Four points of the same star

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Detective Conan .

FOUR POINTS OF THE SAME STAR

Chapter 13

First meeting.

Darkness was the only thing he saw as he opened his eyes.

He looked around in the dim light. A pale moon lit the place. There were only trees there, not a living soul. He got up... tried to get up. He realised only then that he was tied to a tree, enabled to stand up and that his left arm was bleeding.

Scotch swore loudly.

A loud screech from his right and a rustle showed that the sudden outburst had not been appreciated by one of the woods' inhabitants.

How the hell was he going to leave?

"That damn Martini... probably his idea to tie me up." he muttered, trying to free his hands from the rope, "How the hell did he survive? I shot him! He had to die!' He tried to free his hands again. 'He knocked me down...No, he didn't... That two blasted kids did! One shot me with a gun, the other paralysed my arm with a damn...-what was it? A needle? Damn kids! Martini and Ikeda five years ago and now these two. But as soon as I'll free myself, I'll get them. They live in Beika. I'll get them all."

He was so busy struggling with the ropes and savouring the moment when he would get his revenge that he didn't notice two figures approaching him.

"Look who we have here."

Scotch froze. He had recognized the voice but couldn't understand what the owner was doing there.

Two figures stepped in front of him: two men. Two men dressed in black.

The man at his right wore a black trench coat and a black hat. He had long pale blonde hair that shone eerily under the silver moon but somehow this seemed to hint darkness rather than light. A cigarette dangled on his mouth and his hand was tightly gripping something in his pocket.

It was probably a gun. Scotch felt a bead of sweat roll down his face.

The other man was shorter but just as menacing with his sturdy build. He had his hand in his pocket too and his eyes weren't visible because of the dark sunglasses he wore. [1]

"Gin?" Scotch breathed, "What are you doing here?"

Gin sneered at Scotch.

"What are you doing here, Scotch?" he asked with his icy voice."The Organisation has found out a few strange facts about you. It seems that you've been neglecting to do your work lately and that you've been using our computers to do researches on your own. Researches on Martini. Why do you want to find that spy so badly, Scotch?"

It was true. Scotch had used the Organisation's computers to do his researches but he was sure that no one would have noticed it. He was one of the head scientists, after all and very few had access to the systems he used. Then how..?

Scotch felt cold sweat on his face when he realised the truth. The Organisation suspected his loyalty. They thought that he could be a double-agent and that he was in collusion with Martini. If he had killed him today, everything could have been cleared, his reputation restored.. but now..

"I wanted to find that damn spy and finish him myself." he managed to say. "I wanted to get back all the material he had stolen."

Gin cast him a careless look.

"You wanted? Well, it seems that Martini has fixed you up instead."

"He wasn't alone! Ikeda is with him. She's ali.." Scotch retorted but stopped when he saw Gin draw out his gun and point it to him. All colour left his face. "Wh.. what are you doing?"

"I don't want to hear your excuses." he hissed, "You have been making too many mistakes, Scotch. Why didn't you use the silencer on your gun? The police has been informed and they're coming here. Martini probably called them. We have to take care of you before their arrival."

"Wait, you can't.." he said, struggling to get free from the ropes with more energy, "You need me for the Organisation's systems. You won't be able to protect them from intruders."

"We can find someone to take your place." Gin replied with a sneer, "There are plenty of other scientists around."

Scotch's brain was reeling as he fought to find other reasons to let him live.

"If you kill me, you'll never know where Martini is." he yelled at last.

"Do you really think that Kazama will stay in the same place where you saw him? I thought that you were more intelligent, Scotch." Gin pointed the gun to the tied man's head and loaded it. "You have helped the Organisation but you have made too many mistakes. Your time has come, Scotch. You'll see how the rest goes on from another place."

Scotch tried to free himself for the last time but it was useless. He could only open his mouth to shout but Gin pulled the trigger and no sound came from him.

A muffled sound was heard and then nothing else. The two black intruders swiftly left and the woods went silent with the only difference that there was a dead body tied to a tree.


It was nearly eleven o'clock but the lights in the small surgery were still on.

Conan was walking back and forth, Ai was standing nearby, leaning on the wall and Rei was sitting on the wall bench. They were in the waiting room and they were waiting.

Waiting for news from Ryu.

The operation was not over yet. Dr. Mizuno and his nurses were in the operation theatre and nobody had told them anything. They were all fearing the worst.

"Kudo, you'll dig a hole in the ground if you keep on walking like that." Ai remarked, "Why don't you just sit down or, at least, keep still?"

"I can't." he replied, coming to an halt "I feel so.. restless." He turned to her. "Why aren't they telling us anything? It's more than two hours that they're in there."

"It's a gunshot wound at the waist, Shinichi." Rei stated absently, staring at the closed door rather than at him, "It's not that easy to take the bullet out."

"Yes, and it's also gone in deep." Ai added.

Conan sighed and walked to the bench where Rei was. He leaned on the wall by her right. Now Rei was between Ai and Conan.

'They're right.' he thought, 'As usual..'

He turned around.

"Rei, how's your arm doing?" he asked with concern, noticing the dark stain on her sleeve and the ripped denim fabric stained with blood and dirt.

"I think I can wait another bit." she replied, "Don't worry."

She had refused to be treated until Ryu was out of danger. His wounds were far more serious than hers. The doctor had retorted at the beginning but he gave up when he saw Rei's firmness.

Anyway, he was only one and couldn't treat two patients at once.

They also had to make up a story to explain their wounds. They had said that they had gone camping and while they were walking in the woods, someone fired a few shots at them suddenly. A hunter probably. The doctor seemed to accept the story but Conan had the feeling that he didn't. He didn't even look as though he had listened at them. He was too busy, thinking of how to treat Ryu.

Rei fingered Ryu's chain.

'The bad feeling I had in the car….' she thought, tracing the cool metal surface with her finger, 'Ryu... Oh God, I hope everything will be all right.'

The room went silent again. The only sound came from the clock hung on the wall.

It was enervating.

Then, the door opened and Dr. Mizuno came out, followed by the nurses who sped to another room. Conan, Ai and Rei approached him immediately.

"Dr. Mizuno? Is Ryu ok?" Rei asked, "He's alright, isn't he?" The man remained silent and this worried her.

"Ryu's alright, isn't he?" she asked again, "Tell us? Is he all right?"

Dr. Mizuno cleared his throat slightly.

"The operation has gone well." he said, "I have taken the bullet out. Luckily it hasn't hit any of the vital organs, although it has came pretty close..."

A wave of relief that had swept through the three teens bodies when they heard that the operation had gone well.

"But.."

And instantly evaporated.

"But..?" Conan asked tentatively.

"He has lost a lot of blood. Too much." the doctor said, "He needs an immediate blood transfusion. Unfortunately, we don't have his blood group in our supplies."

"Couldn't you ask another hospital or a blood bank to provide you some?" Ai asked. "It's an emergency. They will do that."

The doctor looked at the little girl with surprise. How could a seven year old know this?

"Atsuko and Nami are calling the closest hospitals.. but we don't have a lot of time."

A chill ran down the three teens' spines.

"What do you mean?" Rei asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Dr. Mizuno looked at the worried faces in front of him. Giving bad news was the worse part of being a doctor. He took a deep breath.

"Your friend will not resist for long. He's very weak." he said, "We have to do the transfusion in maximum two hours, otherwise..."

His voice trailed of, leaving only a stunned silence as the implications of his unsaid words sank in.

"What's his blood group?" Conan asked suddenly.

"What? B negative." the doctor replied.

Ai understood right away what the boy had in his mind.

"You can't do it, Kudo." she whispered, approaching him from behind.

He turned around at her.

"What?" he muttered.

She pulled him away from the doctor's earshot.

"You can't give Ryu your blood." she said.

"Why not?" he asked, "We've got the same blood group. You heard the doctor. Ryu will die if he doesn't get blood in two hours!" He looked at her fiercely. Why didn't she understand?

"I know that! But we can't give him our blood because of the poison. We could risk to give Ryu the Apotoxin along with our blood and who knows how it could effect him."

Conan just stared at her.

"I didn't think of it." he said simply, "What can we do then?"

He didn't wait for her answer and turned around, listening to Rei who was talking with Dr. Mizuno.

