Chapter 66
Post tenebras spero lucem
It was probably the first time Hattori Heiji had experienced such anxiety. Although the plan appeared to be progressing well, recent events have disrupted it. Grabbing a detective boy's badge tightly, the cold metal digging into his skin, he glanced at the agent fitting him in an armored suit and then at the blonde-haired child of middle school appearance. Like Shinichi and the little nee-chan, Mary-Sera was not a child but a middle-aged woman.
As he marveled at the complexity of this drug, he could barely concentrate on the voice discussing the upcoming impromptu mission.
"I am sure of it," Hondou Eisuke stated, his voice coming through the badge. Despite his apparent calm, his tone was tinged with trepidation. It was not surprising. It was evident to everyone that Eisuke was concerned about Ran Mouri's safety. A little hesitant, the bespectacled boy, concealed in the secret headquarters built by the FBI weeks ago, noticed a strange phenomenon.
"Well, what did they use to say?" Heiji was not surprised. "Things could always be worse."
You can never predict what will happen. Calculations were made for this, however—
He glanced at his armored suit and then shared a glance with Mary-Sera. The two were in a private room. Between them, a walkie-talkie relayed the events taking place in Kogoro Mouri's detective office and Agasa Professor's mansion. Several M16 agents were on standby, positioned outside the room. They could not position their snipers and were primarily kept in the dark about recent developments.
"Joking at such a time," a gruff voice interrupted Eisuke. Sera Masumi, a tomboyish detective, was not amused. With the same anxiety as her bespectacled counterpart, she was excluded from the mission.
"That silly child of mine," Mary-Sera had said, "would be too impulsive."
It would be a poor match. Patience was the key, but Masumi Sera lacked any of it.
"Kaa-san, I do not agree with this," Sera stated, "it is risky. No one knows what he will do."
As she offered her two cents, danger lurked behind the private doors. Eisuke, in collaboration with Kudou Yusuke, had spotted the abnormality, with the M16 agents standing guard. The man was as sharp as his son, noticing the culprit's strange behavior the instant he spoke.
"Probably a ruse," Yusuke confirmed, "One of Rum's contingency plans."
Hattori donned the last of his armor and grasped the steel pliers he had been given.
"One clip of the red wire," Mary explained, looking at the photo she had taken secretly hours earlier. Holding up her smartphone, Heiji studied the image once more. Despite his nervousness, he practiced the movements with the pliers.
"Then yellow, make sure the ball does not move. As soon as the pin drops, remove it immediately," Mary continued.
"With discretion," Eisuke added, and Heiji sighed.
"Child's play, isn't it?" He tried to make light of the situation.
"Look, if you can't do it—" Masumi cuts in, and Heiji stops her.
"I just need a minute," he said, adjusting the helmet straps. Looking in the mirror, he is strikingly similar to the M16 agents loitering outside.
"It would not be easy, Hattori," a certain thief told him. "However, if anything goes wrong, promise me," The thief smiles wryly, "that you'll take care of her."
Heiji clutches the photo a thief has given him. A raven-haired girl stares back at him. The thief's childhood friend. Clutching the pliers, he faced Mary with a determined stance.
"It's not every day," Heiji continued, "That I'd have to diffuse a bomb."
"No," Yusuke chimed, and Heiji could picture the man smirking. "However, Hattori, if anyone is capable of doing it..."
"It's the man my son trusts," Yukiko finished.
Inhaling deeply, Heiji smirked before standing up.
"I would like to emphasize that it is essential for him not to discover this," Eisuke stressed.
"Don't worry, kid," Mary patted him on the back, "I'll back you up."
"I don't like this," Masumi murmured, then sighed, "But I guess it's the only way."
Heiji stepped out of the door, clutching his detective badge, and a shrunken boy's slightly annoying yet reassuring voice echoed in his ears.
"Break a leg, Hattori."
Kudou Shinichi.
"Of course," the Osaka detective scoffed, "You owe me one…idiot."
There was blood gushing from the open wound. It was difficult for Shinichi to focus with his hands on Kogoro Mouri's chest. It was a serious matter. Kogoro was trembling from the wound and becoming colder by the minute. The once-pristine floors Ran had been so proud of were marred by red. The blood ran through shattered plaster and splintered wood in a sinister constellation. There was still an acrid smell of gunpowder in the air, and the barrel was now aimed at Shinichi's forehead.
"Oji-san," Shinichi battled to keep his emotions in check as his heart raced. "Stay with me, please. Backup is on its way."
"Backup?" Rum's voice dripped with venom.
As the one-eyed demon whispered into his phone, he snapped his fingers, and Shinichi winced as another wave of blasts erupted. The noise was louder than usual, and Shinichi had no doubt that the explosions were getting closer. As Rum turned on the radio at Kogoro's table, a national emergency broadcast was publicized.
"You're smarter than this, boy," he taunted.
Shinichi clenched his fist, Kogoro's labored breath a stark reminder of their limited time. This plan was originally designed to stall Rum using the information he had gathered to rile up the man and allow Mary and her agents to attack him. However, the window of opportunity was closing.
Rum was more unpredictable than expected. Taking a deep breath, he took a sharp breath as Rum's grip on the weapon tightened, turning his knuckles white.
"The roads leading to medical care are blocked. There is no way out of this situation. What you choose now will determine his fate," Rum gestured to Kogoro, who was losing consciousness.
The situation was bleak. Shiho, Ran, the professor, and the children were being held hostage by Gin. Rei, Akai, and the rest of the PSB, as well as FBI agents, were engaged in combat with the members who ambushed them during Gin's transfer. Mary-san and the M16 agents were unable to take action as Rum had a high probability of triggering the bomb inside the detective's office and killing everyone inside, as well as everyone in the immediate area.
