REVIEWS REPLIES! first of all i need to thank all of you who have reviewed in the last chapter and as you can see below i have replied to them. Secondly i am sorry it took me a while to get this chapter up, remember the code on the last chapter? yeah when i made it it was meant to be straight forward and im sure a lot of you got one there and then. but then i looked over it and decided to make it more interesting so i ended up cracking a code that i have no clue what the answer to the clue is. bad idea. so it took me a while to figure out the tricks and now i sort of have a clue as to where the code will lead to. Thirdly, i might not update for about a month or two since my exams are coming up and i really need to revise im sorry about that, but after the exam i will definitely carry on the story right away. so i kinda made this chapter a little longer than usual just to keep you entertained for a little more. But... I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
3aboOorah: I promise you this, I would definitely finish this but you have to promise me that you have to keep support this okay? :D oh and thanks for the traffic thing, I never realized it was there.
xRomanceAddictx : Aw thank you, yeah I knew it was short, and that's why I spent most of my revision time writing this long-ish one for you all.
agatha Higgins : I will definitely complete this, but it'll take some time since I've got a lot on my plate right now but I will definitely put whatever spare time I have on this story.
Andreya Halms: Andreya, Thank you so so much for all those previous reviews. It's so nice to know that you kept on reading even though I keep on updating late. I don't really want to worry about the lack of reviews either but it's just that more reviews get me more readers and besides reviews motivates me a lot.
katniss14: Hey, thanks for the review. You can just write the comment in your language if you want, just tell me what language it is in :)
"Sacrafices are what makes love fragile" - anonymous
Recap: Now all I have to do is 'follow the fellow brick road'. Shinichi's voice echo in the back of her head.
Haibara POV:
This is so simple! I thought as I looked at the card again. CSP – Connecticut State Park, Friday at 22:00 which is 10pm. What was I even worrying for? I can totally do this on my own, I don't need to rely on this idiot who got himself ill. But I do need to make sure he's alright when I'm gone I suppose. Just in case I can't get back in time to make him take the medicine, I set the alarm via his phone to wake him. I also wrote a note on what he has to do and where everything is. Hopefully now, he should be alright on his own. I checked my watch one last time before I quietly got out of the tent. The sun started to set, the perfect time of the day to use these goggles. I swung the heavy back pack over my small shoulders, I really do wish I can go back to normal soon. Slipped on Conan's powered up shoes, which are strangely comfortable. And put on the UV goggles, now if I can just figure out what I have to follow…
Then I saw it, a trail of green footprints. It went into the woods by where we were camping. I followed the trail for what felt like several hours, as the sun completely conceals itself behind the horizon. The UV goggles became unnecessary. The footprints circled a pile of burnt branches, then it lead off again. The pile of branches was still warm although the fire had already gone out. He must've rested here, and not long ago either, couldn't have been longer than an hour. I picked up my pace hoping I could catch up to him, maybe it was imagination but it seems that I've been going in circle, the trail was leading me nowhere. Could he have realized the UV powder Kudo-kun put on his shoes in advance and led me into this false trail? Just as I was about to give up, I could see lights before me and hear the sounds of cars engines. I walked towards the light guiding me out of the forest which also guided me to uncovering the mystery.
What the― a motorway? But that's impossible! There are no motorways around here miles away! What the hell is this? For once in my life I couldn't trust my memory and had to dig out the old map of Connecticut and the new one just to be sure. Just as I thought, neither of them had this road on there. Could this be a motorway especially built for the use of the organization? This is unbelievable, I cannot believe that the organization is so grand even though we're 14 years back. I paused, awestruck by what it has already achieved at such a time. I collected my thoughts remembered what I was doing there. Right Save Dad. Wait, what am I suppose to do? I don't have a car and I won't be able to drive, I don't even know where this will lead me! I panicked as my mind rampage, what the hell am I suppose to do? I unconsciously walked towards the light just as I was about to step out into the light, I realized the trail didn't end there. I hide myself in the shadows and re-trailed the footprints to its destination. I couldn't see it quite clearly, but a large meal pole stood in the middle of the sidewalk, it shaped like a… bus stop. That's it! He must've taken the bus back to the organization. This isn't good, they'll just kill him if he goes back now. What… is he thinking? His shoes were placed neatly next to the pole. He knew I was following him? Or did he leave this knowing that we'd look for him? So… he wants us to know where he's going? In that case, I'm sure he's left more clues. There were too many cars around, and I'm sure all the drivers are working for the organization. I need to take a step closer to be able to read schedule, the words were too small but I can faintly see a glow. I sigh, I cannot believe I am going to go through so much trouble just to read a clue. I went through the backpack looking for a telescope and finally found it when I got to the bottom. I looked through the glass and saw a highlighted route. Vine Street. The bus schedule looked just like a real one. But one route in particular was highlighted with UV powder. 46, Vine Street. I scan across the schedule reading the timing of the next bus. Checking my watch, the last one left exactly 45 minutes ago. I sighed the next one won't be here until tomorrow. But then I realized that wasn't the only clue he left behind. The word 'Change' was written above the highlighted time, except that there was an obvious apostrophe in between the 'g' and 'e'. So it was laid out Chang'e. I decided to go back to the tents and investigate further tomorrow.
Normal POV:
His lean fingers played with the corners of the card. His insightful blue eyes were sparkling again from the excitement of the riddle. Theories flooded his brain as he attempt to deduce the code. The code worked much better as medicine than those he was taking before. His thoughts were distracted as footsteps draw nearer, the expected footsteps. He sat still and watched as the zipper of the tent opened.
