The elevator door opened. Conan walked out and saw Ran leaning against the wall in the hallway. She ran to him, hugged him, and said she was glad that he was safe. Conan again apologized for making her worry and asked about the case.

"A man staying in this hotel died. He's a scientist and father says he committed suicide.", explained Ran. A suicide. Conan was already skeptical. He ran off to see the crime scene before Ran could stop him. He saw Inspector Megure, Detective Takagi and Mouri in the end of the hallway talking to some people. He quietly sneaked in the hotel room in question before they notice him and stop him. That was a perk of being small. He could easily sneak in.

The room was in order. If he didn't know any better, he'd think that none out of the ordinary had happened. He went inside the bathroom and saw the outline of the dead body. He died by firing five consecutive shots through his mouth. Five seems too much thought Conan. He was about to investigate further when he felt a presence behind him. It made him a bit nervous and he reluctantly turned around. He was expecting Mouri to hit him but he was a bit startled to see a lady with dark red hair looking at him intently. "I'm sorry to startle you", she said with a smile. "I don't think this is a place for children little boy."

Mouri soon followed the lady and he picked Conan up by the sleeve. Conan hated being handled like this but being small does have its cons. "What do you think you're doing?", Mouri said with irritation. "The case is closed. We're going home." Mouri led him out the room where the others were.

"Well, I guess the case is closed.", declared Inspector Megure. "B...bu..bbut.." Conan softly stammered. Something felt wrong about the case. He wriggled his way out of Mouri's grip and carefully scrutinized the people involved. One was a male teenager who was a part-time delivery boy. Another was an old woman whose eyes were swelling from crying. She was the mother of the deceased. And then there was the lady with the red hair. She smiled at Conan as he tried to scrutinize her and Conan lost his train of thought. The three seemed innocent. Was it really a suicide? Maybe the recent events are clouding his judgment. Maybe it really is a suicide and he's overthinking it. But five shots is too much.

The police were leaving with the three to take their detailed statements at the station. Mouri hurriedly gave his card to the lady with red hair. "Are you sure you want to do this beautiful Miss? I am sure a pretty lady like you is innocent and this is a suicide. If you don't wish to do this, I can excuse you on my authority.", he valiantly exclaimed. "Perhaps you'd like to have dinner with us?", Mouri further offered. Ran noticed him hitting on a woman again. She said sorry in her father's behalf. "It's alright.", she replied sweetly. "Maybe next time Mouri-san.", and she headed off with the police. Ran dragged Conan and her father to the elevator.

"Who was that lady Uncle?", asked Conan. Mouri was about to answer but he saw Ran's glare by his side. They reached the lobby and Conan said he was going to sleep over at the Professor's. He was actually waiting in the parking lot at the moment. Conan could see Ran's hesitation but Conan assured her that it was just for a night and he really wanted to play the video game the Professor made. Ran reluctantly agreed and told him to stay in touch. He was always running off and Ran felt it was oddly familiar.

Bourbon sat on the coffee table opposite the couch and observed Sherry's motionless body. She was right there but he felt like he can't do anything. Vermouth was protecting this woman for one reason or another. No, it wasn't just that. Seeing her lying down there, Bourbon was able to scrutinize her and see that she was indeed Akemi's sister. They didn't have the same hair nor eyes but there was a resemblance that perhaps blood was responsible for.

He stood up and walked up to the window where he could see the night sky. Are you one of those stars Akemi?, he thought wistfully. He still felt Akemi's loss and he felt that he must do something to avenge her. Can a life pay for a life? Whose life must he take? Whose life can ever compensate for Akemi's? He heard a soft rub against his couch and he smiled.

"So you've finally decided to move. Must have been uncomfortable pretending to be asleep all this time?", Bourbon said as he turned towards Sherry who was now sitting up with her hands closed over her chest to secure the towel. Of course he knew, Ai thought sheepishly. What was the point of all that discomfort. Ai didn't say a word because she feared she would stammer. She was sitting up straight and she wanted to show she was in control but she knew she was cold. She could not fully hide her body's way of giving her heat. She was shivering. Bourbon noticed this too. They stared at each other waiting for one to yield.

"Where's the bathroom?" Ai finally gave in. There was no way she was pissing herself off wearing a towel on a couch. She felt the small lump of pride in her throat as she tried her best to keep her voice collected. "I need to use the bathroom.", she repeated. Bourbon didn't react and she wasn't sure if he heard.