Unseen by him, Ai unbuttoned her jacket and fingered the contours of the small box that was in the inner pocket.

Rei, in the meanwhile, was having a small argument with Dr. Mizuno.

"Why not, doctor?" she demanded.

"Listen, I understand how you feel but no, you can't give him your blood. You are wounded and you have suffered a blood loss, too. If you give it to your friend, you'll be in his same condition. I'm sorry but I can't endanger your life." he said firmly. His tone softened, seeing the look on her face, "I can understand how you feel. We'll have to wait and hope that the other hospitals can send us the blood to save him"

Rei nodded slowly, swallowing a lump in her throat.

"All right." she murmured.

"I'll go and see what the nurse's have found out, then I'll see your wound." Dr. Mizuno said and left the room quickly.

"Oh, God..." Rei muttered under her breath, running a hand on her face. "Ryu..."

Composing herself and trying to keep her nerves steady, Rei turned around as another thought occurred to her.

"Shinichi, why did you...?" She stopped abruptly when she saw that she was alone in the room. "Shinichi, Ai, where are you?"

No one replied.

'Where did they go?' she thought nervously, looking around. 'They were here five minutes ago! They can't have disappeared!'

She rushed out of the room, ignoring a stab of pain from her arm and found one of the nurses.

"Excuse me, did you see the two children that were with me?" she asked. "The little girl and boy?"

"The two little children?" Atsuko repeated, "Yes, they rushed out a few seconds ago. They seemed to be in a hurry."

"They left?"

"Yes, but the boy said something... about preparing everything for the transfusion while the girl said that you didn't have to worry for them."

Rei looked at her blankly.

'The transfusion? But they... they can't give Ryu their blood...' she thought, 'Ai told me that the APTX-4869 had effected their whole body, including their blood. I don't think they'd risk to give the APTX to him...'

She was going to go back to the waiting room when she noticed the backpacks piled up near the entrance. They had left them there when they entered and nobody bothered to move them.

Rei realised that Conan and Ai's backpacks were there along with Ryu's jacket but theirs weren't.

Ryu's and her backpack were not there.


"Haibara, are you sure it will work?"

Conan and Ai were in the public toilets.

"The temporary antidote has worked before." she remarked, quirking an eyebrow, "You used it..."

"I didn't mean that." he retorted, "Are you sure that the APTX's effects will disappear when we're in our true forms?"

"Yes, I'm sure of that." she said with a nod, "The antidote overcomes the poison's effect; this temporary one will do the same even if it works only for twenty four hours."

"All right..." Conan looked at her. "By the way, Haibara, how come you had two temporary antidote pills with you?"

"As Ryu says, just in case. I have made only three of these. I carry these two along with me while I leave one at Agase's house." She opened the little plastic box and withdrew the items within it. "Here, take this."

She handed him a small red and white pill. Conan took it and looked at his watch.

"It's nearly eleven thirty." he said, "The antidote's effect will wear out tomorrow at the same time. Well, let's go then."

They glanced at each other before entering two different cubicles. Conan put down Ryu's backpack and after a moment of hesitation, swallowed the pill.

Conan's heart was thumping. It was only for one day but he would be himself again.

Shinichi Kudo again.

With this thought, he awaited in silence for the moment to come..

His heart began to pound hard. A painful, yet familiar burning feeling coursed through his body: he felt as though his body was melting. He stifled a scream of pain; it was late at night and someone could hear him. He tried not to faint but the pain was too much for his small body: Conan collapsed to the floor.

There was a thump in the cubicle next to his.

Ai had passed out, too.


Dr. Mizuno transferred Ryu to a room as everyone waited the phone call that would tell them that the blood was coming.

Rei was waiting outside, looking into the room through a glass panel.

Ryu was lying on a bed with different machines around him. The girl felt her heart constrict painfully at his sight: she had never seen him look so pale and helpless. She had heard the nurses say that his heartbeat and his breathing were weak.

Rei fought back the tears that were threatening to leak from her eyes as she looked at Ryu.

He looked so vulnerable...

Rei tightened the fist of her uninjured arm. She had never felt so useless. She couldn't do anything for him: nothing at all. She just had to wait as the doctor had said. Rei felt a lump in her throat as she remembered his last words.

'He apologized for making me worry.' she thought, 'He was loosing consciousness, he didn't know if he would wake up again and he only thought of... apologizing... to me...'

She quickly turned around, wincing as another stab of pain came from her arm. Dr. Mizuno was busy calling the nearby hospitals asking them to send him some B negative blood in less than two hours but he didn't seem to have much luck. His nurses were helping him too, desperately asking for a blood supply.

Rei had to wait both to get news about Ryu and to get her arm treated.

And, as though she didn't have enough problems in her mind, she was worried for Conan and Ai's sudden disappearance. She sighed and went to sit down, after giving another glance at Ryu's sleeping figure.

'Fight, Ryu..' she thought, 'Don't give up.. I'll wait... I'm waiting for you...'


The dark blue eyes slowly opened.

'What...? Where am I?'

The boy slowly sat up, his hand pressing against his forehead, trying shake the dizziness off. Red stripes appeared on his face when he realised that he was naked; the shreds of his small clothes were on the ground along with a pair of glasses.

"It worked." Shinichi said softly, a smile creeping on his face as he took the glasses in his hand. He opened Ryu's backpack and took out some clothes. He quickly glanced at his watch and cursed under his breath: it was nearly midnight. It had taken him thirty minutes to come back to senses.

'I've got to hurry up. I hope Haibara's awake too.' he thought, putting on a pair of jeans, a short-sleeved black shirt and a pair of trainers. 'Good thing Ryu had spare shoes.'

He closed the bag. Ryu's clothes were his size: only the shirt was slightly bigger at the shoulders but he didn't care. He picked the backpack and opened the cubicle's door, still clutching his head to shake the last traces of dizziness off.

"You've come out at last, Kudo."

Shinichi turned to the voice and froze on the spot seeing the girl who was leaning against the wall.

Slim figure, shoulder length reddish-blonde hair and light blue eyes. She was wearing a pair of jeans, a white blouse and trainers. Next to her was Rei's bag.

Shinichi had never seen Ai in her true form. Even that time with Pisco, he had only caught a glimpse of her, nothing more.

'So, this is... Shiho Miyano.' he thought, staring at her, 'She's.. so.. beautiful.'

He blushed, realising what he had just thought but couldn't stop staring at her: his eyes just travelled up and down her body, taking in every single detail of the sight in front of him.

"Something wrong?" Shiho asked, quirking a brow.

"What?" he said.

"You're staring."

Shinichi hadn't realised that he had been looking at Shiho for something that went beyond a couple of seconds. Even though she had her usual emotionless expression, he could swear that there was a hint of embarrassment in her tone.

"Er- it's... nothing..." he stuttered, "When did you come around?"

"Ten minutes ago." she replied, "Let's go. Ryu needs blood in an hour's time."

"Yes, let's go."

They went out and reached the surgery in a few minutes. Shinichi knocked at the door and nurse Nami opened immediately.

"Yes, who is it?" she asked, looking at the teens, "I am sorry but we have got an emergency situation and the moment and we can't treat other patients."

"We're here to help our friend." Shinichi said quickly, "We are here to donate our blood."

The nurse looked surprised but she let them in.

"How did you..?" she asked.

"The two children informed us." Shiho cut through her sentence, "We came here straightaway while they went home." she added, foreseeing any other question.

"All right." Nami replied, "I'll go and inform Dr. Mizuno. Why don't you go to the waiting room? The other girl is there."

She went to get the doctor while Shinichi and Shiho went to see Rei; she was still sitting on the chair but her eyes were closed and she was clutching her arm: the pain was slowly overcoming her. Shinichi approached her, concern was clear on his face.

"Rei?" Shinichi approached her with a concerned look, "Why didn't the doctor still treat your wound?"

Rei's eyes snapped open as she recognized the voice that she had last heard nearly three years ago.

"Shinichi?" she asked in surprise, standing up. She looked at Shiho and her eyes widened. "A..Ai?"

"In the flesh." Shinichi replied, smiling. "We're here to help Ryu."

"We will give him our blood." Shiho added.