With other bombs set up by the organization going off in their stations and police boxes throughout the city, the Japanese Metropolitan Police had their hands full. Kogoro Mouri required medical attention, and unless Shinichi agreed to Rum's terms, there was no escape.
Well…
"I guess," Shinichi faced Rum, who smiled wickedly. "I am trapped."
Not quite…
"You're coming with me," the one-eyed demon declared, fingers twitching over the bomb's trigger.
"No."
There was a loud bang followed by the stench of gunfire. Shinichi winced, then—
"It'll only last for a few seconds," a phantom thief had told her weeks ago. He demonstrated the device that resembled a grenade more than anything else. When she executed it flawlessly, the teenage boy grinned as smoke erupted from the surrounding area. "It will, however, provide you with the necessary cover to make your escape. Can you handle it, princess?"
Princess.
He had been teasing her with that. Shiho could only stare at him in disgust. She wanted to kick that boy, but he was still needed for the operation. This smoke bomb he provided to her was concealed in a tiny pocket that Yukiko had sewed into her clothing. The trick was so well-executed that even Gin failed to notice it. Shiho took the opportunity to assess the damage caused as the monster descended down the basement.
He had done a number to her. A broken rib, possibly a sprained shoulder…and, she flinched, the state of her ripped clothes. Knowing she hadn't had much time, she struggled to get up. She could only bite her lip to suppress the excruciating discomfort she felt with every movement.
You've expected this.
The plan discussed with Shinichi, the FBI, PSB, and Metropolitan Police is now in place.
"It is imperative that we time it correctly," Jodie-sensei had emphasized. Only a few individuals were aware of the strategy to be implemented. The matter was discussed in a vaulted room deep inside the Kudou Mansion. Shortly after Rum's escape, the FBI constructed the room. A similar vaulted room was constructed in the professor's basement three days a week ago after her failed attempt to kill Vermouth. It was one of the reasons why Shiho's lab had to be temporarily relocated to the professor's garage.
"It's reinforced with thick steel panels," Akai explained as the concrete was poured between iron bars. "Ran and the professor would be safe. Explosions, let alone bullets, would not be able to penetrate it."
In the days that followed, Masumi Sera tested the doors to the basement. Sometimes sleeping over and sometimes making such a racket by testing various weapons that Shiho wanted to strangle her cousin. But—
"It's safe, Shiho," Sera reassured her. Pointing to the roof above, she showed her turtle tooth. "We're here too. If anything happens... I'll kick that guy in the nuts." Although rambunctiously annoying, her cousin nevertheless brought a bit of comfort.
"A doomsday vault, huh," she stood slowly, adjusting the weight of her leg so that it would not hinder her movements. Her broken rib jabbed sharply at her side with no relief in sight.
She swallowed the painkiller she pulled from her concealed pocket. It is a fast-acting agent. For precautionary reasons, she had made it days ago. The relief came quickly, and she sighed, turning with heightened alertness to the stairs.
It won't be long. Gin would realize the farce soon.
As expected, the silver-haired monster appeared. With pistol raised, he emerged from the stairwell. Shiho threw the smoke grenade from her pockets without hesitation. It pinned him briefly, but Shiho did not waste the opportunity.
She hid. Ducking under the kitchen counters, Shiho pulled open drawers to retrieve the weapon Ran and the professor had prepared earlier. Although she would have preferred not to use it, the children's sudden appearance had changed their plans. Now, more than ever, she needed it.
You won't get them.
With her hands gripping the gun's handle, her determination surged. It brings back scorching memories she would rather forget, but she held them back.
"Sherry!" the man roared as the smoke cleared. His insidious voice echoed throughout the mansion she considered home, tainting it with his scent. Shiho closed her eyes, controlling her emotions, before passing through the scattered pots, pans, and broken glass. Her eyes widened when she spotted the professor's cracked mug.
Please.
Slowly, she walked without making a sound. A feat only made possible because of the painkillers.
Please be ok.
"Why make this difficult?" Gin sneered. "You need only know that this...was unnecessary."
Hakase.
"Haven't I told you?" Gin moved methodically. Heavy footsteps were coming towards the kitchen counter. Shiho almost felt his piercing gaze. An involuntary chill ran down her spine as she made her move, shifting behind the counters in an attempt to get a better view of the monster. "That obedience was the key."
Absolute compliance. Control. An obsession. There is something strange about his perception of loyalty. Like a dog, Gin was drilled and trained. An unrelenting hound. Persistence is a deadly weapon honed by years of practice. She was the only recipient of his sadistic nature. It would be impossible for Shiho to understand why—and the theories she formulated would only make her shudder.
"How many more?" Gin drawled. Shiho heard him reach for his pockets and dial a number. There was an eerie silence, followed by a menacing voice from his phone's speakers. "Would you sacrifice?"
Shinichi was negotiating as planned. However, things were not going well. Despite his façade, Rum was enraged. Shiho could hear the undertones of threat. Mouri Kogoro was also shot, that was for sure. Despite his best efforts, Shinichi failed to hide his panic. Rum was aware of the plot and was conscious of the trick used to lure him out.
"Tick-tock, Sherry," Gin laughs. Shinichi's response to Rum was not satisfactory. Then—
A gasp escaped her lips. When Rum fired the pistol at Shinichi, she could not hold back her reaction.
"Found you~" Gin cuts the call. A sadistic glee shimmers in golden eyes. He kicked her, making her writhe. The painkillers did nothing to ease the stabbing sensation in her side. In tears, she drops the pistol after another kick sends her reeling.
Spitting blood as he threw himself at her. Again, she was pinned to the ground. Her back—bitten by hard marble as he straddled her. A hand was placed over her neck.
