in a voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know."

"Surely you have some plan," Hattori said with an optimistic tone in his voice. "You always have something. A backdoor… you always did before."

Conan sighed and merely shrugged in response.

Hattori impulsively rubbed the bridge of his nose. Thinking fast he added, "Well, I could dress up as you a couple of days and…"

"You'd just be putting yourself in danger," Haibara said hastily. "You heard what happened to Tetra."

"Ah yes," Hattori frowned. "Maybe if I went to America, solved a few cases there under Shinichi's name…"

"No, they'd find you," Conan retorted bitterly. "Before you could even be sure if the rumors had reached them- you'd be dead."

"You don't know that," Hattori snapped back.

Conan shook his head and gently put his teacup back on its saucer. "I don't want to put you in danger, Hattori."

"I'm already in danger."

"True," Conan nodded, "But you aren't dead yet."

"We don't even know if the Black Organization would take any interest in you, Hattori," said Haibara hastily before Hattori could throw back anymore angry retorts. "For all they know, you've had interest in Kudo- but you've never met him."

"But if Tetra gave the information to them that Kudo is Conan, then they are sure to piece together that I know," Hattori spat clenching his fists almost helplessly as he spoke. "Why else would I hang around a kid?"

"Kazuha and Ran are friends," answered Haibara rather simply. "They may come upon the conclusion that you just tag along."

"But Kazuha met Ran through me. I knew Kudo before then… or Conan or whatever."

Hattori had expected Conan to make a face of some kind, but the small boy didn't react at all. Too busy staring at the untouched tea still left slowly cooling on the low table in front of them.

"Damn," Hattori hissed in the silence. "Maybe we should all just change our names and move to Canada."

"We don't all have that liberty," Conan muttered softly.

Hattori frowned. He knew Conan was talking about Ran and her father. They wouldn't understand it, nor would take very well to the change. Especially Ran's father. The reputation he had built up here would be hard for him to let go of.

Conan suddenly sat up, climbing carefully to his feet. He didn't even give a reason, leaving his last words ringing in their minds as he took leave of the room. Haibara and Hattori sat frozen in the suddenness of his absence not really finding it wise to chase him.

It was better just to give Kudo his space nowadays. He always seemed to be on such a tight fuse- they didn't want to lose him anymore more than they already had.

"I don't like it," Hattori said suddenly, surprising even himself.

"What?" replied Haibara instinctively. "Our situation? Yeah, I don't think any of us-..."

"No," interrupted Heiji curtly. "It's Kudo. I've never seen him like this. It… it bothers me."

Haibara let a wry sort of smirk steal her features, "He lost his best friend. For someone who used to be so indifferent to death- now it haunts him. I think," Haibara paused, thumbing her chin at the thought. "I think he's finally realized that people close to him… can actually die."

Hattori lowered his gaze, not quite sure how really to make of it. "I still don't like it…"

He lifted the spoon- staring almost hatefully at its cold and smooth appearance, "I want him back- I want Kudo back, Haibara."

Haibara didn't meet his gaze. Instead her eyes just wandered over to the nearby cabinet, staring idly into the reflection that gazed back.

"You mean you want Conan back," came Haibara's reply.

And Hattori didn't know what to say to that. So instead of answering, he chugged down his tea, rose from his seat- and set off to find Kudo. Haibara watched him go somewhat indifferently, her eyes inevitably going back to the cabinet.

When Hattori had shut the door behind himself, Haibara had stood to her small legs at last- and had started in the direction of the cabinet doors- completely mesmerized by something that Hattori couldn't understand.

Heiji had found Conan in his kitchen. Conan was sitting on the counter that he had somehow made it up to all by himself, despite his lacking height. Phone in hand, he sat with his back to the other detective. The dial tone was filling the air with a monotone like song. That single note that seemed to keep silence so deeply in its grasp.

Conan didn't notice Hattori. He was staring inanely at the receiver as if trying to comprehend why there was such a sound resonating from it.

"You told Ran?" Hattori found his heart racing at the merest suggestion.

Conan turned, looking over at the Osaka detective before smiling, "No."

He hung the receiver back up and took a deep breath. There were a few more minutes of silence as Heiji's heart regained its normal pace.

"I couldn't dial her number," Conan said at last. "All I could think about was… how it wasn't right… to call her."

"You're still planning on telling her though?" Hattori said softly.

Conan didn't look at him, but he didn't have to. He didn't even have to answer. Heiji just knew.

"You can't tell her Kudo. She'll hate you," Hattori said urgently.

"So?" Conan answered almost with a tone of amusement in his voice. "I don't care if she yells, or if she hits. Or if she and her father forbid me from ever seeing them again. As long as they are safe. They need to know at this point."

"But Kudo-…" Hattori sputtered as the young boy skillfully leapt off the counter and landed safely on the ground. He didn't even wait for Hattori, merely turned for the door.

"Kudo, if you-…" Hattori cursed his inability to speak properly. The young boy opened the door almost effortlessly. He was quite a deal more used to his shorter body. Hattori tried to sort his thoughts as he followed the boy out into the main foyer room.