Rei felt as though the weight that she had in her stomach had suddenly disappeared. A smile flickered on her face and she tried to say something but the words didn't come out. Shinichi, understanding how she felt, hugged her softly.

"He'll be all right." he whispered, "Don't worry, Nee-chan."

Rei nodded, burying her face in his shoulder. The tears that she had been forcing inside herself for all this time, now came out freely. Shiho watched the scene and smiled slightly, comprehending that the girl needed all the support and comfort that he could give her.

Dr. Mizuno showed up a few seconds later and Shinichi and Rei broke their embrace.

"Who is going to donate blood?" he asked. Shinichi and Shiho stepped forward to him. "You two? Both B negative?" They nodded. "All right, we have to hurry up. Who's the first one?"

"I'll come." Shiho said and she left the room with the doctor.

Shinichi and Rei sat down. Waiting didn't seem unbearable anymore. Hope had replaced the feeling of uselessness that they had been feeling for the entire night.

"Shinichi?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"Whatever for?" he asked, turning to the girl.

"For what you're doing, for turning back to yourself to give your blood to Ryu." she replied, "You're in danger as much as us now that you're back to your selves. I just want to thank you and Ai."

"Ryu's a friend. It's obvious that I will help him. I'd do the same for you." Shinichi remarked. "Or for Haibara, of course."

Rei looked at him with slight amusement, arching a brow, and he noticed it. He blushed.

"I'd do it for any of my friends." he swiftly added, "Don't misunderstand: I didn't mean to say that I care for Haibara more than for others."

"Don't worry." she replied, smiling, "I didn't think of anything of that sort."

His embarrassment just proved her suspects. She had noticed his attitude towards Ai; in spite of the sarcastic and witty way he talked and his cool behaviour, she knew that Shinichi cared for Ai.

Even more than a friend. Ai had told her what she felt for him, so, if only Shinichi cleared his mind and followed his feelings, maybe... something could go on between them.

But it was not her business after all. She could only imagine and maybe throw a couple of hints here and there but they were the ones that had to move.

"Rei, shouldn't we call Agase?"

The girl snapped out of her thoughts as he called her.

"Come again?"

"Shouldn't we call Agase?" Shinichi repeated, "He must be worried: we disappeared this afternoon."

"Now?" she said, checking the time on the clock on the wall. "It's past midnight. He will be fast asleep by now."

"I don't think so. He'll be too concerned to sleep."

Rei thought this over.

"You're right.. but... why don't we wait until we have some news about Ryu's conditions?" she suggested, "I don't want to make him worry, telling him of our injuries. What do you think?"

"Maybe, you're right." Shinichi said with a nod, "Let's wait."

After a moment of silence, Rei turned to look at Shinichi. It was strange to see him as an adult after having spent the past months with him as Conan..

"How do you feel to be yourself again?" she asked.

"It's great!" he exclaimed with barely hidden enthusiasm. "Too bad it lasts only one day. I hope that Haibara will be able prepare the definite antidote soon."

"It will be. She's been working really hard on it in the past weeks."

"When?" he asked with surprise, " I was there every afternoon and she was always helping with the files."

"She did both the things. She helped me and continued her experiments. Ai, Ryu and I usually work till it's late at night." Rei failed to hide a smile. "At least until Agase finds out that we're still in the lab and chases us out, telling us to go to sleep."

Shinichi looked at her and smiled too. Rei's spirits had definitely risen. She wasn't worried and anxious as she had been just a few minutes ago.

After a couple of moments of silence, Rei remembered a fact that she had put aside on the moment it had occurred.

"Shinichi, whatever was going on between you and Ai in the woods? Were you arguing?"

"Er- she.." the boy muttered slowly, "She got a bit angry with me, actually."

"Ai? Get angry?" Rei asked in disbelief, staring to him, "What did you do?"

She expected him to scoff and say that it wasn't his fault and definitely didn't expected him to lower his stare and avoid her gaze.

"I think I deserved it." he said quietly, "I said a.. many things without thinking of the consequences and I also didn't realise that my behaviour was ambiguous and easy to be misunderstood."

Saying that Rei was puzzled after hearing this was an understatement but she didn't ask for further explanations because Shinichi had glanced at her and she had seen a strange, uncharacteristic glint in his clear blue eyes. Rei saw sorrow mingled with bitterness. Deep sorrow.

Just then, Shiho came back in the room.

"Kudo, you can go." she said.

Shinichi nodded and got up. As he passed near Shiho, he shot her a quick glance, startling her a bit for the intensity of the stare and left the room.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked Rei as she sat down next to her, taking the boy's seat.

"I thought that you would have told me this, Ai...-sorry, I mean, Shiho." Rei said, quickly correcting her slip.

"Me?" she asked in puzzlement.

"I asked him why you were arguing in the woods and he said that he made you angry." she replied and glanced at her with a small smile, "It's kind of hard to imagine you getting mad..."

Shiho looked at her.

"Well... I did get angry..." she admitted, "But I think I misunderstood Kudo's words and his intentions, Rei."

Rei frowned slightly, noticing the look on her face.

'Whatever happened between them?' she wondered with concern.

"What happened?" she asked tentatively.

Shiho looked at her again, a sad glint crossed her eyes.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Rei hastily added but Shiho shook her head. She began to tell her everything. Kudo's strange attitude towards Ryu, their argument and Conan's threaten to report him if he killed Scotch. Her argument with him and all her accusations, her decision to separate and his refusal. She also told Rei how she misunderstood his concern towards her while she thought that he was solely worried about the making of the antidote.

Rei listened to her words in silence and spoke only when she finished.

"So... you thought that Shinichi's sense of justice outstripped his friendship with Ryu, that he was a fool to force Ryu face Scotch disarmed and you also thought that he was so.. heartless to be worried of you only because you're the one that can make the antidote of the APTX-4869." she summarized swiftly, "Well, no wonder Shinichi's so dejected..."

Shiho felt a pang of guilt as she heard this.

"What did Kudo tell you?" she asked quietly.

"He said that he had said a few things without thinking of the consequences and that his behaviour had been ambiguous." Rei replied, "I didn't understand what he meant but now everything is clear." Shiho looked at her with a quizzical look and Rei went on. "Listen, Shiho, how would you feel if you found yourself alone, face to face with your sister's murderer?"

An image of Gin standing in front of her, like the time on the Beika Hotel's rooftop, materialised in Shiho's mind. A wave of emotions surged in her.

"I would feel angry..." she replied, "Very angry.. filled with loathing and also with... with a great desire to get revenge."

"Exactly. That's how I felt when I met Scotch a few hours ago. I felt a mix of feelings that I didn't think was possible to feel all at once... I couldn't control them. All the pain, the sorrow and a deep anger just had free reign over me." Rei explained, "In your case, it's understandable: you have lost your sister recently. It's plausible that you feel like this.

But what about me?

My parents' have died five years ago: I should have more control of my feelings by now. Instead, when I saw Scotch, my self-control just vanished; if he hadn't threatened to shoot you or Shinichi, if I had been alone, I don't know what I would have done. I think that Shinichi feared that this would have happened to Ryu, too."

"Ryu told me that he was on the verge of killing Scotch." Shiho remarked and Rei looked at her. "I asked him while you and Kudo went to the cave."

"What else did he say?"

"He said that he was pulling the trigger when Kudo's words came to his mind, along with the images of all the people he cared for and he realised that what he was going to do was a mistake."

"The biggest mistake of his life." Rei added. She looked her hands for a couple of moments, lost in her thoughts. "But I understand how he must have felt.." she said softly, "It's so hard to control your feelings. Especially anger."

"What would you have done in his place?" Shiho asked, looking at her.

"I don't know." Rei answered simply, looking up, "Just look at what happened before. I drew out my gun without even realising it when Scotch talked about the way he killed my parents."

"Would you have shot him?"

"I.. I don't know. I mean, in a first moment I would have wanted to kill him but later, maybe, I would have realised that it would have been... just... worthless."

"Worthless?"

"My parents won't come back to life if I kill Scotch and.. I don't think I would feel better afterwards. I'd probably feel worse. I would only be a cold-blooded murderer much like Scotch himself.. I don't think I'd even be able to look at myself in the mirror without feeling ashamed or disgusted."

Shiho looked at her with an amount of respect that she rarely showed to people and couldn't ignore the little bit of envy she was feeling.