Terror gripped her, and she was unable to breathe. Her natural instinct was to remain still—like prey caught in a predator's sights. The years of torture had conditioned her body. Numbness filled her, and she felt her limbs going limp. "I will have them," Gin promises a scorching inferno. "I will kill…every last one of them. And…"
He traced the pistol's tip down her chest. Like a heated iron rod, the barrel brushed against her bare skin. "I will have you."
Running his tongue over his lips, beast-like eyes filled with—lust.
"Sherry."
With a flick of his wrist, Shinichi threw the rounded item. As soon as the clip was released, there was a loud bang followed by a cloud of smoke. Putting on a mask to cover his nose and mouth, Shinichi dodges as a shot is fired. The bullet narrowly missed him by a few inches.
Taking advantage of his opportunity, Shinichi rushed towards Kogoro Mouri, yanking at his ties.
As he was slammed to the ground, a sharp pain erupted. He gasped as a boot was shoved into his chest. A second kick from Rum knocked Shinichi over. Grabbing his hair, the man pulled him up. Shinichi was greeted by a one-eyed beast with a volcanic rage erupting from behind his seemingly stoic face. "Why do you insist?" he seethes, "Don't you see the potential? Don't you understand what I'm offering!"
As Shinichi was once again slammed to the ground by the man, he choked. His nose ached, and he cried out as Rum shoved the gun into his mouth. He felt the barrel smash against his teeth. The man's composure crumbled into an abyss beyond redemption. "You," Rum snarled, "Will come with me."
The man paused before he could force Shinichi out of the detective's office. A burst of roses erupted from Shinichi's jacket as Rum dodged.
"What!" Rum shouted, about to fire the pistol, when Shinichi shoved him aside. With tremendous ease, he dodged another bullet from Rum. When Shinichi produced a white gun of his own, the one-eyed demon froze. Shinichi closes the gap quickly between the two of them. The man stepped back; he could not dodge the fired shot. Confetti and smoke erupted from the tip of his white gun.
A white calling card with a top-hat thief's smile was floating slowly to the ground.
The silence lasted for a second, and Rum gasped.
"You're—"
"I wouldn't get distracted if I were you," the "detective" smirked.
"Just like old times," Gin taunted. Shiho lay bare, and his eyes fell on the faded scars across her skin. Tracing the barrel down, his smirk widened at the recent scar on her right wrist—a vertical blemish that would never heal.
"Always willing to sacrifice yourself,' he sneered. "Just like..." he jabs the gun into her broken rib cage. The agony ripped through her, and she bit her lower lip in order not to scream. "Your sister."
"Sherry, as much as you struggle," Gin tightened his fingers around her throat. "There would be no escape from this...for as long," he rips the last remnants of her blouse using the barrel. "As you live."
Taking her by the shoulders, Gin slams her back down. Even as pain ripped through her, she remained silent, only letting out a small whimper. It wasn't enough for him, and Shiho could see the fire in his eyes growing brighter. The raging anger that came with disobedience.
He wanted fear—wanted her to scream.
He wanted to control.
Shiho realized as he rained down more blows, taunting her with her past. Threatening her loved ones' lives. All of this was just a game to him. But—
"You'll protect me, won't you?"
She no longer feels tormented by his words. Her fear disappeared with Shinichi's promise.
"I'll never be," she muttered, locking eyes with the monster. "Yours."
Gin paused, his smile fading.
"Never," Shiho spat, "Gin."
"You," he snarled menacingly, "Don't have a choice."
Taking a last look at her, he lifts her for the last time, about to slam her to the ground, when—
Realizing the farce, Rum drops the gun holding the trigger of his homemade bomb, about to activate it, when a gunshot is fired. In this instance, the trigger fell from his hand. Rum sank to the ground, his eyes widening in horror at seeing the blood gushing from his arm. As he was about to stand again, another shot rang out, and he collapsed to his knees, bleeding profusely from his right ankle.
While wiping away the crimson trailing down his forehead, Kogoro Mouri held onto his pistol. During the chaos, the old detective grabbed the hidden weapon he kept stashed under his table.
Raising his brows, Kogoro reached inside his suit and pulled out part of the plastic lining between his lapels after massaging his chest. "I won't do this again," the old man spat, causing the detective to smile in relief. "These vests do nothing to stop the pain!"
"It's still state-of-the-art technology, Oji-san," the detective chuckled, "and it saved your life."
"It wouldn't," Kogoro snapped, "if that monster aimed for my head!"
"Hey," the detective shrugged, inspecting the suit Akai had provided for the old man. "At least it worked."
The blue suit, tailored to fit, looked like something Kogoro Mouri wore every day. In actuality, it was a secret state-of-the-art bulletproof vest made from carbon nanotubes designed for US military personnel and the FBI. After constant refinement, the patented material became 50 percent lighter and could withstand most bullets.
"Kaito Kid!" Rum snarled, losing all semblance of calm. "What are you doing here!?"
"What was the saying again?" Kaito asks as he takes off the detective suit. "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." The moonlight magician wags an arm toward the one-eyed fiend, "After all…there are some things you just cannot prepare for, am I right?"
"Impossible!" Rum roared.
"I suppose that if a drug existed that could shrink people, then, I guess," Kaito gestured to his face, "Doppelgangers aren't that uncommon, wouldn't you agree?"
A bright light fills the living room, temporarily blinding Shiho and the silver-haired beast. A series of clicks followed, accompanied by the unmistakable burst of a sniper rifle. A low grunt escaped Gin's lips as he fell to the ground. Shiho was released.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. He was up again, rushing toward her with the pistol when smoke flooded the room. Shiho coughed, her eyes watering. There were more loud bangs, the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Anguished cries. Her vision was blurry, she couldn't breathe, and when she was grabbed roughly, she was brought back to reality.
