Dr. Agasa's house

Conan moped around Dr. Agasa's house. The three other kids were enjoying their game. Each of them had soundly beaten Conan at the game, so much so that he finally gave up.

Ai Haibara walked up to him and handed him a cup of water.

"Here you go, Conan-kun. It'll help take that frown off your face."

"I'm not frowning, Haibara." Conan replied, flashing a forced smile.

"Oh sure. You're not. But if I were the one who got beaten by small kids in a video game…"

"Haibara!"

"I'm sorry, Conan-kun." Haibara replied innocently. "But I don't think I meant you."

Conan glared at her. "Haibara…"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think you have found the antidote to this poison?"

"No. I'm working on in Conan-kun. Be patient." She looked at him. "This is about something else isn't it?"

"It's Ran. She's been really down lately. I don't want that to happen."

"You can't do anything about it. So stop beating yourself up."

"It's just that…sometimes, I wished I never got involved in this Black Syndicate mess. I would still be Shinichi Kudo."

"But the Black Syndicate would continue to harm people. More people might have been hurt."

"I guess so…"

"Well, I gotta go down to the lab and fix some things. See you Conan-kun."

Conan stared at her.

"See ya."

Uruhara's shop

"Mr. Tessai. Could you please help me deliver this letter to our young friend?" Uruhara said. He handed the letter to Mr. Tessai. He left the shop.

"Well, now that that's over and done with…" he smiled grimly. "Let's try to rebuild the portal."

"Portal?" Ichigo asked.

"The portal to make mortals into spirits. This Kudo kid is pure mortal He won't be able to get to Soul Society."

"Does that mean we'd have to do that running thing again?" Ichigo asked again.

"But of course."

"What running thing? What portal?" Rukia was still lost.

"You'll see later Rukia." Ichigo smiled at her. The next thing he knew, he was lying on the ground, a slipper shape on his face.

"That has got to hurt." Uruhara remarked, trying to suppress his smile.

Dr. Agasa's house

"I'm going back home now, Dr. Agasa." Conan said. He stood up and stretched.

"Okay Conan-kun. Take care."

"Bye guys." Conan said to his three friends. They turned to him and 'shhhhhhhhhhh'ed him in unison.

Conan left the house. It was nearly sunset.

'The sun feels so nice.' He thought to himself. He closed his eyes.

Suddenly, he was aware that someone was in front of him. He opened his eyes and gasped.

In front of him stood the largest man he had ever seen. He was wearing an apron and wore a pair of spectacles. His huge frame blocked out the sun.

"Are you Shinichi Kudo?" the man asked.

Conan flinched. Who exactly is this man?

"I have something for you. Here."

Conan took the envelope from the huge man. He looked at the writing on the front. It was addressed to Shinichi Kudo.

"Who-?" Conan looked up. The man was nowhere to be seen.

"Let's see what this envelope is about…" he muttered. One thing for sure, someone already knew his real identity.

Conan opened the envelope with trembling fingers. He gingerly took out the piece of paper inside. He carefully unfolded it.

There were only 2 words written on the piece of paper.

Yo Kudo.

Conan stared at the 2 words until they were a blur. Before he managed to think about the meaning, he felt himself pushed aside by a huge force. He rolled aside into the bushes and stared.

There was nothing there. But on the spot where he stood, there was a huge footprint pressed down deep. Conan could not believe his eyes.

The leaves on the overhead tree rustled. Suddenly a few branches broke and fell. Conan stared. He could not see anything and yet he could sense a presence there. He took an involuntary step backward.

The hollow smiled, its teeth bared and moved forward for the kill.

Tokyo

Ichigo leapt into action. The hollow leapt towards the boy, its mouth wide open. It looked as though it would swallow the boy whole. Ichigo stopped the hollow in its tracks with his zanpakutō.

'Shinigami!' the hollow hissed. 'You shall die too!'

"Shut up!" Ichigo replied coolly. "You are such a wimp, picking on small kids."

The hollow roared and lounged toward Ichigo. Ichigo stood his ground and with a single calculated strike, slashed the hollow's mask into two. The hollow gave a final, defeated roar and dissolved into thin air.

Ichigo turned to the young boy standing there while the battle raged. The boy was still squinting into thin air, albeit at his direction. Ichigo decided to disappear before the boy caught a whiff of his spiritual power. He was in the midst of leaping away when the boy spoke up.

"Who are you?"

Ichigo turned to the boy. "You can see me?"

"Of course. You're dressed weird, in a black kimono. And you're holding that huge sword."

"Black kimono?!" Ichigo stuttered. "It's what all shinigamis wear."

"Not exactly a fashion statement."

Ichigo groaned. He had to put up with a wise kid.

"What's your name, kid?"

"I'm Edogawa Conan."

"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. And boy are you going to enjoy whatever we're going to do next."

"I'm anticipating it." Conan replied with a small smile on his face.