'She's stronger than I had imagined.' she thought, 'I don't know if I'd be so.. self-controlled if I met Gin with a gun in my hand.'

"They're not all my own ideas." Rei seemed to read her mind. "Shinichi convinced me three years ago. He told me that vengeance was totally useless because it hurts you instead of helping you. If I'm not mistaken, his said something like... er- oh, yes.. Anger is a consequence of pain. It's natural but you also have to be careful. If anger overcomes you, then cruelty seizes your heart. One moment of inattention is enough for that monster called vengeance to seize your soul." [2]

Rei looked at Shiho.

"I know that words by heart. I think that only then, when I realised the depth of his words, I truly overcame my parents' death. Shinichi has seen what anger and vengeance can bring to. He is a detective and most of the cases he has to solve are committed for these reasons. I think he was so harsh with Ryu because he didn't want him to suffer more than he already has." A smile made it's way of Rei's face. "Well, it's so typical of Shinichi..."

Shiho smiled slightly but she felt guilt grab her insides. She had just shouted at him without even giving him the chance to explain...

Shinichi entered the room that very moment.

"Rei." he said, approaching her, "Dr. Mizuno wants to see your arm."

"Ok." she replied, getting up, "Why did it take you so much?"

"I gave some blood for you. Your arm's being bleeding for hours and I thought you'd need a transfusion as well."

"Thank you, Shinichi." Rei said with a smile.

"Come on..." he replied, blushing slightly, "It's nothing."

However, before leaving the room, Rei bent down to Shiho.

"Talk to him." she whispered in her ear, "I'm sure you'll sort out your argument."

Shiho smiled ever so lightly at her and gave her a nod. Rei gave her a swift wink and left.

There was an awkward silence in the room now.

Shinichi sat down next to Shiho, feeling uncomfortable and wondering if she would get mad if he talked to her. Shiho, on the other hand was wondering if he would want to listen to her after all the things she had told him.

'If I don't talk, I'll never know what will happen.' she thought, at last 'It's now or never.'

She glanced at Shinichi and found him staring at her. Again. She blinked.

He quickly turned away, breaking eye contact as red stripes appeared on his face. He didn't know why but he couldn't help staring at her.

He felt as though he knew who she was but at the same time he didn't. After all, he had talked, bickered and spent time with Ai Haibara during all these months, not with Shiho Miyano.

'They're the same person.. just like me and Conan but ... I don't know what to do. How can I even try to talk to her if I keep on staring at her?' he thought furiously, 'Not to mention that I keep blushing... I'm behaving like a girl that sees a movie actor. Damn it!'

Shinichi was so busy with his self-criticism that he didn't hear Shiho calling him. He came out of his thoughts only when he felt a soft tap on his shoulder.

"Huh?" he said, turning around. Shiho was staring at him, a slight glint of concern in her eyes. Shinichi felt his face grow hot as he stared into her light blue eyes: he didn't know why but he was sure that no one could be impassive in front of those azure pools.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Wha.. what?" he stammered, "Yes.. why?"

"I called you a few times but you didn't reply."

"Er- I was just... thinking. What is it, Haibar... -no, Miyano?"

Shinichi mentally slapped himself.

'Great job, Kudo!' he thought, 'Very subtle...'

Shiho looked at him, uncertain whether to speak or not. She took a deep breath.

"Kudo, I think I need to apologize."

He looked at her with astonishment.

"Whatever for?" he asked.

"I misunderstood your behaviour with Ryu and I just blamed you without giving you the chance to explain. Well... I'm sorry."

Shinichi was taken aback. She was sincere. He was sure of that and he also noticed a faint trace.. was it guilt that he was hearing in her tone?

"No, you don't have to apologize." he said, shaking his head, " I should. Ryu nearly got killed because of my words. You were right to blame me."

"Ryu said that you were right."

"What?"

"I talked with him while you were off to the cave. He said that your words helped him regain control. He was on the verge of killing Scotch when the promise he made to you came back to his mind and made him come back to sense. He said that he wanted to thank you because it must have been hard for you to behave so harshly with him. To behave in that way with a friend, I mean."

Hearing this, Shinichi felt the terrible weight he had in his stomach since the moment he had heard the gun shot in the woods, lessen considerably. He sighed with relief.

"You don't know what that means to me." he said, "I didn't know how I was going to face Ryu once he woke up." Shinichi looked at his hands while a smile was threatening to spread on his face. However, he sobered as a thought crossed his mind. "By the way... Miyano, how come you changed your mind on my attitude?"

"I talked with Ryu and he told me a few things; hen I talked with Rei and she explained me another couple of things." Shiho replied, " I realised that you were only worried for Ryu while I misunderstood everything: I think I confused my pain for Akemi's death with Ryu's feelings for his family's murder."

"Well, you don't have to blame yourself." Shinichi said sadly, "You have lost your sister only some months ago: it's natural that you feel in that way. You should blame me instead: it was my fault."

"It was not your fault. You did all that you could to help her. I don't blame you. Gin is the only one I blame for Akemi's death." She looked at him, "I'm sorry for what I said this evening, Kudo."

Shinichi felt a twinge in his heart as he looked at her.

"Don't worry." he replied, "It's nothing."

'She's really sorry.' he thought, 'I've never seen her like that..' His mind wandered to other thoughts. 'She's so cute, though... oh God, Kudo get a grip. I don't believe I've just thought that.. even though it's true.. oh, dear god...'

While Shinichi was busy with his musings, Shiho glanced at him again. There was a another thing that she wanted to know..

"Kudo?"

"Yes?"

"During our argument, you said that you know what happens when one kills the murderer of a dear person. You said that you won't let it happen again. What did you mean?"

Shinichi looked at her and she saw that strange glint in his eyes again, the same that he had in the woods: bitterness, anger and sorrow seemed to mix up in those dark blue eyes.

"It's a thing that has happened months ago: one of.. Conan's early cases." he said, " Kogoroh had been hired by a man to go and investigate on a small island. He sent him a message.

The next night of full moon, the shadows will dissolve again on Tsukikage island.

I ask you to investigate.

Keiji Asoh.

But when we arrived there, we found out that this Keiji Asoh had died ten years ago as a suicidal. He was a famous pianist and one night, after a concert at the island's public relations' building, he closed himself in his house, murdered his wife and daughter and set the house on fire. But the thing that struck most was that he was playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata among the flames.

At the beginning, Kogoroh thought that it was a joke but I convinced him that it was better to be sure. We decided to see the mayor who had been one of Asoh's best friends and on the way, we met Dr. Narumi Asai. She was very gentle..." He stopped and shook his head as though shaking away his thoughts, "I don't want to bore you with all the details, so I'll cut a bit.

We have been there for hardly two days and three people got killed.. well four, if we count a mysterious death that happened the year before. Every murder was preceded by a stanza of the Moonlight Sonata and we always found a musical score next to the bodies. I found out that there was a code hidden in the score and that, plus a handwritten score by Keiji Asoh and a mistake made by the murderer made me solve the case.

The four victims were all childhood friends of Keiji Asoh. It seemed that they were all involved in a drug dealing business and used Asoh's concerts as a covering. Everything worked well till Asoh refused to help them again. That's why they decided to kill him. And I found out everything."

"Who ...?" Shiho started to ask but the look on Shinichi's face stopped her. She waited him to continue.

"Dr. Narumi was the murderer. Keiji Asoh had a son that was admitted in a hospital in Tokyo. His name was Seiji. Dr. Narumi was Seiji.

She was the one that had examined all the bodies; in that way, it had been easy for him to give fake death hours. The murders required great strength and since everybody thought she was a woman, no one had suspects. Unfortunately, Seiji had another plan, after having revenged his family's death..."

-:-

The public relations' building was on fire: the fire had started from all the sides. The culprit had strewn petrol all around the building. Dr. Narumi.. Seiji Asoh, was sitting at the piano that his father had donated to the island with the flames dancing around him. He played a key randomly.

"It's over, Dad." he said, "It's all over."

"Nothing is still over."

Seiji looked up and saw Conan, standing at the door frame, panting and holding a score in a hand.

"You can't die in this way." he said, "It's also written in the score your father left: Seiji, at least you have to live."

-:-

"I tried to coax him out but it was useless. He told me how he had found out the truth and how he decided to commit the murders." Shinichi whispered, "And then..."

-:-

The fire was going to overcome them: there was smoke everywhere. Seiji began to cough.

"Come on, Seiji." Conan urged, pulling his sleeve, "We have to leave soon. We are still in time."

Seiji looked at the little boy and stood up.

"It's too late now." he remarked.

"Wha..? Hey!" Conan exclaimed as Seiji lifted him from the ground.

Seiji looked at him.

"Like the hands of that four, my hands, too , are stained with blood that will never go away."

-:-

"I will never forget the look on his face. There was only sorrow in his eyes.

He threw me out of the ground floor window. I tried to run back in but Ran blocked me. We all just waited outside, looking at the building burn.

Then, I heard a piano play: Seiji was playing among the flames, just like his father had done. He played the code used in the scores." He glanced at Shiho. "Do you know what he said? Thank you, little meitantei."

Shinichi stopped talking and Shiho could see pain and guilt flashing in his eyes. She didn't know what to say. He took a deep breath.

"I promised myself that I would have never let this happen again. If we make a hypothesis that makes the murderer attempt to commit suicide, how different are we from the murderer himself? I feared that something like this would happen today.

Ryu's my friend and I didn't want him to commit a crime because he could be attempted to kill himself in return. He's too loyal and honest to commit a crime but if feelings like vengeance and anger overcame him, he could have. And I don't know how he would have reacted later: I don't think he would have been able to forget it or live with the memory of having killed a man. That's why I didn't want Ryu to face Scotch alone."

Silence enveloped the room.

"Kudo?"

"Yes?" he said, turning around. Shiho was staring at him.

"Can I ask you a favour?"

"Sure."

"If I find myself facing Gin... one day... and if you're around there, can you do the same for me?"

"You mean..."

"Yes, could you stop me from committing a murder?"

Shinichi looked at her straight in the eyes and smiled.

"Of course, I will." he replied, "You don't even have to ask. I'll do it, Miyano."

"Thanks, Kudo." she said.

There was another moment of silence.

"Miyano?"

Shiho looked up.

"Er- you're not planning to leave.. suddenly, are you?" Shinichi asked.

She looked at him slightly taken aback, not by his question but by his tone. It was full of concern.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"When we were in the woods, you said that we had to split up and take different roads.." he said.

"I meant that we had to separate so whoever was following us would have been forced to track only one down and not both." she remarked but Shinichi was not a fool.

He stared at her with his 'detective' look waiting for an explanation. Shiho felt the uncomfortable feeling of being x-rayed.

She had been thinking of leaving many times; not only today in the woods. She was only waiting to finish the last testing of the antidote. It had been a hard decision to take.

She liked staying at Agase's house. She liked her.. new life, her Organisation-free life. She liked staying with Rei, Ryu and Kudo. But sometimes, she felt out of place. She often found herself thinking things like: What am I doing here with them? They are light and I am just darkness. We are all working together now because we have a common target: bring down the Organisation. And after? If there will be an after, what will I do?

Shiho didn't have another place to go. She only had that little, hidden, perfect life that she had found after that death had refused to take her. She only had Ai Haibara's life.

"Well?" Shinichi asked, making her snap out of her thoughts. She looked at him and saw that he was worried. Shiho felt her heart melt.

'Why are you so worried for me?' she thought, 'You're all making it harder: Ryu, Rei and you. I was so sure of my decision till a few days ago but now... I don't even know what I want.'

"I'm the one that has created the APTX-4869." she said, after a bit, "It's my fault if you are in this condition. So, I'll make the antidote, give it to you and leave and you will go back to your life. You won't have to take care of me: you won't have to bother to keep that promise anymore.. "

She looked down so that he couldn't see the pain in her eyes.

Her words hurt Shinichi more than a knife stab. He didn't understand why she was saying that. He had promised to protect her, it was true, but why...?

Then it hit him and a look of dawning comprehension appeared on his face.

"Hey.. wait a minute.." he said slowly, "You thought that I was worried for you and that I helped you only because you were making the antidote?"

He turned in his seat and looked at her, bewilderment clear on his face. Shiho just nodded without even looking up. Thousands of questions rushed in his mind but at the end only one came out.

"Why?"

"Why not?" she asked in return, still looking down, "I'm the criminal that has ruined your life. I'm a member of the Organisation. Why should someone be worried for me? Who would care if I left?"

Shiho quickly regretted to have said this: she didn't want to hear his answer.

He couldn't contradict her: she had only said the truth.

"Did you ever stop to think that there are people that actually care for you?"

"What?" she asked, looking up. Shinichi was staring at her.

"Agase cares for you as a daughter; Ryu cares for you as a friend and a sister; Rei cares for you as a friend.. her best friend; that three mad kids of the Detective Boys care for you and... er- I care for you as a friend too." he said, highly embarrassed. Shiho felt her face grow warm and was glad that her hair hid it. Shinichi coughed slightly and continued. "What I wanted to say is that we all would be worried for you: you're not alone, Miyano. You have us, your friends. I know you can't forget your past but you're not the one to blame. You were forced to work for them and were forced to prepare the poison. The past is past: you can't change it. I know that you're not a criminal and Ryu and Rei know it, too. You're not a member of the Organisation anymore and you're helping us bring it down. You are just like us. Don't run away: don't look away from your destiny."

Shiho felt a wave of gratefulness flow through her body as he said this.

The same words he told her at the bus-jack...

However, she couldn't find the words to tell him what it meant to her to hear him talk like that. She turned to look at him and nodded.

"So, you will not go away?" he asked, uncertain whether his words had convinced her.

"No, I won't." she replied.

"Great." he said and smiled broadly without realising it.

Seeing his sincere relief, Shiho smiled back. It was a true smile, not the usual smirk or cool half smile. Shinichi's heart missed a beat as he looked at her. He had never seen her smile like that.

"Excuse me?"

They both turned around and saw Nurse Nami standing at the door frame with two mugs in her hands.

"I thought you'd want some coffee." she said, approaching them.

"Thanks." they said, taking the mugs.

"How are our friends doing?" Shinichi asked.

"The blood transfusion is nearly over: we should see the results in another couple of minutes. But I think that your friend will recover soon. Dr Mizuno is treating the young girl now: it seems that the bullet has gone deep in her arm. Well... I have to go. See you later."

She left Shiho and Shinichi, sipping their coffees and feeling definitely less worried.

After a few moments of silence, Shiho heard Shinichi muttering on his own.

"That's odd!" he said, "I didn't think of it before.." She turned to him with a quizzical look and he noticed it. "It's nothing. I've just noticed that it's the first time that we two have actually met. In our true forms, I mean."

Shiho thought it over and nodded.

"You're right. We have never turned to ourselves at the same time..." she remarked, "It's the first time we take the antidote together."

"Yes." he said thoughtfully.

Suddenly, he held out his hand towards her. Shiho looked at him blankly.

"What's that meant to be?" she asked.

"Shinichi Kudo, pleased to meet you." he replied.

Shiho nearly laughed out as he said this but she managed to control herself.

"Kudo, if you haven't noticed, we already know each other." she remarked ironically, "For nearly six months, you know?"

"Well, that's not exactly true." he retorted, "We have met each other as Ai Haibara and Conan Edogawa. I know it seems awkward but every time I look at you, I know who you are and two seconds later, I'm not sure anymore." Shiho raised her eyebrow, clearly amused. "Come on, it's just to way to make our official introduction." He flashed his trademark smile.

Shiho felt a jolt in her stomach.

"All right." she managed to say.

"Shinichi Kudo, pleased to meet you."

"Shiho Miyano, pleased to meet you."

They shook hands, both ignoring the shivers that ran down their spines as their hands touched.

The room went silent again but both Shinichi and Shiho thought it was quite pleasurable.

Their talk had made them feel better: Shinichi knew that she didn't blame him for what he had said to Ryu and, most important of all, she didn't blame him for her sister's death. And he knew that she wouldn't go away: she wouldn't leave suddenly.

On the other hand, Shiho knew that he didn't consider her as the only way to get back to his life.

He cared for her. As a friend, but he cared for her and that was enough for Shiho.