Gin towered over her. Blood gushing from the shoulder. He had a gash on his eyebrow and a pistol in his hand. He shoved a barrel in her face, and his fingers curled around the trigger. She closed her eyes in anticipation of the sharp pain that would accompany death. When—
A loud pop sounded. A pixie-haired woman emerged from the smoke, having fired her weapon. The bullet struck its mark as Gin's pistol was flung away. Following the impact, the beast stumbles backward, releasing Shiho.
He wasn't given a chance to recover. Having run up the stairs from the basement, a raven-haired woman surfaced from the smoke and charged at the man. She hits him square in the chest, and the momentum keeps him off balance. As Gin tries to grab her hair, Hondou Eisuke appears. He shields the girl with his body despite his frail frame. A tanned PSB agent then moved, twisting and leaping into the air, giving the silver-haired beast a roundhouse kick. Gin was struck in the back of the neck by the agent. Once again, he fell forward and was met by a precise upper kick to the chin. Blood gushed from his lips as Jodie-sensei burst from the chaos to give him another series of kicks.
Despite the attacks he was taking, Gin was still a bundle of muscles. He reacted to the attacks by punching Jodie in the gut. The woman cried out as he locked eyes with Shiho. He was about to tackle her when—
"Get away from my cousin, you sick fuck!" A turtle-toothed tomboy sprung through the commotion like a coil, delivering a powerful blow to the man's chest. He stumbled but was able to regain his balance, about to charge again when he hesitated.
Olive green eyes, black curly locks, and a stoic expression full of repressed rage stop him. An FBI agent looks at Gin with mirth. Akai Shuichi confronts the beast square in the cheeks, matching his strength. With a primal roar, the brute swings his massive fists in a flurry of punches. Akai dances nimbly out of reach, dodging and weaving with graceful precision. Each missed blow fuels Gin's frustration, resulting in erratic, desperate movements.
With lightning speed, Akai struck vulnerable pressure points with swift, calculated strikes. Gin staggered, momentarily stunned by the sudden onslaught. With a bellow of rage, he unleashed a devastating haymaker, aiming to crush his opponent. Gin slowed down, and Akai, sensing his fatigue, sped up his attacks.
Failure only met him; Gin knows this. However, golden eyes briefly caught hold of the strawberry blonde. A smirk appeared on his lips as he resisted the assault that Akai was giving him.
Dodging the next attack, Gin used Akai's momentum against him. Taking hold of the FBI agent, the beast pulls him forward while throwing himself at Shiho. A flash of silver hair danced in the bright lights as a beast ascended once again...but—
An eerie buzz echoed. A static hum, an expanding ball, then the familiar whirl of charging shoes. A burst of rainbows met its mark. A soccer ball traveling at sonic speed strikes the man square in the chest and sends him crashing into the bookshelves across the living room.
As he slumped to the ground, a convoy of FBI, PSB, and metropolitan police officers quickly pinned him down.
"Sherry!" he screamed, his shock replaced by fury. "What is the meaning of this?"
As a boy stepped from the smoke, relief flooded through her. With that irritating, all-knowing smirk, he stood before her. His mere presence comforted her.
"She," a shrunken detective glared daggers at the rabid man. "Doesn't need to answer you."
Kaito approached the one-eyed demon, not expecting him to recover soon. A flurry of movement followed, and Kogoro Mouri cried out in alarm, and once again, Kaito found himself trapped. Rum stands over him, clasping his neck with his remaining hand. "This isn't the end," Rum squeezed tightly as Kaito's vision blurred, and he looked into the abyss, catching a glimpse of the engulfing madness.
The doors burst open, followed by another frenzy of activity. In no time at all, Kaito was able to breathe. Choking, he rasped. When his vision returned, he saw Rum pinned down by a group of M16 agents. A blonde-haired girl was standing over the man.
"It's over, Aberu!" Mary commanded, with rifles pointed at Rum's direction. A tanned detective held Kaito's arm as he clutched his throat.
"You ok, dude?" Heiji asked, and Kaito coughed before nodding. The pressure exerted by the man would hurt, but he'd live.
"What took you so long?" Kaito demanded, and Heiji frowned.
"Is this how the Kaito Kid thanks his saviors? Eisuke and I had something to—"
"You should have arrived earlier!" Kaito cuts him off.
"Well, we had to disable a bomb and..." Heiji trailed off, studying Rum carefully. The man did not struggle and appeared strangely calm as he glared at them with his beast-like gaze.
"You walked right into a trap," Mary said, barely concealing her glee. "It ends today."
"Oh really?" Rum chuckles, "We shall see."
Then, Kaito recalled what the man had said earlier...about events not always going as planned.
"Wait!" Kaito yelled.
Why hadn't they noticed it before?
Rum most likely planted a fake bomb in Mouri's office. After all, triggering a bomb in such close proximity was essentially suicide. Rum wouldn't risk something like that if it threatened his life. Not when he hadn't achieved his goals.
The purpose of letting the M16 agents know that Rum was aware of their presence was not to threaten them but rather to inform—that the set pieces were in place.
Upon Kaito's realization, an M16 agent tore off his helmet. Pulling open his vest, the rogue agent revealed a homemade bomb strapped to his chest. A crazed smirk formed on his lips as he held the trigger.
Kaito recognized the rogue from Akai's files. They were members of an organization identified by FBI agents during uncover missions. How could they have been so careless? How did one of them manage to slip through the cracks?
Kaito was about to launch forward, but he was too late. To protect Kaito and Heiji, Kogoro Mouri used his body as a shield. Rum laughed as the rogue squeezed the trigger. Kaito closed his eyes, expecting the worst, but when he found himself relatively unharmed, he frowned.
"What!?" the agent pressed down on the trigger again. With growing realization, he looked at Mary, the other M16 agents, and Heiji, who was smirking.
Seeing what had just happened, Rum grew still.
"What," he demanded, "did you do?"
"What is going on?" Kaito turned to a tanned detective who pulled a detective badge from his pocket.
