Stay! By My Side

Chapter 8

Shinichi's POV

"We're not gonna talk in here, Haibara may wake up anytime. We're going next door, Kudo Mansion"

I dragged The dark skinned boy whom I called yesterday to help me with something, towards my house next to Agasa's. He's well known as the high school Detective of the west, so of course I considered to put him on board. It would be nice to have some trustworthy people around when you want to take down an international scale of organization full of evil people. Evil and deathly skilled.

"Good evening, Akai-san. Where's mom and dad?"

Akai-san, who usually appeared as Subaru Okiya, have been waiting for me and Hattori in the library.

"They're out for groceries. We finally meet, detective from the west. I heard a lot about you", he said while shaking Hattori's hand and give a friendly pat on his shoulder. Come to think of it, they haven't really met before.

"So you're the supposed-to-be-death sniper. It's an honor, I'm glad you're alive."

I cut the introduction by showing them a mind map I've created. I write down all the names and identity of black organization's member. Including Haibara's.

"This is all we got so far. I will show this to my mom and dad too when they're back. I could only include us five in this. Let us leave our other comrades first when we think this through."

And that means leaving FBI and others behind until we settle the plan ourselves. I need as few people as possible, it will make us easier to coordinate.

"Right now, let us gather any information from our possible source. Akai-san, would you mind to share the information from inside the FBI to us without them knowing?"

"I can do that. But first, we need to know everything about each other in our little team here. Would that be a problem?"

"We could do that. But I suppose you already know who we are, aren't you?"

"Well, it's more reassuring when the information come from the person itself. Don't you think?"

I agree that right now we need to put our trust to each other, considering we're creating our secret team here.

"Well, I don't mind with it. I'm the only one with no secret identity here" Hattori said with a wide grin on his face. That's true, though. While Akai-san's looking at me with a calm smile.

"Let's make things easier. Instead of we tell about ourselves to each other, I suggest that each person will tell what he already knows about the other two"

"That's a nice suggestion, Akai-san. Let's do that way. And each person will confirm whether it's true or wrong."

"And give explanation and adding any information needed when we miss something" Hattori added.

"Cool"

Then we're agreed to settle our bond. This is it, now's the time to make a move. I won't let you suffer any longer, Haibara. Let's free you from the Raven's claw that's been haunting you until now.

______________________________________

Ran's POV

"Say, Kazuha-chan.. Has Heiji-kun's ever told you anything about Shinichi?"

I suddenly have the urge to speak out my mind. I don't mind if Kazuha-chan thinks I'm crazy. I need someone to talk too, and certainly the someone couldn't be Shinichi. Or Conan-kun.

"Actually, yesterday I heard him in phone with someone and I thought it was Kudo-kun. Heiji said something about plan, and someone called little sister. Oh no, do you think they're going to somekind of blind dates together?"

I chuckle lightly to Kazuha-chan's conclusion. It wouldn't be possible, they both are deduction freaks. They wouldn't even bother to have a blind date while cases are still exist.

"I think it can't be possible, Kazuha-chan. So, are you saying that Shinichi is here? So the person whom Heiji-kun is meeting right now is Shinichi?"

"He wouldn't tell me anything, no matter how hard I beg him all day long. He said that he has an important appointment with some people. That's all he told me." Kazuha-chan is releasing a heavy breath. Appointment with some people,huh. So it's not only one person. Could it be the case that Shinichi is working right now?

"Actually, Kazuha-chan. There's something that lingered in my mind these days. But it might sounds crazy."

"Go on. If you think it too much all alone, you will be really crazy."

We chuckle together and it warms my heart. It's so nice to have a good friend. Especially when your friend is also a lover of some deduction maniac.

"Lately, I've been thinking that Conan-kun is actually Shinichi. Their resemblance is just too many. I mean, I told myself endlessly that it was not possible. But still..."

"Conan-kun? Speaking of him, where is he right now? I haven't seen him since I entered your house"

"He's in the Professor's house. Ai-chan is sick and he thinks he should be there with her. He's sweet, don't you think so?"

"Yeah. But you said that Kudo-kun is a cold and insensitive guy. So Conan-kun couldn't be him, I guess?"

"I don't think that's the case. There's something strange with Ai-chan."

"What kind of strange thing is it? Well I guess every scientist is behaving unusually to our point of view."

"Scientist?"

"Yeah, that little girl is a scientist. I don't believe it at the first time when Professor Agasa told me that. But when we met that time, I was on Agasa's car and Heiji was dealing with some case. And Kudo-kun's is on the phone with Heiji that time. Looking at how smart she is despite her age, I now believing that age is just a number."

I didn't know about this. It's true that Ai-chan seems more mature than her age. It's the same as Conan-kun. Could it be?

"Kazuha-chan. Could it be that Ai-chan is the same as Conan-kun?"

"What do you mean?"

"If Conan is actually Shinichi, so he's not at his real age. Somehow he got younger and smaller. If that's a possible case, then I would be also possible that Ai-chan is actually an adult."

"I wouldn't say you're crazy, Ran-chan. But if that's what you think, I respect your opinion. So, can I be any help to you?"

I'm so glad to hear that from Kazuha-chan. I guess two heads are better than one, isn't it? I would ask Kazuha-chan to help me find what is really going on.

"Alright, Kazuha-chan. Let's play detective on our own. Now, Heiji-kun might also be part of what Shinichi's hiding from me. I believe he know something, or could be everything. So, let's keep this to our own. Can you promise me?"

"Yes, I understand. I might also find another thing that Heiji could have been hiding from me. So let's do this, Ran-chan!"