They were both lost in their thoughts when Rei appeared at the door. It was nearly one in the morning. She was wearing her right arm in a sling and she was smiling. Shinichi and Shiho got up as she approached them.

"Rei, any news?" Shiho asked.

"Yes, good news. Ryu's out of danger." she said, "The transfusion saved him just in time: the doctor said that if we had waited another hour, Ryu couldn't have made it. He's alive thanks to you two."

"Oh, come on..." Shinichi said, waving his hand, " He's a friend: it was obvious that we would do it. Am I right, Miyano?"

"Yes, you're right." she replied, "By the way, Rei, how's your arm?"

"It seems that the bullet has gone through the fleshy part of the arm and just stopped there: the doctor had to work a bit to get it out but no bone is broken or fractured. I've been lucky. It went worse for Ryu: besides the wound at the waist, he's got a few cracked ribs, a deep cut on his head and light bruises here and there."

"He had quite a fight with Scotch, didn't he?" Shinichi remarked.

Rei smiled.

"We'll have quite a fight with him, too." she said, "Trying to make him stay in bed and recover."

Shinichi and Shiho smiled as she said this: Ryu was always so busy working or doing something that it was hard to imagine him staying in bed, waiting to recover.

"By the way, I called the car rental before." Rei said, "I made up an excuse and told them to come and get the car. They didn't seem to happy but they said that they'd be here tomorrow.. this morning around nine o'clock. We should call Agase, what do you think?"

"I'll do it." Shinichi said, pulling his earring phone out of his pocket. "I'm sure that he's still awake."

He quickly dialled the number and waited.

"Hello? Professor? Shinichi speaking... hey, calm down! Yes, we're all fine. Well, we're fine now, at least." He glanced at the girls and smiled. "No, don't worry: we'll explain everything later."

"Ask him if he can come and get us." Shiho whispered.

Shinichi nodded.

"Professor, could you come and pick us?" he asked, "No, not now, but today at... let's see... eleven o'clock? Do you know where we are? Yes, it's near there.. come into the small town next to the woods. All right, then, see you later. Bye!"

He hung up.

"Agase was pretty worried." he said, "Anyway, he'll be here at eleven o'clock."

"We just have to wait Ryu to wake up now" Rei remarked.

The other two nodded.

Waiting didn't seem so hard anymore.


'Where am I?'

This was his first thought as he opened his eyes, facing an unknown ceiling.

He was in a large room that was dimly illuminated by the rays of sunlight that managed to filter through the shutters. He was lying on a bed and this made him remember what had happened.

'Oh, yes, I passed out after we got out of the car. Because of the wound... the blood-loss. Well... I have to admit that I thought I wouldn't have made it this time. I'm wondering if Shinigami really doesn't want me around him...'

He tried to sit up but it was not a good idea. He felt all his body aching: waist, chest, head...

He managed to sit up, leaning on the headboard, wincing slightly as he felt a sharp pain at his ribs.

'Scotch has really beaten me up well.' he thought sarcastically.

He looked around the room and saw that the clock on the wall signed ten to nine. Just then, he noticed that he wasn't alone: there were three people in the room.

Two girls and a boy: all sitting on chairs and fast asleep.

He looked at the boy, who was next to the door: he didn't know him but he did look familiar.. oddly familiar. He glanced at the girl at his right and his eyes widened.

'Sherry?' he thought, recognizing her, 'No, wait, how's that possible? Unless Ai...? The pill? Then that boy is... Conan? But... why...?'

Slightly puzzled, he looked at the girl asleep at his bedside. She was wearing her arm in a sling.

Ryu felt a familiar twinge at his heart at the sight of her. He smiled as he looked down, taking in the innocent expression on Rei's face. He lightly stroke her cheek.

This made Rei wake up. She slowly rubbed her eyes and looked up.

"Good morning." Ryu said, smiling at her.

"Ryu! How are you feeling?" she asked, getting closer to him. Ryu was pleased to see that she was really happy to see him.

"I'm fine..." he replied, "If I don't count that half of my body aches whenever I move. Besides that, how's your arm?"

"It's all right. I'll be fine in a week's time."

"Great."

They had so many things to tell each other but they didn't seem to find the words so they just smiled at each other. Just then, Shiho first and then Shinichi, woke up.

"How are you, Ryu?" Shiho asked, getting up.

"Not bad, Sher.. er- no, Shiho." Ryu said, correcting himself quickly.

"I wouldn't say that if I had a hole in the waist and a few cracked ribs." Shinichi remarked sarcastically, approaching him.

"Please don't remind me..." Ryu said, grimacing and the others laughed. "By the way, how come are you two in your true forms?"

"They took the temporary antidote to save you, Ryu." Rei answered, "You needed an immediate blood transfusion and Shinichi and Shiho gave you their blood."

Ryu turned to them.

"You saved my life, risking yours..." he stated, "If someone sees you..." He looked at the two and smiled. "Thanks, Shinichi. Thank you, Shiho."

The two shook their heads, slightly embarrassed.

"You saved me too, remember?" Shiho said, "So now we're even."

"And you saved both in the woods." Shinichi remarked, "You also gave us your bullet-proof jacket. You don't have to thank us."

Ryu just smiled at him and nodded.

In the meanwhile, Rei's eyes were fixed on Ryu. She was so glad that he was fine, alive and out of danger. The image of him lying unconscious on the bed surrounded by machines that had been flashing in her mind for hours had finally disappeared. She had feared that she could have lost him: the same fear that had seized her heart when he had disappeared months ago.

'I didn't say or do anything when we met again weeks ago.' she thought, 'I didn't tell him... anything. I can't do the same now. I have to tell him! But how?'

Shiho glanced at Rei while Shinichi and Ryu were talking, and noticed her strange behaviour. It didn't take her much to understand what she had in her mind.

'Rei has often helped me.' she thought, 'Maybe, I could do something for her this time...'

She thought it over and came up with a good idea.

"Rei? Didn't you say that someone of the car rental would come here around nine o'clock?"

Rei snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her watch.

"You're right. It's nearly ten past nine now." she said, "I'll go and see if they have come. I'll have to explain why.."

"No, you can't go: you're injured. What do you think, Kudo?" she asked, turning to him, "We could go instead. The doctor will probably want to check Ryu and Rei."

Shinichi nodded.

"Ok. Let's go." he said, "We could also get something for breakfast: none of us has eaten anything since lunchtime."

"All right, then.." Rei conceded, "If you are going, I'll wait for the doctor with Ryu."

Shinichi and Shiho headed to the door. Shiho gave a significant glance to Rei as she passed by and she seemed to understand what the blonde meant because she smiled. As soon as they left, Rei took a deep breath and turned around to Ryu who was looking at her.

'It's now or never.' she thought.

"Ryu, I..."

"Rei, I.." he said, at the same time.

There was a pause.

"Go ahead." Ryu said, "Ladies first."

Rei forced a small smile, trying to ignore that her heartbeat had doubled in a few seconds and that her mouth had gone dry.

"Ryu.." she said slowly, "There is something that I have to tell you..."

"Yes?"

She sat down next to him. Ryu looked at her, smiling in that particular way that made her melt.

"I.." she stammered, "I.. well.."

"Something wrong?" he asked, getting closer to her. They were only inches apart. "It's not like you to be so nervous, Rei."

She looked at him and saw a glint of concern in his eyes. She smiled slightly.

"No, don't worry." she said, "It's just that... what I'm going to say might change a few things.. between us."

Ryu looked at her, slightly alarmed but quickly changed expression.

"Come on, don't worry." he said, smiling reassuringly, "We have always been sincere with each other. You can tell me anything. Go ahead"

Rei didn't know what to do: it seemed that she had lost the ability to speak. She just nodded.

'I'll never get through this if I go on like this.' she thought nervously.

She looked at Ryu.

She had fallen for him immediately.

She liked everything of him but didn't show it openly. She didn't want to and had preferred to be only a friend for him. Maybe she didn't want to suffer in case of a refusal, or maybe, she didn't want to loose him.

At least, as a friend, she could stay next to him. Now she realised that it had been wrong: for herself and for him. As he had said, they had always said everything to each other. If she continued to keep her feelings hidden, it would be like hiding something from Ryu.

She had already lost a chance weeks ago..

"I can't do the same mistake twice." she whispered to herself.

"What?" Ryu asked, thinking she was talking with him and leaning closer to her.

Rei looked up and, before she could realise what she was doing, before she had time to think, she leaned forward and kissed Ryu softly on the lips.

Ryu froze. A tingling warmth went through his body.

He was dreaming... It was impossible that Rei... no, it wasn't happening... it couldn't be happening.

Rei parted a few moments later and looked at him. He was clearly surprised.

'Oh God, what did I do?' she thought desperately as the enormity of her action hit her.

"Ryu, sorry.." she began, but she didn't sound too sure of herself. It hurt: her heart ached painfully.

Ryu still looked stunned, so she started again.

"Sor - "

Her apology was cut short as Ryu leaned forward to kiss her. Rei was the one to be surprised now. His lips were warm and tender against her own. Slowly, painstakingly slowly, she responded to his kiss and she felt Ryu smile. A smile that made its way on her face too.

They were interrupted, suddenly, by Shinichi.

"I forgot to take..." he stopped as he saw the intimate scene and quickly slammed the door shut. Ryu and Rei had already parted away. They looked at each other as red striped coloured their faces.

Shiho was standing out of the door, waiting for Shinichi and got startled when he slammed it shut.

"Kudo?" she asked, "What's wrong?"

"They were..." he stammered, blushing furiously, "And I..I saw..."

She looked at him, eyebrow raised.

"You know it would be annoying if you didn't explain yourself properly." she said, sarcastically.

She went to the door and knocked. As soon as she heard Ryu say "Come in.", she opened.

"Come on, Kudo." she said, "Didn't you say that you forgot to take something? Go ahead: we don't have the all day."

Shinichi quickly went in the room, opened his backpack, took what he had to take and headed to the door. He did this very quickly. However, before leaving, he turned to Ryu and Rei.

"Sorry." he muttered.

They just smiled sheepishly. Shiho looked at the three and figured out what had happened.

"See you later." she said, closing the door.

Rei turned to Ryu, wondering what was going to happen.

He looked at her.

"I had to tell you something too, remember?"

"Yes." she replied, uncertainly.

"Can I tell it to you now?"

"Of course.."

Ryu leaned towards her. Rei felt her face grow hot as his lips stopped millimeters from hers.

"Rei, this is something I've wanted to tell you for a long time." he whispered, looking in her eyes, "I have always loved you. From the moment we first met, I just knew that I felt something for you but I never told you anything because I didn't want to ruin our friendship in any way."

Rei felt as though her heart was going to burst.

"I love you, too." she said softly, "I've always did and I didn't say anything for the same reason."

Ryu wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.

"It seems that we've been worrying for nothing." he said softly, smiling.

"Yes." she replied smiling and cuddled against him. "For nothing."


Shinichi was still red in the face when he left the surgery. Shiho was trying hard not to laugh.

"Why didn't you stop me?" he asked suddenly, turning to her.

"You could have knocked, couldn't you?" she asked instead and he blushed again.

"So that's why you wanted us to leave..." he said, after a while, "You wanted to leave them alone."

"I thought you had understood this right away, Kudo." she replied, "You're the famous detective after all." Shinichi rolled his eyes and Shiho smirked. "By the way, what did you forget? We had barely reached the front door, after having informed the doctor that Ryu had got up, that you dashed back to the room."

He didn't answer; instead, he pulled a cap from his pocket.

Shiho stared at him.

"You went back just to take.. a cap?" she asked. "Why...?"

She stopped as he put the cap on her head. She looked at him quizzically.

"In this way, no one should recognize you." he said, "You're in danger in this form, remember?"

She nodded, taken aback.

"Thanks..." she mumbled, "But what about you?"

He showed her his glasses, Conan's glasses, and put them on.

"This should be enough." he said with a smile and walked on.

Shiho lowered the cap on her eyes and glanced at Shinichi. He had rushed back just to take this cap for her.. For her safety. She smiled and followed him.

The man of the car rental was already there. Shinichi made up an excuse for Rei and thanked him for his help while Shiho checked if they had left anything in the car. When she was sure that everything was okay (no blood stains on the seats for example), Shinichi paid for the rent and the man left with the car.

"One problem is over." he said as the car sped away, "So, shall we get something for breakfast?"

Shiho nodded and they headed to a bar. While they were walking, she noticed a line of cars at the side of the main road and few people getting out of them. Her eyes widened; she grabbed Shinichi's wrist and moved out of sight.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"Look over there." she replied, pointing to their left.

Shinichi turned around and his mouth dropped open.

"What are they doing here?"

Inspector Megure, Takagi and a couple of policemen were there, talking to each other. There was also a familiar grey car: Detective Mouri and Ran were there, too.

"What do you think has happened?" he asked Shiho.

"Well, you called Megure last night to tell him to him about Scotch..."

"Yes, but I said that I heard a few shots and that they had to check out. Scotch was tied to a tree: it must have been easy for them to get him." Shinichi looked past the wall they were hiding. "What I don't understand is what Kogoroh is doing here."

"Do you think there's been a murder here?"

"Could be... Let's find out."

Shiho looked at him as though he had gone mad but he grinned and pointed at a policeman talking with an old man not far from them.

Shinichi and Shiho approached him slowly.

"Excuse me, what's happened?" Shinichi asked.

"What? Well, a murder." the officer replied absently. The old chap was half deaf and rather than telling him if he had seen anything or anyone suspicious, he was protesting for his arthritis. With a sigh, he turned away from the rambling man and turned to the teens. "We have received an anonymous call from a man saying that he heard a few gunshots in the woods. And when we got there, we find a man tied to a tree. Dead. Shot at the head."

Both Shinichi and Shiho froze as they heard this. It was an execution and the way of killing seemed terribly familiar...

"Did you notice anything?" the policeman asked, staring at them.

"No.. no." Shinichi said, shaking his head and forcing a smile, "We have just come here. We were only wondering what was happening."

"We shouldn't be bothering you.." Shiho remarked, "It's better if we go."

After saying this, the teens walked on towards the clinic.

The policeman didn't bother much to them; at his eyes, they were just two curious, young teens. He turned to the old and resumed the questioning.

-:-

Ran stifled a yawn as she got out of the car.

Inspector Megure had called very early at the agency and asked her father to come immediately to help him with another mysterious murder. Kogoroh had complained quite a bit because it was only seven in the morning and said that he wouldn't come but Megure knew how to convince him.

He said that the death was very strange and that only the great Detective Mouri could solve it.

As a result, Kogoroh accepted.

Ran looked around. It was a very small town and all was calm. Nobody seemed to know that a murder had occurred a few miles away. She had not seen the crime scene but just the description of the dead man had made her blood freeze in her veins.

They had come there to see if anyone had noticed anything strange; the police wanted to find a witness but there weren't many people around.

Just then, she noticed a young couple walking very quickly down a road in front of her. The boy looked oddly familiar even if he was far from her and giving her the back.

'Shinichi?' she thought, eyes widening, 'How...?'

She started to move before she could think what she was doing.

"Dad, I'll be back soon." she said and without waiting for her father's reply, she walked behind the boy, hoping to reach him.

-:-

"What do you think?" Shinichi asked Shiho as they walked as fast as they could towards the surgery.

"It's Gin." she replied firmly, "I'm sure of it. He killed Pisco and... Akemi in the same way: it's his modus operandi."

"I thought so too.. But why was he here? Scotch said that he was alone. Why was Gin here?" Shiho shrugged, not knowing what to say. Shinichi noticed that she was shivering slightly and tried to reassure her. "Well, he won't come here. It's full of policemen and he won't... damn it!"

He had casually glanced at a cars' wing mirror and saw Ran coming towards them. She was still at a fair distance but was catching up.

He grabbed Shiho's hand and began to run.

"Kudo, what..?" she asked as he dragged her.

"Ran's behind us." he said quickly, "We have to shake her off."

"You could stop and talk to her, saying that you are here for the murder."

Shiho almost slapped herself after she said this.

'Why am I telling him to go to Mouri?' she thought, 'Now, he'll probably stop and go to her, leaving me to...'

Her musings were interrupted when, to her great surprise, Shinichi ran faster, still holding her hand.

"I can't waste time with Ran." he remarked bluntly, "We have to get away from here as soon as possible. You're in danger because Gin could still be around and Ryu and Rei could be in trouble if the police goes to the surgery. They have both gunshot wounds and if someone questions the doctor or the nurses, they will find out that we've been in the woods last night."

Sharing a concerned glance, they both sped towards the surgery.

-:-

Ran was walking hurriedly behind the couple.

She was quite sure that the boy was Shinichi. She knew him since their childhood after all, but she didn't recognize the girl. A cap was covering her face.

Suddenly, they began to run.

Ran, slightly taken aback, sped after them a few seconds later. She felt a pang of jealousy, seeing that they were holding hands. She was still far from them when they turned to their right.

When she came to the turn, she saw that they had disappeared. She looked at her sides but nothing, they were not there.

Feeling very dejected, Ran turned around and walked back to her car.

'Maybe, it wasn't Shinichi but just one that looks like him.' she thought, 'Shinichi wouldn't have run away from me in that way... and he's not the type to hold a girl's hand. He always said that it was a girlish thing to do. No, I must have made a mistake.'

She walked on, fighting back the tears of disappointment that were filling her eyes.

-:-

Shinichi and Shiho had rushed inside the surgery at full speed. They shut the door behind them and leaned against it as they were catching their breath.

"We have to go and inform Ryu and Rei." Shinichi said, after a while. Shiho nodded.

When they headed to the room, they realised that they were still holding hands. Highly embarrassed, Shinichi let her go while Shiho stepped back, glad that the cap hid her red face.

As they came to Ryu's room, they found the door closed and Rei waiting outside. She looked up as they approached her.

"Agase has called." she said, before they could speak. Her tone was brisk. "He's nearly here. Scotch has been murdered: it was on the news."

"Yes, we know." Shinichi said, "Inspector Megure and Kogoroh are here with a group of policemen. We have to leave."

"Ryu's getting ready." Rei remarked, gesturing to the door. "We just have to wait for Agase's call. I told him to wait at the back of the surgery. Nobody should notice him."

"How did he call you?" Shiho asked.

"He called at Shinichi's earring phone. Good thing you forgot it in your backpack or we wouldn't be ready yet." Rei replied, handing the phone back to Shinichi.

"Is Ryu able to move?" he asked, pocketing the object, "Despite all his injuries?"

"He said that he can. I know that it's not the best for him but... we don't have other choice."

The door opened and Ryu appeared at the door frame, leaning on the wall for balance.

"I'm ready." he said, "We have to get our things now."

"Are you sure you can walk?" Shinichi asked, taking his backpack.

"Yes, I'll do it somehow. Don't worry." he replied, "We have to wait for Agase's call. I hope he'll be here soon. We have to leave."

"Leave?"

The four teenagers froze on the spot and slowly turned around. Dr. Mizuno and his nurses were at the door.

"What are you doing?" the doctor asked, folding his arms.

"Doctor... we have to leave." Ryu said.

"Young man, you are injured. I don't know how you're able to walk, or even stand up, but I can't let you leave. You need complete rest."

Ryu turned to the others, his eyes asking for help but they were just as lost as he was. How could they explain?

The doctor noticed their strange behaviour.

"Does your sudden departure have something to do with the murder that has happened last night?" he asked sharply. "In the forest?"

The four looked up at him, startled by the turn of events. Their minds were racing: they had to find a way out.

"By the looks on your faces, it seems that I've guessed right." Dr. Mizuno remarked, "Am I right?"

"I'm sorry but we can't explain." Rei said.

"Why not?" he asked, looking at her, "Are you involved with the murder?"

Ryu turned to look at Rei and then at Shinichi and Shiho. He turned back to the doctor.

"We are involved but not in the way you might think." he said quietly, "The man that has been killed is the one that has shot me and her." He noticed the look on the doctor's and the nurses' face. "He almost killed us but we didn't kill him. We left him in the woods unconscious but alive."

"Why should I believe someone that has lied?" Dr. Mizuno asked, "If you didn't have any faults, why did you make up an excuse? When you came here last night, you said that someone, a hunter, shot you accidentally. Why did you lie?"

"We had to." Rei said, "I'm sorry but we can't tell you anything else."

The room went silent. Ryu, Rei, Shinichi and Shiho glanced at each other, wondering if the doctor would report them. They hadn't been very convincing: they had hidden too many things.

A phone ring broke the silence. Shinichi took out the earring phone and answered.

"Hello? Agase, you're here already? We..." He looked from Dr. Mizuno and the nurses to Ryu, Rei and Shiho. "We.. Wait a bit, please. We will come out." He put the phone back in his pocket. "Hakase is waiting outside."

Ryu turned to Dr. Mizuno.

"Doctor, I know that we haven't been honest and have lied to you but we have our reasons. We can't tell you who we are or why were here."he said. "Please, let us leave. We can't stay here any longer."

"I know that you don't have any reason to believe us.." Rei stated, stepping to the front, "But we're not murderers or criminals. We called the police so that they could get that man but.. others got him after we left. And the same people are after us. Please, let us go."

Dr. Mizuno looked at the four teenagers with a searching gaze. After a couple of endless moments, he turned to the nurses and nodded. The nurses left.

"Don't worry." the man reassured, "I don't think that you're criminals and my nurses don't think so either. Don't ask me why, though." He smiled slightly. "I saw how worried you were when your friend was wounded and how promptly you gave your blood to save him. I don't think that murderers or criminals would be so loyal towards each other." The four just sighed with relief as he said this. "Nobody knows that you have been here, except me, Atsuko and Nami.

Don't worry, we won't say anything."

"I don't know how to thank you, Doctor." Ryu said, "For having saved my life and.. for this."

"It's nothing. By the way, you..." He turned around as Nami came back with a pair of crutches. "You have to walk with these for a while and, most of all, you have to rest. For a few weeks at least. No other activities besides bed rest, am I clear? Doctor's orders."

"Of course." Ryu said, taking the crutches.

Dr. Mizuno turned to Rei.

"Young lady, you have to rest, too. The wound will heal in a couple of days but you have suffered a minor blood loss too. And look after this young man." He looked at Ryu with a allusive smile. "He seems to be a pretty active. Be sure that he keeps still, otherwise his recovery will be extremely slow."

Rei smiled.

"I'll take care of him, Doctor." she replied, glancing at Ryu, "Don't worry."

At last, he turned to Shinichi and Shiho.

"As for you two, I think you should rest for a day or two. You have given a lot of blood for your friends: your bodies have been weakened." he said, "And keep an eye on your friends, all right?"

They both nodded, smiling slightly.

Ryu walked to the door on his crutches.

"We have to go." he remarked. He approached Dr. Mizuno and shook his hand. "Thanks, doctor."

"Take care of yourselves." he replied.

Rei, Shiho and Shinichi said goodbye to the doctor and they all left the surgery through the back door. Agase's yellow Beetle car was outside.

"Here you are!" Professor said, coming towards them, "Wha..? Ryu-kun, what's happened to you? And to you Rei-kun?"

"We'll explain later, Agase." Ryu said.

"Don't worry." Rei added. "We're fine now."

Agase looked at them with concern as they went inside the car. He then turned around and saw Shinichi and Shiho. His eyes widened.

"Shinichi-kun? Ai-kun? You're...normal now! How..?"

The boy stopped him from thundering them with questions.

"We'll tell you later, Agase. We have to leave now."

He got in the car's front seat while Shiho sat behind with Ryu and Rei.

"All right." Agase said, seeing that no one wanted to answer his questions. He started the car and sped out of the town. When he was sure that they were quite far he resumed his questioning.

"Can someone please explain now?"

No reply.

"Shinichi-kun? Rei-kun? Ai-kun, no, Shiho-kun? Ryu-kun?"

Still no one replied.

He turned to his side and looked back. He smiled slightly.

They were all fast asleep.

"Oh, well... " he said, speeding to Tokyo, "It seems that my questions will have to wait.."


[1] I know... It's dark and he wears sunglasses? But I really can't imagine Vodka without them and, by the way, in the manga (Vol. 37), Vodka is shown in a night scene wearing glasses, so I'm not so wrong..

[2] Taken from the manga. I think it was Sonoko's first case as sleeping detective.

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Bye-bye.