Chapter 3: Encounter

"We're still trying to trace the glock used by Kusuda Rikumichi, how are things on your end?"

"..."

"Hello? Furuya-san? Have you found anything?"

"Oh, I…" Amuro clutched a large envelope. "Just keep working."

"Yes, sir."

Amuro hung up the phone, sighing as he looked down at the papers in his hand. He laughed, covering his face. "What am I doing?" 'I retrieved the information Kir left for the FBI, why aren't turning it in? It's all we need to take down the organization…' He looked at a file on Masumi Sera. 'His sister is staying at Haido City Hotel… do they have meetings? I just want to confront him before all of this ends, confront him about what he's done…' Amuro grit his teeth. "Just you wait, Akai Shuichi."

"Mary?"

"Mm." Conan nodded. "She's also a victim of the drug. She wouldn't tell me how it happened, though."

'Another victim, all because of my drug…' Lines formed on Haibara's forehead. "How'd you find her?"

"Er… she tracked me down, that's all." Conan tried to keep the fact she was Sera's mother a secret. He knew how much Sera frightened her. "Can you meet her? She's staying at Haido City Hotel."

"Is there anyone she's staying with?"

"Yes… but what does it matter? She could help you develop the antidote!" Conan nervously said.

Haibara sighed. "Okay, I'll meet her. It's all my fault this happened anyway, it's only right that I fix it."

Now it was Conan's turn to make that face. "Stop it, Haibara. This isn't your fault, so don't ever think like that, okay?"

His serious tone surprised her. Her face softened, and she simply nodded back.

"Alright, I'll have Hakase take us there."

Narita Airport

A young boy with hopeful eyes and an excited grin stepped out of the airport, coming home after a few months abroad.

"I'm back, Jap- ow!" He lifted his glasses after smashing full-force into a nearby pole. "Eh he, just like old times, I guess." He shrugged off. He looked around, smiling at the surrounding area. 'I guess that dream didn't mean anything, after all… I'll check into my room and surprise them in the morning. This'll be a fun week, for sure!'

"Ah, excuse me!" He called out to a nearby cab, almost tripping.

"Where to, kid?"

"Haido City Hotel, please."

Sera was on her way back to her hotel room after picking up some food for her and her secret guest. She stopped walking when she heard her phone buzz.

'A text?' She grinned when she read message. 'Kudo-kun's coming over, I better go quickly!' She thought excitedly as she sprinted home.

'Why is she in such a hurry all of a sudden?' Amuro thought as he passed by her in his car. 'This could get interesting.' He smirked.

Amuro staked out near Sera's hotel room, waiting for her to return, unaware of who she was actually meeting.

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Sera lightly jogged in the hotel lobby, heading up to her room. "Ow!" She rubbed her head after bumping into someone. "Uh, sorry, I'm kind of in a.. hurry…" She drifted off when she looked at the person in question.

"No, it's my fault!" He quickly apologized, fixing his glasses. "I'm really clumsy, bumping into stuff all the time."

She shook her head, reminding herself to stay focused. "Well, bye!" She walked off, raising eyebrow. 'Woah, he looks just like Kichi-nii…'

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"Alright, it's this room right here."

"Conan-kun!" Sera yelled from across the hall.

"Ah, Sera-san…" Conan felt a tug at his sleeve. It was Haibara, crouching behind him.

'This person…'

"I'm glad we're finally able to properly meet, Haibara-san." Sera stuck her hand out to Haibara.

'Eh?' Haibara looked at Conan. "You lied to me!"

"W-well what else could I do? You wouldn't come if you knew it was her! Besides, she really does need our help."

"Why should I?! After all, this person…" Haibara glanced at Sera, who just stood there, befuddled. 'Those eyes…'

"Umm… am I missing something?" Sera asked nervously.

Haibara shot Conan a glare before sauntering off.

"Ah, Haibara-san!" Sera looked at her worryingly.

"Wait, Haibara!"

"Enough, I'm leaving!" She yelled before running off.

Meanwhile, a figure peered around the corner, staring intently at the small girl.

'What on earth…'

"Sorry about this, Sera-san. It was a long shot, but I hoped she would cooperate."

Sera rubbed the back of her head. "Did I do something? She seems to really hate me…"

"No, it's not you, it's just… never mind. I better catch up to her. I'll try to convince her again after she cools down." He said as he left.

Sera let out a big sigh, opening her door. "I'm back…" She said dejectedly.

"I heard some commotion outside, is everything alright?"

She let out an even bigger sigh, throwing her bag on the bed. "It's nothing."

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'What's wrong with me? Blowing up at him like that…' Haibara sighed as she headed back to Agasa's car. 'She looks like him, and Subaru-san acts like him, why...'

'Why... This child, could she be?'

"Oi, Haibara, I didn't mean to- well, I.." Conan sighed. "Please don't make that face..."

Haibara looked up at him. 'Don't make that kind of face... I'll protect her, even at the cost of my life...' She smiled, looking down. "Even you remind me of him."

"What?"

She shook her head. "Let's just go home, okay?"

The car drove off, unknowingly with a man staring around the corner. Amuro watched in the distance, wide-eyed and heart racing.

'Shiho…'

Reviews, as always, are very very very much appreciated :3