"I told you I had reasons," Heiji chuckled. "For being late. We're lucky Kudou's dad and Eisuke found out about the mole on time."
"What have you done?" Rum roared, this time struggling desperately under the agents' grasp.
"Rum," a shrunken detective's voice echoed from the detective badge Heiji had brought out, shocking the one-eyed demon into silence. "You've lost."
It had been difficult. Waiting on the rooftop of the professor's residence. Three weeks ago, agents of the FBI and PSB constructed a hidden alcove. The room appeared to be just another part of the mansion from a distance, fitting perfectly with its surroundings.
Within the narrow room, however, was an observation deck. A headquarters of sorts had been built months earlier. Television screens lined the walls, and various equipment assisted with the operation. In the face of this threatening situation, Shinichi's hands curled over the antidote he hadn't taken.
"Have you memorized the script," Shinichi had asked the teenage thief an hour earlier. Upon emerging from the cubicles of the public toilet, the Kaitou Kid, dressed in Shinichi's signature blue suit, gave him a thumbs up. With a cocky smirk, he grabs his backpack, along with the rigged pill box containing a supposed antidote. "Of course I have," Kaito Kuroba answered. Shinichi discerns anxiety under the calm he exuded. This was to be expected. It was Kaito who had offered himself to enter the hornet's nest. Taking the role of Kudou Shinichi while tricking the one-eyed beast would be no easy task, but if anyone could do it, it was him.
"Your life would be at risk. Get ready to be hurt," Shinichi instructed Kaito, helping him with his bangs, "Rum is already at the office. Kogoro Oji-san has been captured."
Even though he was grateful for Mouris' willingness to participate in this event, Shinichi was still concerned. Ran and her father would be in great danger, and in the worst-case scenario…
"Don't worry, boy," the mustache man had thumped him on the back a week ago. Seated by the dining table, Kogoro lifted a sake cup and picked apart the dinner Ran had cooked. His childhood friend emerged from the kitchen with a plate of karaage and sat beside him.
"We're pretty tough, Shinichi," Ran assured him. "If anything," Kogoro grinned, "these men in black would learn not to mess with the Mouri family."
"I have that Osaka detective, and that bespectacled boy is pretty reliable, too," Kaito pats Shinichi on the head. "Danger is in my blood," the thief slinging the bag over his shoulder, "I'll bring Oji-san back safe and sound, besides..."
Kaito pushes Shinichi forward and places a blonde wig over his hair. "Don't you have a girl to save?"
Exiting the public toilets, Shinichi watched as Kaito ran. Shinichi did the same when a man dressed in casual pants and a dark green blouse entered the stall. Inconspicuously disguised as an American tourist, Yukiko greeted him with a hug before fixing his blonde wig.
"There is a spy in Mary's midst," Yukiko informed.
"What!? But we've been careful not to—"
Yukiko placed a finger on his lips. "Keep calm, Shinichi. Your Tou-san and Eisuke are working on it. Mary has told her men to stand down, and she's monitoring them closely. Hattori-kun suspects who it could be and says he'll disable the bomb somehow."
Yukiko's expression darkens as Shinichi breathes deeply.
"There's…more…isn't there…"
"Gin is coming," she confirmed, "Something unexpected has happened."
"Unexpected?" he asked, changing into the clothes she provided him.
"Yes," Yukiko replied, no longer exuding the carefree nature she often displayed. Shinichi's blood went cold as he listened to the news. "The children are there. It looks like they got past the security. Ran and Hakase are trying to convince them to leave, but they won't."
Shinichi immediately grabbed his mother's hand as they rushed out of the public toilets.
Shiho…
Those idiots.
Running through the crowded streets, mingling with confused and terrified commuters, he caught sight of the news. Various law enforcement structures and smoke-filled buildings of a metropolitan building were displayed on the screen. The coordinated attack that Rum had instructed had happened, as speculated.
Shinichi winced as he passed a crumbling police box a few miles from the professor's mansion. It was clear that the organization had been thorough. Unlike before, they would not make the same mistake again.
Shinichi couldn't help but smirk involuntarily despite the severity of the situation. "It seems," Yukiko remarked, sharing the same smirk, "Shiho had been right."
Upon reaching the professor's mansion, Shinichi and Yukiko slowed to a halt. Panting, he glanced at his mother, who nodded. When she entered the Kudou's mansion, Shinichi removed his disguise and snuck slowly into the courtyard behind the professor's house.
There was a hidden rope-like device designed and constructed by the professor himself. Disguised as a water pipe, this silent pulley system operated silently. The system took him to the roof, where he entered the secret headquarters to the solemn silence of several agents. Inspector Satou, Eisuke Hondou, Masumi Sera, Jodie-sensei, Furuya Rei, and Akai Shuichi stood out among the armored agents. They were standing behind Agent Lucas, the IO operator from the last operation, who was decimating information to the other field agents.
"You're 5 minutes late," Jodie-sensei reprimanded. Apologetically, Shinichi bowed to her, noticing her tense stance. Satou-san was shaking, her hands curled into fists, and her eyes were rife with anger. Akai was unusually quiet, and Furuya Rei was gripping tightly to the sides of the table. Both agents had minor burns on their clothes and were bleeding in different places. It seems Gin's escape had taken a toll on them. Even so, they had managed to reach the headquarters in time—and Shinichi could only breathe a sigh of relief.
"He's here," Jodie-sensei said, her face hardening as Shinichi turned to the screens surveying the professor's mansion.
He was greeted by a bleeding professor lying on the floor. His heart quickened at the sight of the screaming children and Ran.
Eventually, his gaze fell upon the sickening silver-haired creature. Gin was in a weakened state, his prison garb torn, blood streaming from his temple. But he was still strong, pointing the pistol directly at Shiho. A sharp breath was all Shinichi could manage while he observed the agony on the scientist's face. Half of him wanted to just burst in, but Jodie-sensei stopped him. She grips his shoulder tightly while shaking her head, knowing his inclination.
"Don't waste her efforts," the woman seethes, though Shinichi can see she is holding back, too. "We need to end this—all of it."
It was part of the plan. Starting with leaking Gin's transfer date and ending with—
"He'd escape, without doubt," Shiho said in absolute assurance as they discussed the operation in a secret vault of the Kudou mansion. "Transferring him to another location would thus be rendered useless."
"Then what do you suppose we do?" Rei had argued when she objected to the initial plan to transport Gin to a more secure facility, intending to use him as bait to lure Rum out.
"Let him escape," Shiho glanced at Shinichi. "Rum would attack, and he would most certainly," Shiho pointed to the professor's mansion on the map. "Come here."
"You're not saying…" Shinichi realizes her insinuations.
"Yes," Shiho confirms. "Our moles are in place. Their web over us has shrunk. The organization is the weakest it has ever been. And if this goes well…"
Shinichi studies her determined stance. He was inclined to object, but he could only sigh when she neared him, bearing a weak smile. "You won't back down, won't you?"
She was stubborn that way. Nothing he could say would change her mind, but—
"Well, then," he grabs onto her, squeezing her hand as they face Akai, Jodie-sensei, Rei Furuya, the Inspectors, his parents, Kaitou Kid, Ran, and Kogoro Mouri. "You won't be going in alone."
It would not go well. Shinichi is aware of this. As Gin taunted the girl, Shinichi struggled to contain his rage. Over time, the silver-haired man's obsession only intensified. He fed off fear, but Shiho wouldn't give it to him.
Akai had to hold back Masumi Sera, who was about to destroy their covert operations. Shinichi might have done the same, but the knowledge of what might happen scared him, so he remained perfectly still.
"Shiho…please…"
Patience.
Shinichi repeated to himself, shutting his eyes and flinching as Gin hit her again. Biting his lips, he draws blood. As the situation reaches a climax, Akai and Jodie tighten their grip on him. While Heiji and Mary report Heiji's successful disarmament of Rum's explosive and their progress, there is a hush silence, then—
Eisuke cried. He removed his headphones. Done with synchronizing the events with Heiji and Kaitou Kid, he could no longer hide his concern. His gaze fixed on Ran.
Ran was running down the stairs with the professor and children. Gin chased after but soon returned after realizing the basement's doors were vaulted. As Shiho threw the smoke bomb, Shinichi, Eisuke, and Sera raced out of the hiding place located next to the roof and descended into the living room with the agents.
Upon flipping the switch, blinding fluorescent lights illuminated the area. To gain quicker access, Satou-san shot a bullet into the glass panes of the windows. Rei gave Ran the signal as they descended through the spare detective badge she kept hidden. Leaving the professor and children behind, his childhood friend emerged quickly from the basement.
As Satou-san, Jodie-sensei, Ran, Rei, and Akai assaulted the man without a second thought, Shinichi powered up his shoes. Mercy was not shown. Gin was hit hard by the other FBI, PSB, and metropolitan agents. Shinichi kicked a ball, satisfyingly hitting the beast square in the chest.
Gin cried out, falling to the ground. Now, he found himself on the receiving end of the abuse he was dishing out. In an instant, Shinichi stood over Shiho, eyeing the monster sharply. Over his own detective badge, Heiji informed him of the successful capture of the Rum.
It was too early to tell. The other agents were still rounding up the last remaining organization members in a coordinated pincer attack, but—
He smirked, raised his hand, and spoke into the badge as he addressed a silver-haired monster and a one-eyed man held captive under Mary's M16 team. "Rum," he declared, delivering the final blow, "You've lost."
As soon as he spoke into the badge, Shinichi was on her. Shiho flinched as he carefully picked her up. Having a broken rib doesn't make it any easier. Behind her, a commotion could be heard. Satou was moving to the basement with Ran and Jodie-sensei, while Akai and Rei were giving orders to the other agents, pinning down Gin, who was still struggling despite the heavy injuries sustained. An endless fire burns in golden eyes. Still staring at her with a piercing obsession.
"Hakase," she forced out as Shinichi lifted her gently. "Hakase, his hurt, we need to—"
"Shh," Shinichi's fingers caressed her cheeks softly. Unlike the pervasive ice-cold temperament she was subjected to, it was warm. "He's alive. Gin's bullet merely grazed his shoulder. Ran informed us as soon as she confirmed his injuries. He's—"
Shinichi didn't finish. Cries of relief rang out. The shrunken detective pushed away as the children appeared over her. Tears streamed down their cheeks. "Haibara-san!" The freckled boy found his voice first. "Are you okay? What was that? Why did he do this to you?"
"Ai-chan," Ayumi sobbed, rushing to hug her, but Genta interrupted. The chubby boy embraced her first, which was out of character for him. Though he had cried, his stance had a certain maturity, as if he understood.
"Haibara," the leader of the detective boys addressed the shrunken teenagers, "Conan," he smiled, "You guys… aren't…children, aren't you?"
Insightful, to say the least. It never occurred to Shiho that the chubby boy would have guessed it first. She shared a glance with Shinichi, who held a breath. The gig was up. As Shiho studied the children, melancholy emerged from the depths. She was sorry that she had put them through this. They were still ten. Just children but already subjected to something so horrific. However, despite it all, here they stood, still worried for her, determined, willing to—protect her.
"Yes," Shinichi replied on her behalf. His hands wormed around her own, squeezing it reassuringly. "The two of us aren't exactly children."
"Then—" Mitsuhiko gasped, and Shinichi raised a hand.
"We'll tell you later," he commented, the children falling silent as Shinichi motioned to Jodie-sensei, who had emerged from the basement. "But for now, you need to get yourself checked."
"Conan…" Genta wanted to protest, but Ayumi intervened. Approaching them, she embraced both the shrunken detective and scientist. The little girl wiped away the tears of fear and concern, a watery smile on her lips. "You promise," she uttered, "Conan-kun…Ai-chan."
"Yes," Shiho forced out, and the girl hugged them one last time before following Jodie-sensei, who gave them a wink.
"Well," Shinichi sighed, settling beside Shiho, "That went better than expected."
Shiho was unable to respond. Her wounds throbbed in agony. Her mind is still filled with memories of the assault...like thorns that tortured her senses. A part of her couldn't believe that it was over. That Gin had really been captured. That they had bested them with such a simple plan.
A heaviness settled on her chest when she thought of the children, the state of the professor's mansion... and the happy memories she had as Haibara Ai. Soon...all of this would be over. Eventually, they would have to return. The permanent antidote was almost complete, and—
"Hey," Shinichi wipes away the tears. "Shiho, it's going to be ok."
When Shinichi embraced her, relief, sadness, anger, regret, and guilt festered within her. The detective seemingly understands the ache throbbing within her. It hurt worse than the physical wounds she sustained. A searing anguish that rips through her very being.
The life she built—would be gone once again.
It never lasted. Nothing ever did.
"What a farce!" Rum's bone-chilling, ominous voice emerged from the badge in Shinichi's grasp. "What makes you think this is over, boy?"
The one-eyed demon held captive in Kogoro's office spoke. "Do you think you've won? That you'll be able to keep us captive? There are things you wouldn't understand, boy," he seethes, "Agencies you wouldn't believe exist! Your victory will not last!"
His statements carry a threat. A logical reality. Rum still had allies. There was no doubt that Rum would be able to escape with his skills and connections. No matter how secure the prison may be. His death would be the only way to stop it. In itself, that would be impossible without a lengthy trial. Even with the death penalty in place, the FBI and PSB still had questions they needed to ask the one-eyed man, answers that might bring closure to some closed cases. However—
"Agencies?" Shinichi chuckled, "What agencies?"
A silence ensued as Shinichi pulled out an EpiPen-like device from his pocket. The same injector had been used months ago in a nearly disastrous warehouse operation. "NTX120," Shinichi lifted the unassuming device, Gin taking notice. "You might not have known it, but you've been injected with its contents during the operation months ago."
Rei and Akai smirked as Shinichi twirled it in his fingers. "The technology has been developed recently, and it is highly classified. We didn't expect it to work in its experimental stages, but it did. You see, Rum," Shinichi spits the name in triumph, "You're not the only one with the mad inventions."
"What," Rum growled, "Do you mean?"
"In your bloodstream, nanomachines equipped with GPS trackers are multiplying. Although we doubted it would work, it surprised us, like the drug you're obsessed with. The NTX120 worked perfectly, and now they are imbued into your body. Getting rid of it would be impossible. Like cancer, it would spread," Shinichi explained. "You might not know this, Aberu…"
"But ever since your escape, we've known your whereabouts."
This was also the reason the FBI intervened in the PSB investigation. After Rum escaped, the FBI, knowing of the nanotechnology injected into the organization's core members, stopped the PSB pursuit immediately. Not because Rum didn't pose a threat but because the FBI knew the one-eyed demon was headed to his various undercover agencies.
Although Rum's location and next steps were known, little was known about his comrades. So, using the nanomachines to track Rum's movements, the FBI launched a coordinated undercover mission. As Rum traveled across Japan to meet his associates, the FBI followed after him. Although some of the missions went astray, Rum spotting the agents and killing them, the FBI had, in a sense, infiltrated most of the organization's associations.
Their knowledge of the attack, the bombing, was already known.
"We're allowing them to attack," Shinichi instructed, "and we'll respond accordingly. Rum isn't stupid; he probably knows about the trap we're set, but even then," Shinichi raised the device. "That prideful man wouldn't know he's already part of an experiment, would he?
"You knew of our attack on the guarded prison," Rum whispered, realizing how far they were willing to go. "You allowed us to infiltrate it."
"What do you think?" Shinichi mocked before throwing the device at Gin's feet. The EpiPen rolled toward him. "As we speak, the associates you visited are being rounded up. Even if you escape," he declared triumphantly, "We'll be able to track you down. There is nowhere for you to go!"
There was silence, followed by a one-eyed demon's cold, calculated rage. "This isn't over!" he relegated, all calm falling away. "I will get what I want! This is just the beginning. My brother isn't dead! You hear me! Kudou Shinichi!" His words were laced with desperation, unlike the terror that had threatened her all her life. As Shinichi had put it, the monster was just a—
A deranged boy.
"Good riddance," Satou-san approached Shinichi. Snatching the badge from his hand, she stomps on it. The woman put a stop to the rant. "I'm glad that's taken care of."
"You know that is coming out from your pay, right?" Rei chided as Satou shrugged at the broken detective badge.
"It's worth it," she commented, the inspector glancing at Shiho with a crooked smile. Gently, she patted Shiho softly before heading toward the basement, where Ran and the professor were still.
"We need to get you treated," Akai commented as Shinichi agreed. Shiho was still disoriented from the experience, and she could only nod. She winced as a sharp stabbing sensation gripped her as she was lifted to her feet. There was still so much to take in, so much to do. The future was uncertain, and—
Dark, menacing laughter sounded from the silver-haired beast as he gazed at the NTX120 device. His golden eyes drifted to hers lazily. An expression of sadistic glee remained on his face. Despite the news, the man seemed unfazed.
"It doesn't matter where you are," he sneered. "These chains you've put me in. There is a bond between us, Sherry, a bond that has been forged by blood! Did you forget? The pleasure…I have incited within you!" Gin roared. Shiho froze as the monster gathered the last of his strength. While still in handcuffs, he freed himself from the agent's grasp. In an instant, an agent stood in front of her, with a pistol raised and about to fire, but cried out as Gin rammed hard into him.
"Hey!" Rei screamed in alarm as Gin approached Shinichi with frightening speed. Akai tried to stop him but was shoved aside. In the ensuing chaos, his pistol was ripped from his holster, and Shiho made a decision.
How could they have been so careless? Unable to react quickly, Shinichi was about to dodge the approaching beast when a sharp shot rang out. With a gasp, Shinichi turned to look at the source. Panting, a shrunken scientist, held Akai's pistol and aimed it at Gin.
The bullet went through the beast's kneecap, and he fell to the ground. Rapidly, blood puddles formed beneath him. A sadistic smile spreads across his lips as Shiho approaches him with the gun raised. Shinichi realized she had taken a doll-like demur. Seeing only her tormentor, she was lost in her own world.
"That's right!" Gin screamed, his voice reverberating through the house. "Only the strongest will survive! There can be no weakness! I would hunt them down! Every last one of them! Starting with the detective you so cherish!" Time seemed to slow. Shinichi's gaze landed on Shiho, whose finger hovered over the trigger. Hatred burnt through her aura. "This was what was meant to be! Do it!" Gin urged her on. "Do it, Sherry!"
This…
Shinichi realized with growing anxiety.
Was his plan.
She would never recover from this.
No one was able to stop her from firing another shot. Shinichi cried out as Gin's other kneecap exploded in scarlet. In a fit of hysteria, the man laughed as hatred overtook the girl. He got exactly what he wanted. An emotionless puppet that obeyed his every command.
"Shiho!" Shinichi bounded forward to grab the gun but flinched when he heard another shot. Another bullet whizzes past, tearing off Gin's left ear. All eyes were trained on the girl who seemed to be losing her senses. No! Shinichi could not let her—
"Ai-kun!" a voice rang out, stopping Shiho in her tracks. Shinichi turned to the source, relieved at the sight of Ran helping the professor up the basement stairs. A makeshift bandage was wrapped around his injured shoulder, and the old man eyed Shiho with determination. "Ai-kun," he said gently this time, the old man giving her a wry smile. "I'm okay," he whispered, "it's okay…everything will be okay."
He approached her slowly; Shiho stiffened, about to press down on the trigger again, when Shinichi stopped her. While holding onto the gun, he pushed it down before embracing her fiercely—tightly.
"It's over, Shiho," the professor continued, the girl loosening her hold on the weapon. "We're here. Everybody is safe. He can't hurt us anymore."
The gun drops on the floor, falling. As soon as it did, the agents descended upon Gin, pinning the bleeding man, who struggled, displeased with the actions she took. Betrayal etched upon his features, he screamed.
"Sherry! Do you think you're different? You're not innocent! You will not escape!" his cries fading, growing weaker from the blood lost. "You—"
Shiho turned away from him, facing Shinichi; she gave him a shaky smile. He caught her as she collapsed. Weak and suffering from her injuries, she clung to him. Shinichi almost collapsed from relief. Lifting her, he kissed the top of her forehead before he carried her out of the house. The professor and Ran walked beside her toward the ambulances Satou-san had called.
"Is it over, Shinichi?" Ran whispered as the professor wiped away the tears in his eyes. Glancing at the skies, Shinichi took in the fresh, crisp air of autumn, the vibrant hues of red and yellow blending together as the dreaded day drew to a close.
Tension released, and a smile graced his lips as he turned back to Shiho, who had fallen asleep in his arms. He kissed her one more time, holding her tighter in his grasp.
"Yes," he was convinced. "It's over."
Phew, that was quite a journey. It was a very difficult chapter to write. XD This was a long time coming, and I had planned the outcome since chapter 20 (Originally, this fic was only going to be 8 chapters long, but after I wrote my first case, I knew that it couldn't be a short fic). There are many versions of the ending to the black organization, and extensive research has been done on nanomachines. Those things are scary. Though still in theoretical practice, nanomachines could become the future (even a cure for cancer). However, used for good or bad one could only guess.
Fun fact: Kogoro Mouri's bulletproof suit exists in real life. I, too, was shocked by these revelations.
At first, I wanted Yusaku to be the one to face Rum. However, there was a problem. For someone as meticulous as Rum, it would make sense that the man would first check if Shinichi is wearing a disguise. And Yusaku would have to wear a disguise to be able to be Shinichi. There were many ideas to counter this, though. I thought of making Yusaku take APTX and having him revert to a younger version of himself. After all, they are father and son and should bear a certain resemblance. That plot line, though, seems fantastical, and since APTX was so unstable, it might kill Yusaku instead of having the intended effect. And I cannot for the life of me see Shiho willing to accept the risk Yusaku was going to take. She would rather take the poison herself than allow this to happen. Then, a lovely reviewer (Thank you, Aii) asked if Kaito Kid would be in this story, and a lovely idea was born from it. (Though I had to make some major revisions to the plot and add in like 10 more chapters to make the chapters make sense XD) But it was worth it. Since Shinichi and Kaito Kid bear the same face, it would be fitting for Kaito to face Rum and for Shinichi to be with Shiho. (I hope it made sense; I had a hard time making the storylines of Kaito Kid and Detective Conan fit. XD).
If there are questions you would like to ask about certain events or any comments on how to improve this chapter, I would like to know. I am not averse to feedback and would like to improve :D
This is not the end of Shiho and Shinichi's chapter. I have about five more chapters planned, all in various stages of completion. I will post them as soon as possible. Times have been challenging, and I didn't have the time to write the story, but I promise I will complete it. (Give me a little time; I apologize for the delay)
Again, I thank you guys for your patience and support. I really appreciate it.