"You'll crush her. There has to be a better way," said Hattori with certain urgency. Conan wasn't listening.

"I'm telling her and Kogoro tonight," explained Conan effortlessly. As if it were as easy as asking for Ran to walk him to school. "I'll explain to them everything- and urge them to go into hiding. Until it all blows over."

Hattori couldn't let Conan do this. He took the boy by the shoulder, holding him back from reaching the door, "You put them into more danger by telling them."

Conan bowed his head. In as polite a tone as he could manage, Conan quietly asked for the removal of Hattori's grip on his shoulder.

Hattori refused, and in response turned the boy around to face him. Conan fought back, weakly- his arms flailing out, trying to catch the taller boy's face. But Conan had no reach, nor was he strong enough. He was still just a child in body.

Hattori pinned the boy's arms effortlessly, holding him back against the wall, and forced Conan to look him in the eyes.

"Don't tell Ran."

"You can't control me," said Kudo briskly.

"Do you really think that Ran will let you go sacrifice yourself for her?" Hattori shouted, his frustration getting the best of him.

At Conan's surprised expression, Hattori rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, Kudo. It's so obvious. Ran will see that too. She'll follow you- and get herself killed too. Is that what you want?"

"She won't follow me," Conan retorted, refusing to meet Hattori's eyes.

"She loves you, you bastard!" Hattori bellowed- almost regretting after he said so. But only almost.

Conan's cheeks went a little pink but he didn't turn his face back to Hattori's. Much softer, Hattori continued, "And you love her."

"I- I'll get Kogoro to stop her," Conan spoke, almost rashly.

"Mr. Mouri can't control his daughter half the time anyway. What would make this situation any different?"

"He'll have to," Conan snapped, shaking his head roughly from side to side as if unable to comprehend the consequences.

"What if he doesn't?"

"He has to!"

The silence that followed afterwards was difficult- almost like having a mint caught in your throat. It was hard to swallow- hard to find a way to respond. Conan broke free from Hattori in that silence, and made for the front door.

"You're selfish, Kudo," Hattori found himself saying.

Conan paused, his fingers only just around the door knob. He withdrew, almost as if burned- but kept his back to the western detective.

"You're selfish for thinking this problem is yours alone. We share it now- Agasa shared it. We will help, whether you want it or not."

The two stood, a far distance falling between them- different sides of a crumbling spectrum. Hattori knew it was a hopeless cause, pulling the detective back from where he had tumbled- Kudo would never listen to him. He had already made up his mind long ago.

"Agasa is dead because he helped me," Conan said softly reaching for the door knob again, "I don't want anymore help."

But he didn't open the door. At that moment time seemed to have frozen at the sound of a cocked gun. Conan turned slowly seeing none other than Haibara standing in the opposite room, a pistol in hand and aimed straight at Conan's head.

"Haibara-!" Hattori gasped, attempting to move forward. But Haibara turned the gun towards him- and he froze, moving his hands helplessly up and backing back to where he stood before.

"I told you, didn't I, Conan?" Haibara said sharply, turning back towards Conan's stunned face. "If you tried to jeopardize this secret in any way- if you dared to tell Ran… I would kill you. Don't you remember, Conan-kun?"

Conan nodded numbly almost as if speaking would set off the gun in some way. Hattori hadn't seemed to have lost the ability to speak.

"Haibara, this is crazy," Hattori snapped urgently. "Put that gun down now."

Then almost as if struck by a realization, Conan smiled. "Don't worry, Hattori. That gun isn't loaded."

He looked over to Haibara, smiled wryly at her. "Right, Haibara-san?"

Taking her silence as a yes, Conan moved to open the door. But he jolted back when a sudden bang ripped though the air, leaving a hole in the door where his arm had been only seconds before.

Terrified, Conan recoiled- holding his arm as if he really had been shot. He looked wildly over at Haibara who held her shoulder awkwardly- sore from the recoil. But yet she still was standing- it hadn't knocked her off her feet. She had the right arm strength… She could hit him if she wanted to.

"I told you," Haibara hissed through gritted teeth. "I will kill you if you try to tell Ran."

She drew closer, gently placing the gun only inches away from the center of his brow. Her hand was surprisingly steady.

"Where did you get the gun?"

Haibara smiled, "Your father's I suppose. He hid it in quite the most obvious place- the china cabinet? Could he have been anymore careless?"

And strangely, Conan calmed. His sudden composure threw Haibara off. She started to wonder if it were something about the gun that he was smiling about- when suddenly he spoke, "You won't pull the trigger."

"You don't know me," snapped Haibara keeping her aim level. "Don't pretend like you know what I can or can't do."

Hattori stood helpless. He figured he was bigger than them both. Maybe he could somehow, toss Haibara back- but then again the gun could go off. And Haibara might fire if he tried to do anything to save Conan. The only thing he could do, was try to talk Haibara out of it.

"Haibara- I'll have to have you arrested if you shoot Conan. That's attempted murder," declared Heiji boldly.

"Good one, Hattori," Conan smirked sarcastically.

