Chapter Text
V-XXIV-MMIV
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the backyard of Agasa's place, bathing the scene in warm hues. The air hummed with a gentle sizzle of grilling meat, a faint scent of charcoal drifted in the air, the occasional pop of a soda can being opened, and the comfortable chatters. Conan leaned back in his folding chair, half-eaten yakitori in hand, a small smile gracing his lips as he observed the familiar dynamics of the Shonen Tantei. Ayumi and Genta were locked in an argument where the girl berated the rotund boy for eating too much sweet potato, their playful bickering, a familiar sight. Mitsuhiko, ever the earnest one, only shook his head at his friends’ antics.
Ran moved through the small crowd with her usual grace, refilling paper cups and offering plates piled high with food, her easy laughter weaving into the general cheerfulness. Agasa Hakase watched over the group with contentment, which was gone as soon as Haibara stopped him from getting another large meat on the grill. Ran later to come to his rescue, offering the old man a piece. Ai eventually gave in to her surrogate father’s antics, but a gentle smile tugged her lips nonetheless.
Conan saw the shrunken scientist turn and walk towards him.
"Enjoying the day?" he asked, his tone light.
A hint of her usual sardonic smile played on Ai’s lips. "As much as one can enjoy, seriously, he will eat himself to an early grave one day."
"Just let him be," Conan replied, a hint of fondness in his voice. "This is a barbecue party, Ai. Enjoy it if you can."
More like 'while' I can Haibara does not say any other words, but moves to sit on a folding chair next to him.
"Four years," Haibara said quietly, her gaze drifting back to the Shonen Tantei. "Four years, and it's as if time stands still for them. Yet, for us..." She let the sentence trail off, the unspoken weight of their shared predicament hanging in the air.
Conan's smile faded slightly. "At least we're making progress."
Haibara snorted softly. "Optimistic as always. And how many 'promising leads' have we chased in these four years, Kudo-kun? At this rate, we'll be attending their high school graduation in these bodies." And we haven't come close to the permanent antidote in the slightest, especially since the last one almost killed us both.
She paused, her eyes flickered towards Ran, who was laughing at something Ayumi said. "Speaking of unchanging," She paused. “Has she been suspicious lately?”
Conan's expression became a little more guarded. "Not really" He hesitated, a flicker of unease in his eyes. "Though... there have been a few times... she's asked some pointed questions. About my disappearances, about why I sound so much like Shinichi sometimes when I solve cases." He rubbed the back of his neck.
Ai's gaze sharpened, her usual detached demeanor momentarily replaced by a hint of concern. "And she bought your excuses?"
Conan nodded, perhaps a little too quickly. "So far. But... I can tell she's getting more perceptive. It's like... she sees right through me sometimes, but then... she just drops it. Acts like everything's normal." He frowned, a genuine worry creasing his brow. "I shouldn’t let my guard down."
Haibara's lips thinned slightly. "Perhaps.” She watched Ran again, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe she's more observant than you give her credit for, Kudo-kun." A hint of her usual sarcasm returned. "Or your acting skills aren't as flawless as you think."
Before Conan could respond, Professor Agasa called out, offering them both more food.
Unbeknownst to the shrunken pair, Ran, while laughing at something Ayumi said, subtly glanced over at them. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes, and a shadow of sadness flickered across her face before being quickly masked. You're so close, yet so far away, she thought, her heart aching with a familiar mix of longing and understanding. When are you going to tell me, Shinichi? She knew, deep down, that the small boy was him, the pieces having fallen into place over the long, frustrating years of his disappearances and convenient appearances of Conan. The way he spoke, the sharp glint in his eyes, the way he solved cases, it was all undeniably him. She just wished he would trust her enough to finally confide in her about how he got into this situation. She forced a brighter smile as she turned back to Ayumi, pushing down the familiar pang.
The buzz of Conan’s phone cut through the relaxed atmosphere. A slight frown creased his brow as he saw the caller before he excused himself and moved away from the group to answer. "Akai-san?"
The casual tone vanished from his voice, replaced by a stark unease as he listened intently. Akai’s usually calm and measured words were clipped with a raw urgency that sent a shiver down Conan’s spine. “Kir……contact…” the static hum mixed with barely coherent words, "...they've found out… both of you… they're moving now…" The connection crackled ominously. "...you need to get out… immediately-" The call abruptly ended. Although fragmented, the implications are clear, No! Conan's senses went on high alert, a cold dread gripping his heart as he rushed back to the gathering group . How can this have happened? Oh no! Ran and the others...they’re all here!
A wave of cold dread washed over Ai, so intense it stole the air from her lungs. Her knees buckled as she hunched down. It's them. The chilling, unmistakable presence of the Black Organization, a suffocating blanket of menace descending upon them. This time, the feeling was overwhelming, a visceral alarm screaming of immediate, inescapable danger. Her eyes darted frantically around the seemingly innocent yard, now filled with an invisible, deadly threat. But how…? How did they find out? Hakase… Kudo-kun… Ran… Everyone .