"You're awake…" Haibara mumbled. Shinichi nodded silently as Haibara climbed through and into the tent. Neither of them spoke, Haibara awkwardly sat down in a little space just opposite Shinichi surrounded by gadgets and clothing. He didn't leave his gaze on her as she took her jacket off swiftly and dumped it with the other piles of clothing.
"…What?" she asked casually, starting to get slightly uncomfortable with the staring.
"Nothing," he smiled.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked, genuinely concerned
"Much," he said gently.
"Are you sure you took the medicine? You're acting really weird," Haibara stated
"Yes I took the medicine, thank you for setting the alarm," Shinichi took the comment and thanked her. Something is wrong.
"Are you trying to annoy me? Because it's working so you can stop now,"
"I'm not," he said calmly.
"Right…I think it's time for you to take some more medicine," Haibara reached for the box of paracetamol. Shinichi snatched it away before she got to it
"I'll died of overdose if I take some more, I just took some 10 minutes ago," Shinichi said in a serious tone. "And besides these aren't very good, I felt much better after reading this riddle," he held up the card
"Where'd you get that?" Haibara questioned
"It was just lying around,"
"I've already solved that code, it's not even that hard," she said
"You solved it?
"And you call yourself a detective? When a seven old can solve this?" Haibara teased
"It's not what you think it is," he said plainly. Before Haibara could answer he carried on, "they're not telling us to meet them in Connecticut State Park on Friday at 10pm,"
"What do you mean?" Haibara asked
"Do you really think the organization would give such a simple code that even a seven year old can solve?" he asked rhetorically. Thinking about it, Haibara knew from the start it could've never been that simple. Then she remembered. The hint from Atsushi.
"Chang'e…" she mumbled. Shinichi's head snapped towards her direction, his eyes glowing with intensity.
"What did you say?" he questioned
"Chang'e, it's what my dad wrote on the bus schedule," she replied mindlessly, her concentration focused on recalling the memory and the possible meanings behind it.
"What bus schedule?" he asked desperately
"Just this bus schedule," Haibara answered still trying to remember if she had missed out something. They both fell into silence. Both concentrating energy into the puzzle.
"It makes sense…" Shinichi finally spoke up. Haibara slowly turned towards him, preparing to hear his deductions.
"The name, it's about a Chinese legend, a legend about an emperor and his wife Chang'e, they were presented a parcel of elixir. The elixir was said to grant immortality to whoever swallows it." Shinichi paused to check Haibara's interest. She nodded for him to go on. "But one day the emperor was sent on a trip to the mountains, hating to part with his wife, he gave her the parcel to treasure for the time being. But as you know, every story has evil villain. A trusted servant of the emperor broke into the palace and threatened Chang'e with a sword to hand over the elixir. She made a prompt decision at that critical moment, she took the elixir herself and swallowed it in one gulp. As soon as she swallowed it, she floated off the ground and flew towards the moon. She was stuck forever on the moon but as an immortal." Shinichi finished
"So… what does this all mean?" Haibara asked
"They are asking for information on an immortal drug― they want to create one for themselves," Shinichi spelled out
"Then… could the drug you and I took have connections with…?" her voice faded. But he knew what she was getting at.
"I don't know," he replied honestly.
"And?" Haibara questioned
"And?" Shinichi echoed
"Have you figured out the location yet?"
"No…I just wish we have the internet," Shinichi confessed. "Wait a minute… this is 1997, they would've already invented the internet…"
"I've got my iPod touch with me, but it can only access the internet if we have Wi-Fi…"
"They would have Wi-Fi, the military would, Wi-Fi was invented in 1991, Give me your iPod!" Shinichi said excitedly
"The military would know if we link to their Wi-Fi" Haibara reasoned
"They won't" Shinichi lowered his voice "Portable devices haven't been invented yet, besides it wasn't until 1997 the public knew about Wi-Fi, they won't notice one thing because they would've never thought someone from the future would've came to use their internet,"
Haibara stretched out for her bag, and emptied all the stuff that has been buried within. Like a treasure hunt, they both used their hands to shovel away all other belongings that have been poured out from the rucksack. Wasn't long till they shoveled their way to their treasure, Shinichi took hold of it and linked it to a nearby Wi-Fi account.
"CSP: Chartered Society Physiotherapists, Communicating sequential processes… or Concentrated Solar Power," Shinichi read out scrolling down for search results. "That's about it,"
It was as if it was a sign from god, the solar charged torch they were using gave off a spark. It worked like a spell, both of them concluded to the last option mentioned. They both looked at each other without speaking a word, telepathically having a deep conversation between them on what ways could crack the code. Both coming to the same conclusion that it would be impossible to find out until midday tomorrow when the sun is the strongest.
Midday. Sunniest time of the day. Shinichi and Haibara both sat outside their tent, waiting ever since dawn. Both are now studying the equipments they set up, their last needed element is now arriving to complete their experiment. They waited patiently for the sun to be right above where they set up their equipments. Neither looked at each other nor spoke, they both sat idly in silent. They watched the shadows shape shift as the sun approach them slowly. Few minutes away before the the sun set perfectly over them. For the first time in hours, they exchanged their first glance, both had a glimpse of curiosity burning in their eyes.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Haibara spoke up. Shinichi looked at her unsure of the answer, taken up the gamble on either they succeed and find the next clue or they fail and lose this clue.
That's all for this chapter, Ooh, you might've realized i wrote it in Haibara's point of view in the begining, tell me if you like it or not, coz im not sure if i should start writing it in character's point of view or just stick with third person writing. Annnd, please keep supporting this story even though im not going to update for a month or two, and i hope you enjoyed that chapter xxx