Bourbon felt a little triumph. He ran through the ways she could escape in his bathroom but he didn't come up with many seeing her state. After a second of thought he showed her the way.

Ai was glad to finally have a moment to herself. If it weren't for the shivering she was actually quite calm. She knew this man wouldn't hurt her because oddly enough Vermouth was backing her up. Still, it has been a while since she's been around the organization for this long and her body was taking time to adjust around it. She was very much enjoying the few seconds of her peace when Bourbon slightly opened the door. This bastard. Without even knocking!, thought Ai. But he didn't open it all the way. Instead he threw a blanket in. "Cover yourself up. I'm not lending you my clothes.", he said coolly and he shut the door again.

Ai quickly grabbed the blanket as soon as the door closed and wrapped it around her body. She let out a sigh of relief as the warmth started to get back to her. It crept onto her slowly and it filled her and she liked it. But then she became even warmer, feverish actually and she knew this wasn't good. She crouched down on the floor shivering once more because of her abnormally high temperature. Her joints were aching. Her head was splitting and her bones were melting. She let out a scream and Bourbon came in and stood for a second on the doorway. He was checking if she was faking it, and when he decided she wasn't, he went to the kitchen to get some medicine and water.

The screams died down as he got out of the kitchen and he saw Vermouth entering the bathroom. Of course she arrived and he didn't notice. What was new. He was about to enter the bathroom to talk to Vermouth when he heard his bell ring. Well that's someone who's not part of the organization, he thought. He put down the medicine and water on the table nearby and answered the door looking back at the slightly open bathroom door one last time.

Bourbon peeked through his peep hole and saw that it was Subaru. Great, he knows where I live now, he thought. He opened the door and Subaru was staggering even faintly smelling of alcohol. Bourbon was surprised to see him tipsy but he was sure it was all an act. "The bar is two streets away from here Mr. Drunkard.", he said. Two can play at this game. "I just... I just really need to use a bathroom kind sir.", Subaru stammered. Without any welcome, he entered the house and groped his way to the bathroom. Bourbon swiftly went after him and they both saw an empty room. Subaru closed the door to his face and got out after a few seconds. "Thank you... kind sir.", he said with a hiccup. He staggered out of the house, waved a loud goodbye and headed out.

Subaru picked up his pace as he reached the corner and got inside his car. He saw the glass of water and medicine at the nearby table. Haibara turned back into a child while she was there. Does Bourbon know? He wasn't sure but he will surely find out. He did bug his bathroom after all.

Gin and Vodka were having drinks in the corner of a restaurant. Vodka's cheeks turned a slight shade of red and he stood up and gave up his seat. A lady with red hair approached a few seconds later and sat down in his place, right in front of Gin. Vodka sat in another chair.

The lady smiled at Vodka. Gin merely smirked.

"Where's my welcome Gin? I'm back with a bang."

"Quite literally too.", quipped Vodka. The lady giggled. "Yes. Five bangs to be exact."

"There was a lot of police but you weren't caught.", said Vodka with slight admiration. "I don't think I convinced everybody.", she replied with a tone of mixed disappointment and excitement. The image of the little detective crossed her mind.

"Why did you kill him?", Gin finally spoke.

"He knew too much and he wasn't willing to cooperate.", her voice was cold as ice. In a second, her face lit up again and she said with enthusiasm, "Never mind that silly scientist. I met some interesting people today."

Vodka inquired who and she replied the Mouris. Mouri. Gin knew that surname was familiar. Vermouth tried to protect a Mouri before. He was trying to remember more when the lady interrupted him, "Do you know them?"

"Familiar.", he simply answered. "What brings you back?"

"We didn't expect you'd come.", added Vodka.

"The winds will soon change Gin.", she said slyly. "I'm on your team."

The waiter arrived and brought the lady a glass. Vodka proposed a toast. "Welcome back Spirytus.", hissed Gin with a self-satisfied smile.

I finally updated (after several failed attempts at writing)! It's short again but I think this is the length with which I can consistently update.

Thank you so much for the reviews. I honestly get lazy sometimes and your reviews push me to keep on writing. Thank you for the fresh insight 75aichan and Claude le noctambule for the wonderful review.

I look forward to hearing more from everyone! :)

Oh and I updated my profile for the curious oysters out there haha. See you in the next chapter!