The feeling grows more and more intense. Ai found herself crouched down on the grass, They're here! A strangled sound, a mix of terror and urgency tore from her throat. "Everyone! We need to go! Now!"
Seeing her in distress, Agasa came over to check on her. “Ai-kun, what happened?” He asked concernedly while the kids are perplexed by their friend’s sudden outburst.
The screech of tires tearing across asphalt as a convoy of sleek, black vans led by a vintage car screeched to a halt just outside the back gate. Dozens of black clad figures, armed with suppressed rifles, erupted from the vehicles and burst through the gate. The metallic click of their weapons being armed was almost silent. Leading them, a beast with long silver hair, Gin. Followed close by Vodka and Vermouth.
"Sherry and her little knight." His voice low, venomous drawl that carried an unmistakable menace. "The charade ends now."
Ran, face paling but eyes blazing with a fierce, protective instinct, moved instantly, placing herself directly between the armed figures and Conan. "Stay away from him! Who are you people? What do you want?"
Gunmen advanced, weapons raised. Ran, with a guttural cry, launched herself forward. She dug low and disarmed one agent with a swift move and knocked another off balance, but the sheer number of attackers quickly overwhelmed her.
Then a blond-haired agent moved forward, sidestepped her strike with grace and delivered a blow to her solar pelvic. Ran’s body went limp, a faint whisper, laced with a strange mixture of pity and amusement, brushed her ear. "Sleep now, Angel." This is not about you.
“No, Ran!” Conan screamed, trying to rush to the fallen karate champion. He instinctively reached for his ball dispensing belt, but even before his fingers could properly grip the release, four agents, moving with practiced coordination, surged forward. Their eyes were already fixed on his waist and wrist. Two tackled him low, while the others swiftly pinned his arms, their grip surprisingly strong. He thrashed, his small body surprisingly strong, but the combined weight and force of the adult agents pinned him in place. A terrified realization dawns on Conan. They know about my gadgets. They knew exactly that I was gonna use them. This isn't just a raid. They must’ve been watching us.
“This is team B. The agency has been taken care of, clean-up crew ETA in 10 minutes.” A tinny, distorted voice from one of the agents’ radios confirmed his fear.
Ojisan …Conan's head slumped. Kogoro, despite his flaws, was still someone who had taken care of him for all these years and someone he had grown to care about.
Gin’s cold eyes flicked towards Haibara. He raised his Beretta, the glint of metal catching the rays of the sun, aiming directly at her. Agasa cried out in alarm, lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Haibara, pulling her small frame against his chest, using his back as a desperate shield against the impending shot.
A distinct popping sound of a silenced pistol echoed through the yard, followed by another, and another. Agasa’s body shuddered violently against Haibara, a sickening wetness splashed against her cheek as the shots found their marks, scream of pain escaped from Agasa’s lips. Haibara, frozen in terror, remained still in his embrace, and the two crashed onto the ground, a pool of crimson expanding around them.
Through broken spectacles, Agasa's eyes met hers, “Ai…kun” The old inventor’s words were barely a whisper. Ai could only watch as the last glint of life left his eyes. An old man whom she viewed as her own surrogate father is gone. Unable to hold back longer, she let out a blood-curdling scream.
The children cried out in alarm, trying to run to the fallen professor and their friend, but the swarm of agents quickly subdued them with ease.
This can’t be happening Ai’s thoughts reeled, overwhelming with fear, guilt, and despair. Her worst fear had finally become a reality Not like this Tears now streaming from her eyes Not like this.
Ai looked up to see a dark void of a suppressor as Gin took a step closer, his gun trained on her head, a cruel satisfaction in his eyes. "Finally," he murmured “So long, Sherry.” his finger began to curl around the trigger.
"Aniki!" Vodka's voice, low and urgent, interrupted him. "Remember what the boss said. We need them alive."
Gin halted, his gaze flickering from Haibara to Vodka, a hint of annoyance crossing his features. With a sigh that spoke of his displeasure, he lowered his weapon slightly. "Fine. Search this place for anything useful…” the assassin then gestured towards 3 kids being pinned down by agents “...and bring them along. Looks like we got more test subjects than we thought"
Conan’s ears perked up Test subjects? Don’t tell me they...? That can't mean anything good. Especially for Haibara and me.
His eyes then fell on Ran's unconscious form, “Bring her too.”
“Gin…” Vermouth’s voice was barely a whisper, with an almost imperceptible hint of unease.
“That detective will be more willing to cooperate if we have his precious possession.” A twisted smirk graced Gin’s lips as he turned towards his Porsche.
Vermouth reluctantly binds the unconscious girl’s hand and drags her towards the waiting van, but not before discreetly slipping something in between Ran’s bound hands.