"Shut up, Kudo," retorted the Osaka detective. And then to Haibara he continued. "I'm a lot faster and stronger than you, Haibara. If you fire, I can pin you down- you'll go to jail."

"Juvenile detention center actually," answered Haibara unfazed. "I'm not some stupid little kid, Hattori. I know what happens when you kill someone. I helped create murderers, remember?"

She tightened her grip on the gun. Conan didn't even blink. "My hands are already stained. One more means nothing."

"Do you really think that?" Conan smiled, his glasses catching the glare- obscuring his eyes from view. "After what you did to me?"

Before Haibara could react and before Heiji could shout, Conan grabbed the barrel of the gun- and Haibara squeezed the trigger. Hattori could have sworn he heard a gun shot- saw Conan's lifeless body fall over- but nothing of the sort occurred.

There was a slight click- but the gun didn't fire. And Conan, effortlessly, pulled the gun out from Haibara's weakened grip.

Conan twirled the gun on his finger cockily and smiled over at her and Hattori. "My dad only leaves one good shot in the gun. Just as a precaution. He loads the rest himself- in case he feels the need to."

He turned his gaze back to Haibara before added rather cockily, "You should have looked to see if it was loaded or not, Haibara-san."

With that being said, he tossed the gun to Hattori carelessly. Hattori barely caught it- still caught in the stupor of the moment.

Conan granted one last nod to Haibara. It was the least he could do. She glared, tight lipped in response.

"I'm telling her. I'm sorry," said Conan.

And with that he left the two of them, alone in a house that used to be his own.

When Conan reached the Detective Agency, he had already rehearsed a thousand different ways to tell Ran who he was. Each proved more impossible than the last. And when he finally reached up to turn the door knob, Conan realized that he didn't have the faintest idea of where to start.

And yet, his heart still pounded excitedly. He wanted so badly for this day- even if she'd hate him forever… he wanted to at last be rid of this horrible heart wrenching secret he had kept from her.

When Conan pushed open the door, Ran was on the phone. Kogoro looked up from his desk, and nodded to him- beer can in hand as he flipped through the channels on his mini television set.

Conan sat down one of the small sofas, fidgeting restlessly as he waited for Ran to finish her call. Luckily he didn't have to wait long. His heart skipped a beat when she said her goodbyes and set the phone back down in its place.

"Ran, I have something I really need to tell you," Conan began urgently.

Ran looked over at him curiously, a smile on her lips. "Oh, I already know."

"You do?" Conan repeated incredulously. How could she know? She doesn't look upset at all!

"Yeah, Hattori called," Ran smiled pleasantly. "He wanted to invite me, you, and Haibara with him and Kazuha to a karaoke bar."

Conan tried hard to keep the mixed look of surprise and agitation off his face. So Hattori had played that card. To make sure he never got the chance to tell Ran… Haibara probably helped him with it.

But there was still time. Hattori hadn't counted on Conan being that desperate.

"Ran, but there's more," Conan began. Ran didn't seem to hear him. She rushed back over to the stairs, too excited to really notice the pale look on Conan's face.

"I'm going to get ready, Conan. You should too. We'll have to leave right away." And with that, she left.

Conan let out a miserable sigh. He looked idly up and met Kogoro's suspicious eyes.

"Is something wrong, kid?" Kogoro asked.

"N-no," Conan quickly shook his head. But he couldn't suppress the glare he sent Haibara's way when she wandered back into the agency.

"We're going to the karaoke bar with Hattori and Kazuha," Conan spat bitterly.

"Oh," Haibara smiled brightly. "Sounds fun."

In an undertone, Conan snarled a nasty word her way. And in response, she merely turned to Mister Mouri and tattled- leaving Conan to the elder detective's wrath as she rushed off to get ready as well.

Kogoro would use any excuse to punish Conan. It was his favorite pastime, after all. And when Conan had at last scraped the soap off his tongue and teeth best he could- it was time to go.

He didn't even get the chance to even stall them. Haibara made sure of that.

One more night, Conan decided as they climbed into the taxi cab that would take them to Hattori's planned party. One more night as Conan. After this, I'll tell Ran.

To Be Continued…
Please R+R!

At long last, I finished the chapter. It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. And I'm still rather unsatisfied with the product. But it will have to do.

I want to get to the good stuff. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be a perfectionist.

I apologize to everyone for my April Fools' joke. :insert sheepish grin: This is sort of my apology to those that got pranked. If you didn't get pranked- disregard this comment then.

Thanks to all who reviewed last time. The review responses are in my journal in the memories link on my profile. Those who so graciously reviewed last time were: Lumias, BattousaiGrl, Mysticalflame, raven2547, star, Yamikaze, hittocerebattosai, Southpaw, SN 1987A, Inumaru12, Emerald-eclipse, YumeTakato, Lady Mirror, windchaser90, DaisyAnimeluvr, sapphirestars, AntiSora, and, last but certainly not least, Crysania Fay.

Hopefully the next chapter shouldn't take so long. Mostly because it's my favorite chapter. Keep your eyes peeled.

With a keen eye for detail,

One truth prevails :insert dorky otaku pose: