Four points of the same star
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Detective Conan .
A.N: A few changes have been made and all, I hope, the mistakes have been corrected.
FOUR POINTS OF THE SAME STAR Chapter 16: Decisions.
That same day, Ryu suggested that they had to call Matt.
"Well, the files have been all worked out and, if I understood well, he told you to call him as soon as you found me, right Rei?" he asked turning to the girl.
"Yes, that was our plan." Rei said, nodding, "Mind you, Matt must be really worried: I left America nearly three months ago and I never called him."
"Why don't you call him now, then?"
Rei, Ryu, Conan and Ai turned around and saw Agase at the lab's door. He smiled and walked in.
"I heard what you said." he said, "Anyway, why don't you call your friend now? It's not a problem for me: you can use the phone anytime you want."
Ryu and Rei looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we'll call him now." Ryu said, "Thanks Professor."
Agase just waved his hand.
"Oh come on, it's nothing." he said and went back to the kitchen.
Rei and Ryu got up and headed to the living room; just then, they noticed that Conan and Ai were still sitting in the lab. They both turned around and stared at them.
"Well?" they asked.
"Well, what?" Conan said, looking at them.
"Aren't you two coming with us?" Rei asked.
"You're going to talk with your friend." Ai said, "Why should we come?"
"Because you're involved with the Organisation as much as we are." Ryu said, "Come on, you two are in the team, too."
Conan and Ai looked at each other and then got up, nodding.
They all went to the living room and: Conan, Ai and Ryu sat down on the couch while Rei, took the telephone, put it on the living room's small table, and sat on one of the armchairs.
"Where should I call him?" Rei asked, turning to the blonde boy.
Ryu thought this over.
"Well, not at his office at the FBI headquarters: the phone could be bugged." Ryu said, "We don't know if the double-crosser has been caught... Try at his mobile: that's where I called him when I was still infiltrated at the Organisation."
Rei dialled a number and waited.
"It's ringing." she said, putting the receiver on the table. She looked at the telephone and pressed a button."I turned the speaker phone." she explained, noticing the others puzzled looks, "In this way, we can all hear what Matt says and we won't waste time, taking in turns to talk to him."
"Good idea." Ryu remarked and Rei smiled slightly.
The sound of the phone ringing echoed in the room for a while, then someone answered on the other side.
"Hello?" a male voice said in English. A very annoyed voice, to be exact. "Whoever it is, I hope you have a really damn good reason to call at this time."
Ryu grinned, hearing his friend's voice.
'Matt hasn't changed a bit.' he thought.
Rei seemed to think the same. She smiled and cleared her voice.
"Hello, Christie speaking." she said in English, too.
"Christie? Who the hel...? What? Wait a minute."
"Hey, Ryu, is Christie Rei's code name or something?" Conan whispered and Ai turned to hear the answer too.
"Yes, when we started our plan, MYSTERY, we also decided to choose ourselves a code name: it was a way to recognize us." Ryu explained them in a low voice, "Christie is Rei's code name; Ellery's mine and Ford is Matt's one."
There was a moment of silence in which they only heard a soft rustling, as though someone was rummaging in a drawer, looking for something. Then, they heard a click, a buzzing sound and then it was all normal again.
"Ok, I've done everything." Matt said, in Japanese this time, "In case someone was listening, I've put a device to prevent it. However, Christie, it's really you?"
"Do you know anyone with that name?" Rei asked, slightly amused, "By the way, you didn't seem to recognize me before, did you?"
"I would like to see if you would recognize someone on the phone if you wake up with a start at half past three in the morning." he retorted, "I'm still a bit dazed."
"Well, switch on your brain, then. I've found him."
"What? When? Is he ok?"
"Ask him yourself."
"You mean he's there with you?"
Rei turned to Ryu.
"Your turn." she mouthed and he grinned.
"Hi, Ford, how you're doing?" he said and reached for the receiver, switching off the speaker phone.
"You'll understand soon." he whispered at the others quizzical looks.
There was a moment of silence again.
"Ehm, Ford? You're still there?" Ryu asked uncertainly, taking the receiver close to his ear. He hastily took it away a few seconds later. The others could clearly hear Matt's voice.
"YOU ASK HOW AM I DOING?" he shouted, "WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE FOR NEARLY SIX MONTHS? YOU STUPID FOOL, YOU DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A WORD!"
"Well, I didn't have a great choice, did I?" Ryu retorted but he quickly regretted it: Matt's shouts seemed to double. Ryu muttered something but it didn't do much. He sighed and put the receiver back on the table. Matt was shouting by himself now.
"I don't have the strength to hear Matt's lectures." he said. He turned around and frowned, slightly annoyed, "Oh, you three find it funny, do you?"
Actually, Conan and Ai looked very amused and Rei seemed to be stifling a laugh.
"You should try to calm him down." Rei said, smiling slightly, "He's only very worried for you. And his parents, too."
Ryu looked at her, raising an eyebrow.
"You think he'll let me talk?" he asked, pointing to the phone receiver where Matt's voice was still clearly audible. "I know him: he'll calm down in a while, so let him shout till then." He smirked slightly. "If I were you, Rei, I'd be worried too. Matt told you to call him as soon as we met again. How are we going to explain two months delay?"
"We'll tell him about the files." she replied simply, "That should calm him down instantly."
"Hey, the shouts have stopped." Conan said.
Ryu picked the receiver.
"Ford? Have you calmed down?" he asked, "All right, wait a minute.." He leaned forward and turned on the speaker shone. "Ok, go on."
"Calmed down? Wait till I see you..." Matt said, in a normal tone, "Then, I can say that I've really calmed down... However, when did you two meet?"
"We met nearly two months ago." Rei said.
"TWO MONTHS AGO?" Matt said, loudly, "Why didn't you call?"
"We decided to work out the material I had taken, Ford." Ryu replied, "We thought that we could call you after."
"Uhm, so you mean that you have worked out all the material? How did you manage to do it? There were loads of things to do."
"There are two friends that have been helping us." Rei said, eyeing Conan and Ai.
"Friends? Who are they?"
"Can't tell you now, however, they're trustworthy." Ryu replied, "And they're here too."
Conan and Ai, expecting another angry outburst from Matt for letting strangers hear their conversation, were slightly taken aback when he didn't retort.
"Good." he said, "The more trustworthy allies we have the better it will be."
"Ford, how are things going down at your place?" Rei asked.
Matt sighed heavily.
"You don't know what's going on here, do you?" he asked.
"No, we've been cut out for months." Ryu said with a bit of concern, "What's going on in America? Bad news?"
"Well, I don't know if I can call it bad news." Matt said, "I'd say it's strange. There have been a series of weird disappearances and strange murders."
"Who are the victims?" Conan asked quickly.
"The ones that have disappeared are scientists while the ones the ones that have been killed were police officers and criminals." Matt replied, "We still don't know who's behind this although I have a certain idea... by the way, who are you? You sound like a kid."
"Ehm... it's a bit hard to explain." Ryu said, "However, he's one of our friends."
"What?" Matt asked, sounding confused, "Oh, all right, you'll explain me later...
Listen, there's a thing you two must know immediately : since your disappearance, the high inspectors have decided to carry out an inquiry here in our headquarters."
"Well, we had foreseen that this would happen, Ford." Rei remarked, "I mean, one agent that's considered a traitor and another that has suicided both worked together.. It was natural."
"Yes, I know that." Matt said, "The point is that they are suspecting me: I think it's due to the fact that I've known you both for a couple of years or maybe because we have been working together... I have no idea, but I'm suspected and... they told me to leave."
"What?" Ryu and Rei said together.
"Yes, they asked me to take a… period of rest. They said that it would last a month or more but I've got the idea that this is their way to get rid of me for a while. I think they suspect that I'm a double-crosser or something.. or that I'm in collusion with you R... Ellery."
"What about your father?" Ryu asked, "Is he in trouble, too?"
"No. Thanks God, no." Matt replied, "He has been working for them for a lot years and they know his loyalty. They only suspect me and it's good thing: at least, there's still someone at the headquarters that can tell us what's going on there."
"Ford, I'm sorry." Rei said, "I didn't think you'd get so much in trouble because of us."
"Yes, I'm sorry too." Ryu said, "If I knew this would have happened.."
But Matt cut across his words.
"Listen, you two, what are you apologizing for? We have decided to carry out this plan together, remember? We knew that there would have been risks. Many risks. Till now, you two have risked the most and you're still in danger. So, you really think that I care going through an inquiry or for being suspended from work for a while? Come on, you should know me better. If there's a way to keep attention of you two, then I'll go through all the inquiries they'll carry out, otherwise, what am I here for?" Matt's tone was firm.
Ryu and Rei couldn't answer. Conan and Ai looked at them and smiled slightly: Matt had said the right things.
"However.." Matt continued, "I think we should meet each other soon: talking on the phone's not safe. We have to work on the final part of MYSTERY and we have to discuss of many things. Not to mention that I've got to see all the material you've worked out."
"Yes, I think we should meet soon, too." Rei agreed, "But are you sure that no one's following you or that you're controlled?"
"No. I'm sure of that: no one's tailing me. I think it's because Dad's an authority, here. A sign of respect towards him since I'm his son."
Ryu, that had been lost in his thoughts while Rei and Matt were talking, suddenly looked up.
"Ford, how long does your suspension last?" he asked.
"Well, they told me to come back to work in about two weeks." he replied, "Why do you ask? Should I come there in this period?"
"Ford, wait a minute on line, will you?" Ryu said instead and switched off the speaker phone. HE turned to Ai. "Ai, when will the antidote for the APTX be ready, more or less?"
The girl was slightly taken aback from his question.
"Let's see... I think three weeks." she said, a bit puzzled, "I still have to do all the final testing: they are the last and most important tests I've got to do. Why do you ask?"
But Ryu didn't answer: he was thinking.
'Three weeks? Damn, it takes too much.' he thought, 'But what if..?'
"Listen, if I helped you with the tests and if Rei helped too, do you think the antidote could be ready in two weeks?" he asked.
Ai thought this over.
"Well, yes but... do you two know how to do these testing?" she asked, "They're not simple and we can't do mistakes: we have to be very careful."
"I know a few things about chemistry and you could tell me what to do." Ryu said, "You will help too, right Rei?"
"Yes, of course." she replied, "I've got some knowledge of chemistry too and I also know how to do these testing: they're only a particular kind of simulations on computer."
"So, what do you think, Ai?" Ryu asked, turning to her again.
"It's all right for me." she said, nodding, "If you know what to do, then I accept your help."
"Ryu, what wild plan do you have in your mind now?" Conan asked, "When you start asking questions in this way, it means that you've got a plan or something in your mind."
Ryu grinned.
"All right, I'll explain very shortly: Matt has to come here because we have to discuss about the last part of our plan and we also have to give him all the material we have worked out." he said, "When he comes here, you two have to be in your original form: we don't have an exact idea of what will happen from now on and we need your help, too. The point is, if Shinichi and Shiho come back, what will happen to Conan and Ai?"
"They'll disappear, what a question." Conan remarked.
"Exactly. Well, we can't let them disappear in thin air: it would be suspicious and someone of the Organisation could still be around. We have to make up a story: Conan will be leaving for America because his parents have found a way to work abroad without leaving him behind and Ai will go with him because there's a relative of hers that lives close to the Edogawas and she'll be living there."
"Ok, the story makes sense but what does your friend Matt got to do with this?" Ai asked.
"Well, we could involve him in this play along with Conan's mother."
"What?" Conan and Ai said together.
"Of course!" Rei said, finally understanding Ryu's idea, "Yukiko-san could come here, pretending to be Fumiyo Edogawa while Matt could come, pretending to be Ai's relative. In this way, no one could suspect anything."
"Exactly." Ryu said, with a smile, "What do you think?"
"Wow, you thought all of this now?" Conan asked, "It's a great idea."
"Yes, I agree, too." Ai said.
"All right, then." Ryu said and turned on the speaker phone again.
"Ford, are you there?" he asked.
"Of course, I am." Matt replied, "Well, what should I do?"
"Listen, you should come here in about two weeks. Is it all right for you?"
"Ok, tell me where, though."
"Well, I don't think it's safe to tell you everything on the phone. Listen, you still have your old e-mail address, don't you?"
"Yes, but I don't think it's a safe of communication either."
"You forgot who we have here, Ford." Ryu said, smiling at Rei.
"Don't worry, Ford, I'll find a way to send you e-mails so that no one can read them except you." Rei remarked.
"Well, all right, then." Matt said.
"We'll also write you what has happened in the last months, so you'll get a general idea of the situation." Ryu added.
"All right, then. It's better if we stop here. You'll tell me what to do through the e-mails, so we'll probably not talk on the phone anymore. Well, see you soon guys."
"Bye Ford, see you soon." Rei said.
"Yes, see you in two weeks, Ford." Ryu said.
"Ok, bye then... hey, wait, bye also to the other two that are with you... what are their names, anyway?" Matt asked.
"Ehm... " Ryu said, turning to Conan and Ai. The two kids just looked at each and nodded, smiling slightly.
"Hello Ford, my name's Conan." he said.
"Hello, my name is Ai." she said.
"Conan and Ai? I see, you have code names, too. However, I hope to meet you two soon, too. Well.. Bye, then." Matt said.
"Bye," the four said together.
Rei put the receiver back on the phone.
"Well, we have other work to do now." she said, looking at the others.
"Yes and we should start right away." Ai said, getting up.
Ryu and Rei got up, too. Conan didn't: he seemed to be lost in his thoughts. He had just realised a few things: the antidote would be ready in only two weeks and this meant that he would be himself again. But, on the other, it also meant that Conan had to leave.
'Ran... how will she take the news?' he thought, 'I also have to tell her the truth about my feelings...'
He looked up all of a sudden, when he felt a soft tap on his shoulder: Ai was standing in front of him, Ryu was standing at the door while Rei was by the phone.
"Kudo-kun, are you all right?" Ai asked.
"What? Yes, I'm fine." he replied, "Really, I'm fine, I was just wondering... that's all."
"What about, Shinichi?" Rei asked, approaching him.
"Well, about a few things I have to sort out before Conan disappears." he said. He looked at Ai. "Haibara? Didn't you say that you had another temporary antidote pill?"
"Yes, it's the last one." she replied, a bit confused, "Why do you ask, anyway?"
"Could you give it to me?"
Ryu walked towards him.
"What do you want to do in your true form?" he asked curiously.
"Give high school's final exams." Conan replied.
Ryu, Rei and Ai stared at him.
"Come again?" they said.
Conan smiled mischievously.
"Well, I didn't tell it to anyone but I've been studying in these last weeks and I decided to give the final exam privately." he said.
"How come you got this idea, Shinichi?" Rei asked.
"I just wanted to do it." he replied, shrugging, "You three have had plenty of work to do in these last weeks while I didn't do much, besides helping you here and there. I'll give the exams and then I'll see what I want to do."
The others smiled slightly: it was typical of him. He was never satisfied with himself: even though he had helped them all and his help had been considerable, he still felt that he hadn't done enough. Maybe, after giving the exams, he would start to study something else, thinking that it would be helpful for their task.
"By the way, Conan, when do you have to give the exams?" Ryu asked.
"Day after tomorrow." he replied.
"On Monday? So soon?" Rei asked, "Are you prepared?"
"Yes, I've being studying hard, what do you think?" he retorted. "So, Haibara, will you give me the pill?"
"All right. When do you want it?" she asked, "Today? Tomorrow or directly on Monday?"
"I'll take it Monday." he replied, "All the exams are in the morning. I'll have the rest of the day free."
After saying this, he shot Ryu a meaningful look, careful that the girls didn't notice it.
Ryu looked and him.
'He's got something in his mind.' he thought.
A few minutes later, Conan left and went back to the Mouri's, saying that he would have come back on Monday: he wanted to study tomorrow.
As he left, Ryu turned to Rei.
"Has he always been so determined?" he asked.
Rei smiled.
"Always." she replied, "It's one of his characteristics."
"I've never seen someone so stubborn." he said, shaking his head in disbelief. He turned around as he heard a muffled chuckle: Rei and Ai were stifling a laugh.
"What?" he asked.
"You never saw anyone so stubborn?" Ai repeated.
"It's a bit hard to believe since you're practically like Shinichi: both determined, resolute and very, very stubborn." Rei added.
Ryu grimaced.
"Oh, all right." he said, "We have the same personality and many other... characteristics in common. Satisfied?" He walked to the door. "Well, you've got to explain me, how to the testing now."
"Let's start, then." Ai said, heading to the lab and Ryu and Rei followed her.
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Conan was walking towards the Mouri's agency, completely lost in his thoughts.
'Tomorrow, I'll stay home and study: Ran's going out with Sonoko and she said she'll be out the whole day. Kogoroh will probably be out too. No one will disturb me. On Monday morning, I'll give the exam.' he thought, 'While in the afternoon, I'll talk to her... I've got to tell her everything... I just hope she'll understand. And in the evening, I'll go through my training. I'll have to talk with Ryu.. It will be tough but... not as tough as telling the truth to her...'
He sighed and headed towards the Mouri's agency.
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It was Sunday afternoon and Rei, Ai and Ryu were working in the lab: the final testing for the antidote were pretty hard to do but thanks to their knowledge of chemistry basis and computer simulations, Ryu and Rei were giving Ai a big help.
They were all working on their laptops when Agase came in.
"Shinichi-kun's on the phone and he wants to talk with you, Ryu-kun." he said.
Ryu looked at him blankly.
"With me?" he said, "What does he want?"
"I don't know: he just said that he wants to ask you something about tomorrow." Professor replied.
Ryu got up, slightly confused.
'What does he want? Help for the exams? No, he seemed pretty sure of himself... then, what?' he thought. After a few seconds, he remembered the look Conan shot him the day before. 'He wants to do something.. probably after the exam and I think his training has something to do with it.'
He left the lab and went to the phone.
"Hello? Conan? Yes, what's up?" he asked, "Yes... tomorrow evening? Maybe, we can manage it... uhm, uhm... I knew you had something in your mind but.. are you sure you will make it? I mean, you'll be exhausted later... uhm, uhm... all right, then. Hey, wait a minute, what should I tell to explain my absence? What do you mean with -find a way? This is your idea! No, wait... Hello? Hello? Damn it..."
Ryu hung the phone and slapped his forehead with his hand.
"Great!" he muttered, "What am I going to make up now?"
"What did Shinichi want, Ryu?"
The boy nearly jumped when he heard the voice behind him.
"R...Rei?" he said, trying to sound natural, "What are you doing here?"
"We decided to take a break." she said, "Anyway, why did Shinichi call?"
"He.. he just had a doubt in chemistry and asked me." Ryu lied.
"And he asked you about chemistry?" Rei said, raising an eyebrow, "No offence meant, Ryu, but Ai's more expert than you in the subject. Why didn't he ask her?"
"I asked him the same and he said that he didn't want to disturb her since she was probably busy with the testing."
"What was his doubt?"
"Ehm.. the difference between acids and bases." Ryu said, taking the first chemical concept that came to his mind.
Rei looked at him with suspicion.
'Difference between acids and bases?' she thought in disbelief, 'He's lying... It's such an obvious concept that Shinichi must know it, otherwise he'd better not give the exam... I wonder what these two are planning. Well, let's find out..'
"I see." she said, "By the way, where are you going tomorrow evening?"
Ryu looked up at her so quickly that his neck nearly cricked.
"What? Were you eavesdropping?" he asked, half-annoyed and half-amused.
"No, I casually passed here when you said that." she replied.
'Casually?' Ryu thought, 'Yeah, of course.. What am I going to tell her now?'
He looked around, as though expecting an answer to pop out from no where. He noticed his motorbike's helmet and an idea came to his mind.
"Conan asked me to help him choose a motorbike." he said quickly.
"What?" Rei said.
"Yes, he said that he wants to take advantage of the fact that he's in his normal state to go and see a few motorbikes. He will just choose one tomorrow and buy it later.." Ryu said, hoping that Rei would believe him. He nearly sighed in relief when he saw her nod. However, as he walked towards the lab Rei turned to him.
"Ryu, you're not hiding something, are you?" she asked, "Or doing anything dangerous?"
He turned around and saw concern in Rei's eyes. Ryu mentally cursed Conan and himself for hiding the training. He went towards her.
"We're not doing anything dangerous." he said, "It's just that... Co.. Shinichi has asked me a favour and I swore not to tell anyone, that's all. Really. Rei, don't worry."
Rei looked at him: Ryu had the ability to lie, keeping a straight face and looking truthful. That's how he managed to convince the Organisation during his infiltration. However, she knew that he was sincere this time: she didn't know why but she was sure of that.
"All right." she said, heading to the lab, "I'm still suspicious but you have managed to convince for the moment."
Ryu nodded and as she passed next to him, he leaned down to her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Rei blushed while Ryu smiled at her mischievously.
"Come on." he said, "Ai's probably waiting for us."
Rei nodded and followed him to the lab, smiling slightly.
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"You have to help me choose a motor bike?" Shinichi asked loudly,"What kind of excuse is that ?"
"Hey, calm down and keep your voice low." Ryu replied, "The girls or Agase could hear you."
Conan had come down to Agase's house at half past six in the morning: he had made up an excuse with Ran, saying that he had to go to school early to meet the Detective Boys.
Actually, he couldn't go to school so Ai was going to go and she would say that Conan had a medical visit, if someone asked why he was absent. He had taken the antidote and, after having passed out for half an hour, he was Shinichi again. It was nearly half past seven: the exam was beginning at eight o'clock.
At the moment, Shinichi was in Ryu's room and discussing about what they were going to do that evening.
"Listen, I had to make up an excuse immediately." Ryu said, slightly annoyed, "Rei's not easy to fool: I don't even think she believed me. Anyway, for this evening, you couldn't have informed before, couldn't you? Really, what's this sudden hurry of yours to test your skills now? We had planned to it after you had taken the definitive antidote, so why do it today?"
"I only want to see how much I've learned." Shinichi retorted, "In this way we won't waste time later."
Ryu looked at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation. He shook his head.
"Oh, all right." he remarked, "I don't think it will be a problem to find a place to test your fighting skills: we only have to find a gym for that. The problem is the rifle-range: I'll have to check out if it's open and if they'll let us in. By the way, at what time should we meet?"
"Around four, four thirty." Shinichi replied.
Ryu looked up.
"Do the exams last so long?" he asked, "I mean, you start at eight o'clock and finish six hours later?"
"Of course not. The exams should be over around two o'clock. It's just that... I have to do... a thing after." Shinichi said, looking very uncomfortable.
Ryu looked at him, raising his eyebrows, as though asking what he had to do in that already busy day but Shinichi didn't say anything. He only walked around the room, vaguely looking around.
'Something is bothering him...' Ryu thought.
"Hey, Shinichi, what's wrong?" he asked, "I've never seen you so nervous and I don't think it's for the exam."
Shinichi sighed slightly and turned around to face him. He knew he could trust Ryu: he had even lied to Rei instead of breaking the promise he had made to him.
'He could give an advice, too.' he thought.
"All right.. After the exam, I'm going to go and speak to... Ran." he said, "I'll tell her that I'll be back in a few weeks and... I.. I will tell her all the truth about my feelings."
"You're going to tell her about Ai.. I mean, Shiho?" Ryu asked.
Shinichi nodded.
"Yes, I'll tell her that I've fallen in love with another girl." he said, "I don't want her to expect something from me... I can't love. I don't love her the way she loves me. I love Shiho."
Ryu looked at him for a moment, understanding why he felt so uncomfortable: he was going to say his childhood friend something that will make her suffer and that could ruin their friendship forever. However, he couldn't help smiling slightly and Shinichi noticed it.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"Nothing." Ryu replied, "I just thought that this is the first time I've heard you call Ai with her proper name: you've always called her Haibara or Miyano till now."
Despite the nerves, Shinichi smiled, blushing slightly.
"By the way, where are Rei and... Ai?" he asked.
"Ai's getting ready to go to school: that three kids should be here in a minute while Rei's downstairs." Ryu replied, getting up, "We should go downstairs too or Rei will get even more suspicious."
"Yeah and I've got to go, too." Shinichi remarked.
"Anyway, Shinichi, can I give you an advice?"
"Sure."
"When you will see Mouri-san, just say the truth: I know it will hurt her but if she cares for your friendship, and from what you said, she really does, she'll probably understand you."
Shinichi thought this over and nodded.
"Thanks Ryu." he said and the other just waved his hand.
They went downstairs and saw that Ai, Rei and Agase were all waiting for Shinichi.
"Finally!" Rei said, as she saw him, "How much did it take you to come around?"
"Half an hour." he replied, "And then, I had to get dressed. What do you think?"
He spread his arms and took a few steps behind: he was wearing his usual blue suit with a dark tie.
Rei smiled.
"You look perfect, 'Nichan."
Ai nodded in agreement, without realising it. She just stared at Shinichi.
'He's so... handsome.' she thought and blushed slightly when her words sank in.
"By the way, Professor, I'll be staying here tonight." Shinichi said, turning to Agase, "I told Ran that you asked me to stay to see another invention."
"Oh, all right." he replied, "No problem for me."
"Well, see you later." Shinichi said, going to the door.
"Good luck!" he heard them say. He turned back, smiling.
"Thanks. See you later." he said ad left.
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It was half past one: the exam was nearly over.
Shinichi was confident: he was sure he had done well on his examination papers and the oral was going pretty well, too. Another few questions and it will be over... then he would see Ran and he would have to break her heart..
'Don't think of that now, Kudo.' he mentally scolded himself, 'First the exam..'
He looked up and waited as the examiner thought of the next question.
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Rei and Ryu were in the lab working as usual: Rei was working on a test of the antidote while Ryu was sending Matt a few e-mails, regarding their last months' events and also, about the role he had to play when he would have come.
As he sent the last e-mail, Ryu glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly three o'clock. There was still time for his meeting with Shinichi but he had a few things to sort out before.
He got up quickly, startling Rei.
"Ryu, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Ehm, sorry but I've just seen the time.." he explained, "And I've just realised that I'm late."
"Late?" Rei asked, "When do you have to meet Shinichi?"
"In a bit." he replied vaguely, heading to the door. He felt Rei's stare but he ignored it and went upstairs.
'Shinichi, I will kill you!' he thought, 'Why on earth do we have to hide your training to Rei and Ai! I'll never understand...'
He had hardly reached his room, still grumbling about Shinichi in his mind, when...
"Ryu?"
The boy nearly jumped with surprise and turned around.
"Rei?" he said in disbelief, "Wha..? Why are you following me? By the way, when did you start following me? I didn't even notice you."
Rei smirked at his surprised face.
"Your observation skills to your surroundings must be dropping, Mr. Perfect-FBI-agent." she remarked sarcastically and Ryu frowned slightly.
"By the way, would you mind telling me what's going on?" she asked, "If I remember well, Shinichi said that you two had to meet around four o'clock or something.."
Ryu stared at her.
"He told you this?" he asked and she nodded.
'Shinichi, I'm going to kill you!' he thought, 'Why didn't you tell me that you told Rei at what time we had to meet?'
"So?" she asked, "Why are you leaving so early?"
"Well..." Ryu said, "I... I've got to buy a few new parts for the radar and.. I thought I could go around a bit: you know, I've been closed in the house for weeks. I.. I thought I could ride my bike."
Rei looked at him.
"Listen, I don't want to know what you and Shinichi are hiding or doing secretly: it's your business." she said. "But I only want you two to be careful: you can't go around freely. The Organisation could have sent some agents to control the place."
"I know." he replied, "We will be careful: don't worry."
"Oh, all right." Rei said, "By the way, how come you're meeting so late? The exam should have finished at least an hour ago."
"Shinichi has to talk with his childhood friend. The one with whom he's living."
"Mouri-san?"
"Yes, he wants to inform her that he will be back in another couple of weeks. He also said that in this way she won't suspect anything about Conan's sudden leaving."
"Oh, yes, he told me that Yukiko-san would have called the Mouri's next week. However, why didn't he call her by phone as usual?"
Ryu didn't answer immediately.
"Well, he wanted to talk to her... face to face." he answered, hoping she would understand straightaway, without making other questions.
Rei looked at him and nodded slowly.
"I see." she said.
"Well, I'll go and change." Ryu said and he went in his room, closing the door.
Rei waited there for a while, thinking.
'Shinichi went to talk with Mouri-san..' she thought, 'I wonder why? It's not only to inform her that he'll be back soon... I think it's something else... but I thought he had feelings for Ai..'
She was still thinking of this as she went back downstairs, when she noticed Ai standing near the flight of stairs. One look at her face and Rei knew she had heard her talk with Ryu: the expression was emotionless but there was a glint of sorrow and pain in her eyes.
"Ai, you've come back early." Rei said.
"Yes, the Detective Boys wanted to drag me somewhere but I managed to avoid it saying that I had to help Agase." she replied.
"I see."
"Well, I'll put my bag away and then I'll start working on the antidote again."
Rei couldn't help to notice the bitterness in Ai's tone as she mentioned the antidote. She felt a bit sorry for her.
"I'll wait for you in the lab." she said, "It's just us today: Ryu's going out and Agase will be back late this evening."
"All right." Ai replied.
However, before going away, Rei wanted to say her one last thing.
"Ai?"
"Yes?" the little girl replied, turning around.
"We don't know what's in his mind: he might just want to talk to her. I wouldn't give up if I were you and I would also trust him." she said and went to the lab.
Ai stood there, by the door, slowly registering Rei's words.
She smiled slightly and went inside her room.
'So, Kudo-kun has gone to see Mouri after his exam.' she thought, 'He will probably tell her that he'll be back in a few weeks... and that he'll be back with her. I knew this would happen: the moment the antidote will be ready, he'll go back to his old life and to Mouri.'
Ai sighed and sat on her bed, thinking.
'Only six months ago, living seemed so... useless to me: my sister was dead, killed by the Organisation, the men we were both working for. The same people that closed me in a gas chamber when I threatened to stop working for them. I only wanted to know why Akemi had died..
I chose to take the APTX-4869, the poison I invented but it betrayed me. The same pill that had killed many people, many innocent people, didn't kill me. It didn't kill its creator and probably, the only person that really wanted to die. I only turned into a child and managed to escape from death.. but for what? I was alone: nowhere to go and no one to turn to. I went to the only place I knew: the house of a victim of my poison. A presumed dead that I thought was probably alive and in my same conditions.
I went to Shinichi Kudo. Our first meeting was not very friendly: we just shouted, blaming each other. That same day I broke down in front of him: I cried for Akemi and I blamed him for her death. But it wasn't his fault, even though he thought it was. I don't blame him anymore and he knows it now.'
Ai smiled slightly, thinking of the talk she had with him two weeks ago. They were both in their true forms and they talked sincerely: doubts that had been deep inside them had been cleared out.
'He knows that I don't blame him for Akemi's death.' she thought, 'And I know that he's concerned for me because... I'm a friend for him and not only because I can make the antidote to the APTX.'
She remembered his face when she promised that she wouldn't have tried to escape anymore. His smile: that simple and genuine smile on his face that made you think that everything was all right. Then, she remembered him that morning, dressed with a blue suit and tie.
'He was really handsome..' she thought and a blush crept on her face.
She didn't remember exactly when but she had immediately fallen in love with Shinichi: he was just.. perfect. Good looking and intelligent, cold with criminals but always caring and protective with the people around him, optimist and determined. Very determined.. maybe too much.
"I will always protect you."
He had kept that promise till now, despite all difficulties. That promise, however, had given her a ray of hope.
'I'm not alone: there are people that care for me.' she thought.
She remembered his words at the surgery.
"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 forced to prepare the poison. The past is past: you can't change it. I know 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."
That words had helped her even more.
Having people that cared for her, having friends, it was something new for her. The only person that had loved her was Akemi but now, there were others.
'There's Agase that treats me as a member of his family; Rei that looks so much like Akemi and that has become my.. best friend; Ryu that treats me as a younger sister and really is like a brother to me; Kudo-kun... Shinichi that cares for me as a friend.. without realising that I love him. He's a great detective but he doesn't see that I love him. That clueless detective...'
She smiled slightly, imagining his face if he heard her calling him clueless again. After their talk at the surgery, they had got along better: they trusted each other more and they were more sincere and natural. They had become closer friends.
'It's enough for me. I know that he only has Mouri in his heart... the fact that he cares for me as a friend is enough. He should hate me for what I've done... but he doesn't. He has become my friend instead: he didn't hate me for making the drug and he never lost faith in my abilities to make the antidote. And now the antidote is nearly ready: only two weeks and Shinichi Kudo will be back, definitely this time. Two weeks and he'll go back to Mouri... forgetting me.. No, that's not true: he's not that type of person. He'll only spend less time here, that's all.'
Ai had never shown it but all those hours closed in the lab with Shinichi, Rei and Ryu were probably the happiest moments for her.
For the first time, she understood the meaning of the word family. She never had a family before, besides Akemi, but now it was different. She had Agase, Rei, Ryu and Shinichi around her: they were her family now. The people for whom she'd do anything and that she wanted to protect from the Organisation. The same Organisation that hurt them and ruined their lives and that had somehow brought them together.
'The first time we were all together, Agase said that it wasn't a coincidence that we met each other.' Ai thought, 'Rei, Ryu, Kudo-kun and me: all involved with the Organisation and all determined to bring it down. We are nearly there now: we have worked all those files regarding their activities and in two weeks, we will start the final step of the plan. The Organisation could fall but... what will happen to us later?'
Every time Ai thought of what would happen after, a shiver would run down her spine. Her life was so.. good now but it would last till the Organisation existed. What would happen to her after? Where would she go? Rei and Ryu had their lives in America, Shinichi had his in Tokyo but what about her? Where would she go? She didn't have a house or a place on her own. She didn't have someone that was waiting for her return.
She sometimes thought that she could stay with Agase: he would have surely let her live in his house but there was still something wrong….
'Maybe, I don't want to get divided from the others.' she thought, 'If I stayed at Agase's house, I would remember all the moments I passed with them and probably feel worse. Oh God, it's not their fault if they have a life to go back to! I'm only jealous.. that's all. Jealous... I'm jealous of Mouri, too. She has taken Shinichi's heart.'
Ai blushed slightly as she called him with his first name. She remembered a thing Rei had often said to her.
"I don't understand why you two keep calling yourselves by surname. It's more than six months that you know each other: you're close friends... This is getting ridiculous."
'I'll never be able to call him by name.' she thought, 'I'll just keep on calling him Kudo-kun and be a friend for him. I don't want to loose him... He's too important for me. I'll keep on loving him in silence: I can't deny my feelings, the same way he can't deny his to Mouri. It's only fate. Fate that we have met, fate that I have fallen in love with him while he loves another and fate that we will be only friends. I can't be selfish: I will content myself being his friend.'
Ai got up: she had decided. She would love him in silence and would have continued to be his friend. Nothing more.
'It won't be hard.' she thought, 'I've learned not to show my feelings back in the Organisation. It's one of the few useful things they have taught me.'
And after this, Ai went downstairs. Rei was waiting her to work on the antidote..
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Shinichi was standing in front of a coffee shop near Teitan High School.
He was waiting for Ran: he had called her the day before, using the bow-tie, and had planned to meet there at two thirty. It was nearly three o'clock now..
'I wonder if she hasn't understood the place or the time.' he thought, checking his watch for the tenth time, 'Damn, if she doesn't hurry up, I'll be late and Ryu will kill me. I'm the one that has forced him to prepare today's practice at the last minute.'
As he waited, Shinichi remembered his phone call to Ran.
FLASHBACK
"Hello Mouri's residence"
"Hello... Ran?" Ran's eyes widened, speechless upon hearing the familiar voice that she had last heard months ago.
"Hello.. Is anybody there?"
"Shinichi?"
"Hey Ran... How are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm fine... what about you?"
"Not bad. Listen, Ran, I'll be in Tokyo tomorrow for a few hours: I need to get some material for a case I'm working on. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"
"I don't know.. why? she asked.
"Well, I was wondering if we could meet. I.. I need to talk to you." Shinichi swallowed as he said this.
Ran's heartbeats doubled in a few seconds.
'HE... WANTS.. TO.. TALK.. TO ME?' she thought frantically.
"All.. right." she stammered, "When?"
"Let's meet at the coffee shop near our school. I'll wait you there. Ok?"
"All right, see you tomorrow, Shinichi." she said happily.
"Yes, see you tomorrow, Ran." he said weakly. As he hung up, he felt guilt overcoming him. But it was worse when he went back to the agency.
Ran was so happy: she was overjoyed to see Shinichi after such a long time and she was curious to know what he wanted to tell her. Sonoko was there too and she kept giving her false hopes.
"He has probably come back to see you, Ran." she said loudly, "The story of the case is just an excuse. He must have missed you so much that as soon as he found a free moment, he came back. Just to see you!"
Ran blushed, muttering that she was exaggerating but Conan could see that she was pleased by Sonoko's words. He couldn't help feeling guilty but he couldn't show it to her, so he put a fake, happy smile on his face and just watched her. He watched her happiness that would probably change into pain tomorrow.
All because of him...
END FLASHBACK
Shinichi sighed as he thought of this.
"Shinichi!"
He turned to his right and saw Ran running towards him. She was wearing the Teitan high school's uniform and she was carrying her school bag.
'She must have just finished school.' he thought.
"Shinichi, I'm sorry I'm late." she said, stopping in front of him, "But I had to make up an excuse for my captain. You know, I've got karate practise today."
"Sorry, I didn't remember that." he said, apologetically, "My last minute call must have messed up your day."
"No, don't worry." she quickly said and looked at him.
Shinichi was still the same: dark brown hair that stuck out in the back, cobalt blue eyes, tall, well built figure. Ran blushed. Shinichi didn't notice it: he had too many things in his mind. He pointed to the coffee shop.
"Why don't we get a drink and talk?" he suggested, smiling slightly.
Ran nodded and they both went in. They sat a table near the window and ordered two coffees. They spoke about this and that: Shinichi talked about his cases(he made them up at the moment) while Ran, talked about school, her father's sudden ability in solving cases and his fame and other things that had happened to her(all things that Shinichi already knew very well).
"Shinichi?" Ran asked, after they had been in silence for a while, "What did you want to tell me?"
Shinichi nearly choked himself with his coffee as she said this. He put down his cup and looked up at her. Ran was looking at him and she was smiling: she was happy to see him, to be with him and he would have wiped that smile out of her face... but he had to. He wasn't going to play with her feelings and continue to make her suffer: he had to tell her the truth... for her own good and also for his. He knew his feelings now: he couldn't lie to himself.
"Ehm.. yes." he said, "Ran, I.. have to tell you a few things. First of all, I need to apologize: I left Tokyo suddenly, without saying a word to anyone, even to you and called randomly but I was.. very busy with some cases in America. I'm sorry for have made you worry."
"Shinichi, you don't have to.." Ran began but he stopped her.
"Please, let me finish." he said, "However, I've nearly finished with my work in America. I think I will come back to Japan in another couple of weeks."
"Really? Shinichi, this is great!" Ran exclaimed. Shinichi couldn't bare to see her happy face and shining eyes.
"Yeah, it's great." he agreed weakly, "However, there's also another thing I have to tell you.."
"Wait, I've got to tell you something before." Ran cut across him.
Slightly taken aback, Shinichi nodded.
"Go ahead." he said.
Ran looked at him blushing slightly.
'It's now or never...' she thought and she took a deep breath.
"Maybe this will sound funny to you." she said, "You could even laugh but.. I... I just wanted to say that... that I... I love you... you may think that it's stupid but it's the truth. Shinichi, tell me , do you feel the same... for me?"
Ran had wanted to say this for a long time but she was always afraid of his answer. But, at the same time, she wanted to know his feelings and hoped that he returned her love.
Shinichi froze in his position for a while. He didn't think that Ran would say that: now everything was going to be more difficult... for her and for him.
He took a sip of coffee and looked up at her. Ran was waiting. She expected an answer from him.
"Just say the truth."
Ryu's words came to his mind.
'Yes, I'll tell the truth..' he thought, 'Come on, then.'
"Ran, we've been friends since we were little and I really care for you." he said and Ran's face brightened, not knowing what he was going to tell her. Shinichi forced himself not to feel guilty and continued. "However, our relationship doesn't go any further than friendship. To tell the truth, I did feel something for you, something that went beyond friendship, but in these last months, my feelings have changed.."
Ran didn't say anything: she didn't even move. Her eyes were only fixed on Shinichi but the joy and warmth that were in them till a few minutes ago, had now been replaced with emptiness.
No pain. No disappointment. Her eyes were empty: the brightness had gone.
Shinichi didn't say anything either: he waited for her reaction and, at the same time, he felt himself consuming with guilt.
"Why did your feelings change?" Ran asked, suddenly, after a while.
Shinichi looked at her: she was staring at him with eyes full of pain now but her voice was still steady.
'At least, she's showing me a reaction.' he thought, 'I have to tell her everything... I'm so sorry, Ran..'
"I.. I met a girl while I was sorting out some cases months ago." he said, "I've always considered her a friend but less than a month ago, I realised that my feelings for her were different and went beyond simple friendship."
"So, she's your girlfriend, right?" Ran said, feeling tears filling her eyes and forcing them back in.
Shinichi looked at her: he didn't want to lie to her.
"No, she's not my girlfriend." he said, "Actually, she doesn't even know that I like her."
"What?" Ran asked, totally, taken aback, "Then, how can you be sure she'll return your feelings? Why...?"
"Why don't I tell her?" he asked before her and Ran nodded, despite herself. She had wanted to say, "Why do you refuse me, without being sure she'll accept you?"
"Well, at the beginning we didn't go along very well." he said, "I treated her badly and told her terrible things. However, we are good friends now: she's very intelligent and she often helps me with the cases I encounter. But I don't think she loves me: I hurt her too much. So, I prefer to stay at her side as a friend and wait for the right moment to tell her about my feelings. I don't want to ruin or loose our friendship, so I'll wait."
Ran looked at him and saw the tender smile on his face and the affection in his eyes as he spoke about this girl.
'So, this is Shinichi when he's.. in love.' she thought, 'He never had that expression when he talked to me... He must really love that girl.. but what if she doesn't? He'll only suffer.. but he doesn't seem to care. He only cares for her and will always stay by her side, even as a simple friend.'
Ran felt different feelings surging in her: pain, sorrow, disappointment but also envy and anger. Why couldn't Shinichi love her in that way? Why did he have to love a girl that maybe wouldn't even love him back? Why couldn't he have chosen her?
Many other questions came to Ran's mind but she shoved them away and looked back at Shinichi. He was staring at her with his cobalt blue eyes filled with guilt.
"Ran, listen." he said, after a bit, "Even if I don't have the feelings I used to have for you, you're still my friend. You're still the childhood friend I care for so much. I only hope that you will still consider me a friend."
Ran didn't answer: the tears she had been fighting down, were now slowly flowing on her cheeks. She got up and picked her bag. Before leaving, however, she glanced at Shinichi.
"I only know that I love you, Shinichi Kudo." she said softly, "And I don't know the rest."
"Ran! Wait!" he said, getting up, trying to stop her but it was too late: Ran had already run away.
He watched her through the window till she disappeared from sight.
"I'm sorry, Ran." he said softly, "I'm sorry to make you suffer.. but I had to. I can't deny my feelings. You deserve better."
Shinichi paid the orders shortly after and left the coffee shop.
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Ran was running without knowing where she was going. She only wanted to go away..
Far away.
She wanted to escape from the truth that had shattered her heart: Shinichi was in love.
With another girl.
'He doesn't love me!' she thought desperately, tears falling on her cheeks, 'I've waited for him for months, after his sudden disappearance. I've been worrying every day and I felt so relieved when he called me. He never said much: only cases here, cases there but he called me. Not Agase or anyone else. Me.
I thought I was special for him but I was wrong. I'm just a friend for him. Only a friend. Instead, he fell in love with a girl that, maybe, doesn't even like him.'
Ran had often thought that Shinichi could have fallen in love with another girl while he was away: he had always been very popular and girls usually swarmed around him. She was aware that there could have been that possibility but every time that thought disappeared from her mind: like that time when she thought that she had seen him with a girl in that little town next to the woods.
She really thought that he loved her. Otherwise, why did he show up, suddenly at the school play dressed as Romeo while she was Juliet? Why did he take her to visit his parents' in America?
He said that he had felt something for her before but his feelings changed months ago. Probably after he met that girl.
Ran had never felt like this before: there weren't only pain and sorrow in her heart.
She felt betrayed. Betrayed by the boy she loved.
She felt angry and jealous with the girl Shinichi loved. She has never met her but she already...
She hated her.
Ran stopped running: her heart was aching both for the run and for her false hopes on Shinichi.
She didn't want to go to her house: her Dad was out for a case and Conan-kun wasn't there to comfort her since he was staying at Agase's house.
She smiled in spite of herself as she thought of the little boy.
'He's always there for me.' she thought, 'Always there to comfort me and cheer me up. What would I do without him?'
She began to walk and just then she realised that she was in front of Sonoko's house.
The day before, she had promised her to come and tell her how her talk with Shinichi had gone and she had unconsciously come there. She walked through the gates and knocked at the door.
Ran heard footsteps and then her friend's voice.
"Who is it?" Sonoko asked loudly.
"Ran." she replied.
Sonoko opened the door immediately.
"RAN!" she said, excitedly, "You're here! So, how did it..?"
She didn't finish the sentence because she saw tears running down Ran's cheeks. She went close to her.
"Ran?" Sonoko asked concerned, "What's wrong?"
Ran just looked at her and began to cry: all her pain and sorrow poured out. Sonoko tried to calm her down and let her in.
She really wanted to know what had upset her friend so much.
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Shinichi was running towards the station.
He had to meet Ryu there at half past four and he was late. It was already twenty to five. He turned to his left and saw Ryu standing next to his motorbike.
"Hey, Ryu!" he called and the other looked up. "Sorry, I'm late but it took me more than I thought of to speak with Ran."
Ryu looked at him and noticed the sad glint in his eyes.
"How did she take it?" he asked.
"She ran away from the coffee shop." Shinichi answered, "She was hurt, very hurt. And it's all my fault."
"Well, you couldn't lie to her or play with her feelings. Give her time and she'll understand. By the way, you can still be next to her and cheer her up as Conan."
"Yeah, but only for a week. then, she'll know that I'll be leaving and it will be another pain for her."
"Give her time. It's the only way.." Ryu said, "However, we've got to go. We have wasted enough time."
Shinichi forgot Ran and his guilt for a moment and thought about his training.
"Sure, where are we going first?" he asked.
"The rifle-range." Ryu answered, "It's open only till six thirty. We have to hurry. Here take this."
He gave Shinichi a helmet and mounted his bike, putting on his helmet, too.
Shinichi sat behind him and Ryu sped off to the rifle-range.
-
It didn't take much.
The rifle-range was quite near to the police station in the centre of the city. As they parked the bike, Ryu opened the backpack he had brought with him and handed Shinichi a baseball cap.
"Just in case." he said, "I know we're quite safe since this place is near the police station but it's better not to risk."
Shinichi nodded and put it on. Ryu did the same, too. They picked their things and went in. Fortunately, there weren't many people around and nobody stopped them. They found an empty training room and went in, shutting the door close. There wasn't much inside: only a table, two chairs and a small cupboard. In front of them was a wall of glass panels, interrupted only by two glassless sections. Beyond the wall, there was a court and about ten, twenty or so meters further, were two targets.
Shinichi walked over to one of these sections and saw that there was a small base under it: there was a small electric device with a few buttons on it and a pair of earmuffs. Ryu approached him.
"That device allows you to draw and then send back the target." he explained, "You know, if you want to see if your shots have got the target well."
Shinichi nodded.
"Well, let's get started." Ryu said, putting the backpack on the table taking of his leather jacket. Shinichi took off his suit's jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.
Ryu opened his backpack and drew his revolver and his automatic, along with a handful of bullets and two chargers.
"You take the automatic." he said, "I think it's more suitable for you. You're still a bit slow when you have to load a revolver with new bullets."
He gave the gun to Shinichi and walked towards the other glassless section. He pressed a button on the device and his target came towards him slowly. Shinichi approached him and looked at the target: it was a white outline of a person on a black background.
"Well, before starting to fire, I'd better tell you where to shoot." Ryu remarked, "I think you should concentrate your efforts on arms and legs. Agase's helping me put hypodermic substance in all the bullets we have. In this way, we'll be able to knock out without killing. If you shoot at your opponent's arms or legs, you won't hurt him seriously, even though he will feel a great pain, and then the stunning substance will knock him out completely."
"Well, it should be easy." Shinichi said.
"I wouldn't say that if I were you." Ryu contradicted him, "You have to shoot with accuracy without making mistakes. You have to be quick and accurate: I don't think an agent of the Organisation will give you a lot of time to take aim." Ryu pointed at the target. "For example, imagine that you have to shoot at the left arm: if you're not accurate, if you mistake a few inches, you'll kill your opponent instantly because you shot at his heart. That's why I'm telling you to be accurate."
Shinichi nodded again.
"All right, I understood." he said.
"Well, I'll start: it will give you a general idea." Ryu said, "If you want you can put the earmuffs: I don't know if you're used to hear gun shots."
"No, I don't need them." Shinichi said, "By the way, I don't think I can wear earmuffs if I use the gun in a frontal encounter, can I?"
Ryu smirked.
"I suppose not." he said.
He pressed another button and the target went back to its place; in the meanwhile, Ryu loaded the revolver with six bullets. Shinichi watched him with a bit of admiration: he loaded the gun in less than thirty seconds. When he had tried, it took him a lot more time.
"Ok, here I go, then." Ryu said, taking aim.
He fired: the sound was deafening but Shinichi didn't even bother to it because he was too busy observing Ryu that had fired five more times. Then, he pressed a button and the target was drawn towards them.
Ryu glanced at Shinichi with a small smile.
"Well, let's if my aim is still good: I haven't used the gun since I left America." he said, "I've fired three times to the right arm and three to the left.
Shinichi turned to the target and noticed three small holes on either arms and they were all at the shoulders' height.
"Wow, all perfect shots." he said, impressed.
"Yeah, not bad." Ryu admitted, "Maybe, I should have aimed a bit more at the centre, though. I could have risked to graze the target instead of getting it full. However, it's your turn, now."
Shinichi nodded and went to the other section.
"Fire only once." Ryu instructed, "If I see any mistakes, I can correct you and you can do better on the others."
"All right." Shinichi said, "Here I go."
He aimed at the right arm of his target and fired.
He did notice the shot's sound now: it was deafening. The gun nearly slipped out of his hands as the shock wave made him stumble. If Ryu hadn't caught him from behind, Shinichi would fallen to the ground.
"Well, I know you're pretty excited because this is the first time you're shooting but... you've forgotten all the basis you've learned till now." Ryu said, straightening him up. "And, by the way, I've told you that the shock wave could knock you down."
"I've noticed." Shinichi remarked, "Well, did the bullet get the target at least?"
"Ehm.. no, you missed it completely: your arms were held too high and the bullet has hit the wall above the target." Ryu said, after a look at the target.
"Great.." Shinichi muttered, "Well, what did I do wrong?"
"I've already told you this: arms parallel to your shoulders and be supple on your legs. In this way, you should be well balanced." Ryu said, "Next thing, your grip must be firmer: you're using both hands, so it shouldn't be hard, otherwise, the gun will slip off every time you fire."
Shinichi did exactly as Ryu had told him.
"The position is correct. Now, let's see your aim." Ryu remarked, "Shoot at the left arm."
"Ok." Shinichi replied and took aim carefully.
'I can't make a mistake now.' he thought and fired.
It went better.
He didn't stumble, the gun didn't slip out of his hand and he only took a step back because of the shock wave.
"Well?" he asked.
Ryu pressed the button on the device.
"I think you did well but let's be sure." he said.
The target stopped in front of them and Shinichi looked at it carefully. There was a hole on the left arm, right under the shoulder.
He grinned.
"I've made it!" he said and Ryu smiled, sending the target back.
"Yeah, it was a good shot." he said, "You only have to be quicker when you take the aim: the rest was perfect."
Shinichi was going to fire again when something came to his mind. He lowered the gun and turned to Ryu.
"Listen, are you sure we can waste bullets in this way?" he asked, "I don't think you can buy them here as easily as you can buy them in America."
"Don't worry." Ryu replied, loading his gun, "I asked Matt to supply us with ammunition and to bring other weapons when he'll come here. You can empty all the chargers if you want. I'll fire another few times, too: I need to keep in practise."
"Ok, then." Shinichi said, grinning.
-
They went on shooting for a while. Shinichi was doing well: he hardly missed the target and he was getting faster. It was nearly six o'clock when they finished. As they left the rifle-range, Shinichi was quite satisfied with himself. Ryu looked at him with an amused expression.
"You know, Shinichi, I think you're the only person I've ever met that has learned to shoot this well only in one day." he said, as they mounted the motor bike again. "Let's see how you'll be doing with fighting."
"I hope well." he replied, "By the way, where are we going now?"
"I found a gym that rents boxing rings for a few hours: it should be right for us. Well, let's go."
Ryu turned the bike and they sped towards the gym.
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They reached the gym half an hour later and they were relieved to see that there wasn't anyone inside besides the owner. They went in the changing room and left their jackets, the backpack and the helmets in there. The gym's owner looked at them with a curious expression.
'They came to do exercise... dressed in that way?' he thought surprised and also a bit amused.
As a matter of fact, Shinichi had removed his suit's jacket, his tie and his shirt's sleeves were rolled up while Ryu was wearing jeans and a white shirt. They didn't seem to bother to the man's stare.
Ryu stretched a bit.
"I think we should do a few exercises as a warm-up." he said, "You probably don't need them because you've been doing exercise every day but I'm surely out of form. Being cooped in my room for weeks has stiffened my muscles."
Shinichi looked at him.
"Are you sure your wound won't open if you do exercise?" he asked, "Or if you help me with fighting?"
"No, don't worry." Ryu replied, "It's healed now: the only pain that I'll feel will be the muscles aching tomorrow... no, tonight."
Shinichi grinned and they started the warm-up. They did a series of press-ups and knee-bends, lifted weights and at last some exercises for abdomen and back.
When they finished, they both went into the ring, standing in front of each other. Shinichi was a bit nervous: he had already seen Ryu's strength and fighting him, even though it was only for his training, wasn't reassuring.
'Well, he said that he's a bit out of form.' he thought, 'Maybe, I can do it. I have studied all those after all... well, I hope I can make it.'
Ryu looked at him.
"Listen, first of all we have to see how much you know about fighting." he said, "So, you will attack me, trying to make me fall and I will only defend myself. I will defend myself at the beginning. If I see that you're good in attack, I'll test your defences." Ryu smiled slightly, seeing the look on Shinichi's face. "Don't worry, I'll take it easy and I'll give you advices during our... ehm.. fight."
"All right." Shinichi replied nervously. He took a deep breath and concentrated on all the moves he had learned. He clenched his fists and tried to punch Ryu but he seemed to read his mind. Every time Shinichi tried to punch him, Ryu dodged it easily.
"You are too foreseeable, Shinichi." Ryu said, after having dodged another punch, "You have to be more supple on your legs and you shouldn't keep your arms so stiff. You should do like this."
Shinichi didn't even see the punch, such was it's speed: he was only aware of the fact that Ryu's fist had grazed the left side of his face.
"Understood?" he asked.
Shinichi looked at him blankly.
"Come again?" he said.
Ryu sighed slightly.
"Do you remember the basis?" he asked, " All the movements start from a good control of legs, arms and body balance. Well, you're very quick on your feet thanks to soccer practice but you are too stiff. I think you know all the moves but you're not... natural."
Shinichi stared at him.
"Natural?" he repeated.
"Yes, you don't have to think of the moves but they should come naturally. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yes, at least I think so."
"Oh, another thing. You're not left-handed, so don't put too much weight on your left foot. I think it's a habit coming from soccer: you know, when you shoot in goal, you put all your balance on your left foot. However, it's a mistake because your opponent can foresee your moves. So, take advantage of the fact that you're quick on your feet."
Shinichi nodded: he had understood quite well now.
"All right. Let's go on." Ryu said.
'Quick on the legs... Suppleness..." Shinichi reminded himself, "Good balance on both feet... Be natural.'
He threw a punch to Ryu on the face but he dodged it. He feigned to move to the left and threw a blow at his right side: Ryu was taken aback and moved away late. The punch grazed his waist.
"That's it!" he said. "Go on like this."
Shinichi decided to change moves now: punching was not easy, maybe he could do better with kicks.
He feigned a punch, dropped on a knee and kicked low with the other leg, trying to make Ryu fall. Not expecting this move, Ryu did fall but he managed to put a hand down and jump back up. Before Shinichi knew what was happening, Ryu had already slipped behind him and pinned his arm to his back. He let go immediately.
"Hey, didn't you say that you wouldn't have attacked for now." Shinichi groaned, rubbing his arm.
"Sorry, I did it instinctively." Ryu said, smiling apologetically, "By the way, good sweeping kick. You did it really well."
"Well, I saw Rei do it once." Shinichi admitted.
"You learned well." he replied, "Just a thing: you must be faster when you jump back to your feet after you kicked low, ok?"
"Uhm, uhm, all right." Shinichi replied.
"However, I think we could test your defences now. I knew you would be good in kicks and the punches aren't bad either: so, you've passed attacking moves. Now, defence."
Shinichi grimaced.
"I'll never pass that." he said, "You'll batter me up and I won't even know what has hit me."
"Come on, you're doing well and, by the way, you don't have to only defend yourself, you should also attack." Ryu said, reaching for something next to the ring, "Here put these on."
They were boxing gloves. Shinichi looked up blankly.
"Are we going to have a regular match?" he asked.
Ryu smirked.
"Well, not exactly regular since we'll use kicks, too." he said, "It will only be a... simulation of a fight. We'll put the gloves only to protect ourselves. It would be a bit hard to explain if we went back home with bruises on our faces."
"Yeah, especially after you said that we have gone to see a motorbike for me." Shinichi added, smiling.
They both put on the boxing gloves and stood one in front of the other.
"Let's think that the other is a member of the Organisation." Ryu said, "So, fight seriously."
"Don't worry." Shinichi said, "If I think that you're Gin, I'll fight very seriously."
"Ok, then. Round one... go."
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"HOW COULD HE SAY THAT TO YOU? AFTER ALL THE MONTHS YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR HIM, HE JUST... BETRAYED YOU LIKE THAT?"
Sonoko was flaming with anger.
Ran had calmed down and had just told her what has happened during her meeting with Shinichi. She couldn't believe that he could have done this to her.
"Who is this other girl anyway?" she said angrily, "He met her a few months ago and thinks she's the love of his life and has the nerve to dump you.
You, Ran. You that know him since you were five."
"Sonoko, you didn't see his face." Ran said, "He was... different. I think he really loves her." Tears were filling her eyes again. "He must really love this girl, whoever she is."
Sonoko went silent for a moment and then she shook her best friend.
"You still love him, don't you?" she asked.
Silence.
"Yes, I do." Ran responded quietly, "I can't forget him."
"Then go and talk to him as soon as you see him again." Sonoko said simply, "He'll be back in a couple of weeks, right?"
"Sonoko, I can't." Ran retorted, "What can I tell him anyway? I've confessed him my feelings but he refused me. What else should I do?"
"Listen, you have to fight for your love." Sonoko said, a bit irritated, "He fell in love with another girl.. so, who cares? You try to bring him back to you. He'll probably see that he had done the biggest mistake in his life to refuse you and beg you to come back to him."
Ran laughed in spite of herself: Shinichi was so proud that would never admit a mistake or beg someone. However, Sonoko's words had stirred her. It was true that she loved Shinichi. She really loved him and... maybe, she should fight for him.
"Sonoko, maybe, you're right." she said, "I'll talk with him again when I'll see him."
"Oh good, you've decided to react." Sonoko said, happily, "By the way, that detective is a real fool. He said that he loved you and then, after meeting another girl, his feelings changed and he fell for her. What a fool. Let's say that this girl doesn't even consider him: I'd really like to see his face when that happens."
"Sonoko, you're cruel."
"No, I'm not. He made you suffer and I think it's right that he suffers too." she replied and smiled mischievously. "And if he gets refused, you could run to comfort him, right Ran?"
Ran blushed.
"Maybe." she managed to mutter.
"That's the spirit!" Sonoko said, "Don't give up: you two will surely get together."
Ra smiled slightly and nodded. Sonoko was right: she couldn't give up so easily.
She had to fight for her love.
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Shinichi and Ryu had just got out of the gym.
They were both wincing slightly as they walked but they seemed quite satisfied of themselves.
"You know, Shinichi, you fight really well." Ryu remarked, "I never saw anyone fight like this at the first practice."
"Well, I've studied all the moves and you've given me quite a lot of advice." he replied, "However, you're the good one. I didn't even see your punches at the beginning."
"It's just practice. If you do another few practical sessions like today, you will be able to do the same, too. And then, you'll be hard to knock out."
"I hope so."
"And you'll be able to protect Shiho from anyone."
Shinichi blushed while Ryu laughed.
"I think we should go home, now." Ryu said, looking at his watch, "It's half past eight: Rei, Agase and Ai will wonder where we have gone."
Shinichi didn't answer immediately: there was still something he wanted to do today.
An important thing...
"Ryu? Do you mind if we go somewhere else before going back to Agase's place?" he asked.
"No, no problem for me." he answered, "Where do you want to go?"
"I'll show you the way." Shinichi said, ignoring the question. " It's not far: we should be there soon."
"All right." Ryu said. He had noticed the look on his face and he knew that further questions with have been useless.
They mounted on the motor bike and sped away. Ten minutes later, Shinichi told Ryu to stop: they were in front of a flight of stone steps that led to a temple.
'This place looks like a... ' Ryu thought, slightly confused.
"Ehm, Shinichi, you're sure you want to go here?" he asked.
"Yes, I wanted to do it for a long time." he replied, taking of his helmet, "And I wanted to go as Shinichi and not as Conan." He got down and turned to Ryu. "Do you mind waiting here? I'll be back in a few minutes."
Ryu nodded.
"Sure." he said, "No problem."
"Thanks." Shinichi said and walked up to the temple.
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Rei, Ai and Agase had just had dinner: they had waited for Ryu and Shinichi till a quarter past eight but since they didn't show up, they had decided to eat.
The girls were in the lab now and they were both wondering where the boys were and what they were doing.
"They're both hiding something." Rei said.
"Yes and they've been behaving strangely since we had that narrow escape with Scotch weeks ago." Ai remarked.
"Yes, they're always closed in Ryu's room, telling that they're working on the radar. I didn't suspect anything the first week because they also had the files to work out and they always did it."
"Shinichi's been acting strangely at the beginning, too. He was always wincing whenever he moved."
"Right, but it only lasted a few days: he was normal later." Rei said. Then, realising a fact, she turned to Ai, smiling slightly. "I see that you've finally decided to call him with his name." Her tone was teasing and Ai blushed. "However, I've got a few suspects."
"That are?"
"Well, Shinichi was very dejected weeks ago: he said that he felt useless because he couldn't have helped us fight Scotch in a frontal encounter since he didn't have fighting or shooting skills." Rei remarked, thoughtfully, "So, what if..."
"What if Ryu's teaching him how to fight and shoot?" Ai completed.
"Yes. It would make sense: Shinichi's starting muscular problems, all their hiding in Ryu's room.. Today, they're probably taking advantage that Shinichi's in his true form to test his skills. What do you think?" Rei asked.
"Well, it could be." Ai admitted, "But why do it secretly?"
"Good point. Why hide it? Maybe, it's Shinichi's idea: we were busy with the antidote and the working of the files and he didn't want to disturb us. Ruy had more time since he had to recover from his injury." Rei said, "Or maybe, he didn't tell us anything for pride and asked Ryu to keep the secret."
"That would explain why Ryu was always so uncomfortable.." Ai remarked.
"Yes, he doesn't like to lie to the people around him." Rei said, laughing slightly. "However, we'll see if our theories are right when they come back: if they look tired, it means that we're right."
"Let's see, when they come back.." Ai said, smiling slightly.
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Shinichi gently lifted the latch of a metal gate and opened a door, letting himself into the graveyard, behind the temple.
He walked slowly among the stones until he reached the one he was looking for. His memory hadn't failed him: the tombstone was exactly where he remembered. He looked at the name and felt a pang of guilt and sorrow.
'The name should be changed.' he thought, 'At least now that she's resting, she should be called with her true name.'
He knelt down and burnt a few sticks of incense and prayed for a minute. Then he looked up.
"Hello, Masami-san... sorry, Miyano-san." he said, softly, "You probably don't recognize me: I am Shinichi Kudo, the last person you saw before you died... This is the second time I've come here: last time, it was your during your funeral and I was a kid. That Conan Edogawa, you have seen and talked to many times when you worked at the bank.
But today... tonight, I'm here to sort out a few things and I wanted to do it in my true form.
First... I am sorry, Akemi-san. I failed to save your life: I didn't warn you in time and Gin killed you. Now, Gin wants to kill your sister: she has betrayed the Organisation after your murder and they tried to kill her but, fortunately, she survived. She's a little kid like me now and.. we're friends. She's helping me and other friends bring the Organisation down. You know one of them since you asked his help years ago: Ryuji Kazama. However, we are working hard because we have all been hurt by the Organisation and we want to see it destroyed.
But I've come here for another reason.
In the last months, my feelings towards your sister have changed and I.. well, I've fallen in love with Shiho. She doesn't know anything: I want to find the right moment. We are getting along well now and I don't want to ruin everything. Anyway, I want to make you a promise.
I swear that I will always protect Shiho. I won't let anything happen to her: neither by Gin or anyone else. I failed to save you, Akemi-san but I promise I will do anything for Shiho.
And as last thing, I.. I want to thank you. After your death, Shiho escaped from the Organisation and came... to me. I don't know if it's only a coincidence or if it's fate but... we met thanks to you. Somehow, our lives are entwined now. I just wanted to say this: Thank you. Well, I have to go now. I'll be back and I promise I'll find a way to change the name on this stone, so that everyone will know who you really are. Goodbye, Akemi-san."
As the boy was leaving, a gentle breeze swept through the yard, caressing a tree in the graveyard. One of it's last white flowers, grazed the tomb with burning incense sticks and then landed on the boy's jacket.
Maybe, it was Akemi's way to tell Shinichi that she had heard him.
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It was nearly nine o'clock when Ryu and Shinichi came back to Agase's house. Ryu parked his motor bike inside the lawn and they both walked to the door.
"Ehm, Shinichi?" Ryu asked, "What excuse are we going to make up now?"
"Ehm... I have no idea." Shinichi replied.
"Well, think of something." Ryu said and he rang the doorbell.
Agase opened the door.
"Ryu-kun! Shinichi-kun! Where have you been?" he asked, letting them in, "We already had dinner: we have been waiting for you but we gave up after a while."
"Sorry, Professor." the boys said together.
"Where are Rei and Ai?" Ryu asked, putting the helmets away.
"I think they're upstairs." Agase replied, "Anyway, what's happened to you two? You look exhausted."
Shinichi and Ryu looked at each other: they were both sweaty and they looked very tired.
"Ehm, it's nothing." Shinichi said going upstairs, "Just a long day."
"Yeah, we'll take a shower and eat something later." Ryu added, following Shinichi.
"All right." Professor said, "Your dinner's on the table."
"Thanks, Agase."
The boys went upstairs and headed to Ryu's room.
"We have fooled Agase." Shinichi said, "Now, we have the other two."
"It won't be easy to fool Ai and Rei." Ryu remarked, "They're already suspicious and they probably know that we're hiding something."
"Good thinking, Ryu."
"As a matter of fact, we do know what you two have been doing."
Shinichi and Ryu nearly jumped when they heard the girls' voices. They turned around and saw Rei and Ai, standing at their room's door frame. Ryu had the suspect they had heard every word they had been saying. Shinichi must have thought the same because he glanced at Ryu.
"Come again?" he asked.
Rei and Ai looked at each other.
"Shinichi, which motor bike, did you choose?" Rei asked suddenly.
"Motor bike?" he asked blankly.
"Well, yes, that's what you two have been doing for the last... five hours, haven't you?" Ai said with sarcasm, "Choosing a motor bike."
Ryu poked Shinichi hard on the ribs and this seemed to make his brain work again.
"OUCH! Oh, yes, the motor bike..." he said, "Well, I... I chose a.. a Honda Hornet 900."
The girls looked at him with eyebrows raised and a slightly amused look.
"Ehm, I think I'll go and take a shower." Ryu said, knowing that the girls wouldn't give up so easily and Shinichi followed suite.
"Yeah and I have to change too."
They had hardly reached the door when..
"So, how did your first practical training session go?" Rei asked nonchalantly.
Shinichi turned around so quickly that he appeared to have cricked his neck.
"How do you know?" he asked surprised.
"Well, it seems that we have guessed right, then." Ai remarked, smirking at Shinichi's face.
"They have fooled you, Shinichi." Ryu muttered.
"Yeah, I've noticed.." he replied, slapping his forehead and shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well, we will explain later, ok?" Ryu said, "We have to take a shower, change ourselves and eat something before: I'm starved."
"All right." the girls replied and went downstairs.
-
It was nearly half past ten: Ryu and Shinichi had just told Rei and Ai everything about the training Shinichi had started weeks ago and what they had done today. They only omitted the real reason that lead Shinichi tp start his training and his visit to the graveyard. The girls teased them a bit because they had done everything secretly: there wasn't anything to hide. They had only wasted energy.
Ryu and Rei were in the lab, now: they were sending a few e-mails to Matt.
Shinichi and Ai were in the living room.
Shinichi was thrown on the couch: he was exhausted. Ai looked at him.
"Kudo-kun, how did the exam go?" she asked.
"Fine." he replied, "It was easy after all."
"When will you get your results?"
"Ehm.. I think next week."
"Was your training so hard? You look unable to move."
"It was hard: especially fighting. Ryu battered me up well. All my bones and muscles are aching."
"Well, you can practise more often from now on since you don't have to hide anymore."
"Yes, good thing. Anyway, Haibara, I promise I won't hide anything from you and Rei again. You always find out while I always waste energy. It's simply useless."
Ai smiled slightly.
"I see." she said.
Just then, she remembered that he had talked to Ran that evening.
'Well, it's just a question, after all.' she thought, 'Let's see what he answers.'
"Ehm, Kudo-kun? What did you do after the exam, before meeting Ryu?" she asked casually.
No answer.
"Kudo-kun?"
She turned to him and saw that he was fast asleep on the couch.
'He was really tired.' she thought, smiling slightly.
She took a blanket from her room and covered him. She looked at him for a moment.
'He looks so defenceless when he sleeps' she thought, smiling to herself.
She switched off the lights, before leaving the room.
"Good night, Shinichi." she said softly.
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Chapter up! I hope you liked it: this is more a transition chapter. I just sorted out a few things. The following ones will be more in the story.
REVIEW!
Bye.
