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Sir Ross: I understand that feeling! I don't know why but… ^^ Thanks for reading!

hshh: Right now I'm kind of building up to that point I'll get to it soon though. And thanks I hope I did well!

DarkNemi: Ahh thanks! It's my first time trying a sad fanfiction and I think it started off pretty well ^^ I'm glad I made a you a little sad XD It tells me how I'm doing so far ^^ Thanks for reading!

Double-Tarts: Ahaha shady glasses and clothes are necessities for mysterious people XD

Writing in first person again heh heh. I like first person more than third…

XXX

I yawned, a toothbrush in my mouth. It was morning, and the air seemed fresh and new. I took it as a good sign and smiled a little. Walking out of the bathroom, I was about to go downstairs to the agency when I felt like checking on Otou-san's room. But it wasn't only that—I wanted to remember some things about C...Conan-kun. I realized that I still had trouble saying his name, aloud or inside, but I knew that I was getting better.

It was a week after I saw Shinichi, and on the days after I did as much researching as possible. But I scarcely found anything. I had talked with Hattori-kun about what he had yelled the day of the fire, with was "I gotta go save Kudo!" but he just said it was because Conan-kun looked like Shinichi. I planned on actually going to Osaka to interrogate him, but there wasn't any time to do that. It was frustrating but I knew I had to go on to keep my flame of hope lit up. I can't possibly let it diminish. This is the one flame that I will keep lit.

I opened the door and looked around. I was a mess, as usual, with the blanket hanging over the bed and the pillow on the floor. Clothes were strewn everywhere. I looked around, and then walked over to a small cardboard box in the corner. It was sealed shut with masking tape, and books and other things were piled on top of it as if to hide it. I set the other things down on the floor, and rested my hand atop the box. Conan-kun. I whispered in my head. You're sealed away in here, in this little box. A wave of sadness washed over me. Don't worry, I'll set you free soon. I piled the objects on the box again, and walked out of the room.

Xxx

"Ran!" Sonoko called, waving her hand energetically.

"Ah, Sonoko!" I jogged a little over to her, smile of my face.

"Look, look!" she showed me her phone. It was a picture of Kyogoku-san holding a trophy. "He said that he won it just for me!" she grinned.

"Really?" I replied. "That's nice, Sonoko!" But as though realizing something, she flinched and she quickly put her phone away.

"Sonoko?"

"Ah, sorry Ran," she said a little guiltily "I bet that made you think of him…" There was a stab of sadness, but I recovered quickly.

"No Sonoko you don't have to be sorry." I smiled. "Shinichi…Shinichi is near me. He's not gone at all. So it's ok. It's not like he rejected me or ran off or anything…"

"Mm..." Sonoko still looked at me uncertainly.

"Come on, we're going to be late!" I pulled her arm as we ran towards the school.

XXX

I feel like that was a bit short This chapter basically shows how Ran is now a little stronger, and more determined. She's not drowning in sorrow anymore... Anyways next chapter most likely is going to explain more about the fire! Please look forward to it^^