Conan, seeing Ran being taken away, tried to fight, but strong hands held him firm. He saw agents pry Haibara from Agasa's lifeless embrace, her face pale and devoid of any emotion, before she too was roughly moved towards the same car. He saw agents pick up the rest of now bound Shounen tantei and throw them into the back of the black van, a thud of their small bodies hitting the metal floorboard and their screams echoed his despair.
How could it come to this? His mind raced After everything I have done to protect them. He then heard an unmistakable clink of a collapsible baton before an impact to the head plunged him into darkness.
The jarring lurching of the vehicle was the first thing Conan registered as his consciousness slowly returned. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and his limbs felt heavy. Blinking against the dim light filtering through the small, barred window, he slowly surveyed his surroundings. He and others were crammed in the back of a moving van, the windows were barred, and the door was surely locked.. Where are they taking us? What are they going to do? He then remembered that they mentioned “test subjects.” This is not good, we have to figure out a way out of here. Whatever they plan to do to them will surely not be pleasant.
Beside him, Ai sat rigidly against the cold metal of the wall. Her gaze fixed on her hands, still covered in Blood. Hakase’s blood. She didn't blink, didn't move, a statue carved from utter shock and disbelief. Her usual sharp intelligence seemed to have been momentarily gone, replaced by a profound emptiness. Her face was pale, and her eyes unfocused.
Hakase Conan thought, the image of the once jovial inventor who had been helping him more than he could ever ask for, lying lifeless, etched in his mind.
Across from them, Genta, Ayumi, and Mitsuhiko huddled together, their faces pale and streaked with tears. Ran lay still beside them, her breathing shallow but steady. She was beginning to stir, a low groan escaping her lips as her eyelids fluttered open. At least Ran’s alright….for now anyway. Conan thought.
Ran pushed herself up slowly, only to find both of her hands bound together. A wave of confusion washed over her. "What… what happened? Where are we?" Her gaze then fell around the confined space they were in, her brow furrowing with concern. "Conan-kun? Ai-chan? Everyone? Is everyone OK?”
Before Conan could mutter an answer, Ayumi spoke up.
“Conan-kun…Ai-chan….who… who were those scary people?" Ayumi's voice trembled, barely above a whisper. Genta solemnly added. “They just…they shot Hakase…" Mitsuhiko then added, “They seem to know you guys."
Ran gazed at Conan and Ai, her face was a mix of concern, confusion, and a hint of anger What have you got yourself into, Shinichi?
Conan, still groggy, was trying to come up with something when a visible tremor ran through Ai's small body. Her unfocused gaze flickered, then sharpened, locking onto Conan. The blankness in her eyes receded, replaced by something raw, a mixture of profound loss, fury, and desperate resignation. Her lips parted slightly, and a strained sound escaped her lips. "Tell them, Edogawa-kun!" Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper, yet filled with intensity.
Conan's eyes widened slightly, surprised by her sudden, albeit partial, recovery. "Haibara?"
Her gaze now fiercely direct, held his. "There's no point in hiding it anymore." The words hung heavy in the air, laden with a weary acceptance of their dire situation. He looked at the terrified faces of the Shonen Tantei and the concerned gaze of Ran, then back to Ai's stark expression. They have already been in danger A heavy sigh escaped him.
"They… they're a dangerous organization," he began, his voice low and serious. "They've been involved in some… very bad things. They were after me… and Ai." He deliberately omitted any mention of the APTX 4869 and their shrunken forms, knowing that revelation would only add another layer of complications. "They… they thought you guys were connected to us." They thought you guys were like us
"Connected?" Genta’s eyes widened. "But we just know you two from school and Hakase!"
"They don't know that," Conan said grimly. "They made a mistake. But… we need to find a way out of this."
Conan checks himself. Sure enough, his watch, belt, and detective badge were taken. He even noticed that his shoes were also gone.
They probably have details about our gadgets
Conan checked his friends, and his suspicions were confirmed; all of their watches and badges were also taken.
“What do you guys have on you? Anything?”
The three kids rummaged through their pockets before holding out a Yaiba trading card.
Wouldn’t be helpful in escaping from here, unfortunately Conan thought.
As the van continued its journey, the kids looked at Conan and Ai for guidance, their fear slowly being replaced by a fragile hope fueled by Conan's determined demeanor. They huddled together, whispering ideas, most of which were quickly dismissed as impractical. Ai, though still visibly shaken, began to offer quiet observations about their confinement, noting the lack of internal locks on the doors and the type of vehicle they were in, or where they might be taken to.
Ran, meanwhile, remained relatively quiet, her brow furrowed in thought. As she shifted slightly, her fingers brushed against something small and hard in the palm of her hand. She slowly opened her fingers, her eyes widening almost imperceptibly. It was a small, thin coin. How did it get there? She had no memory of picking it up. Her grip tightened around it and began to saw the binding, a flicker of determination replacing the confusion in her eyes. Slowly, painstakingly, the plastic began to give in.
Finally, her hands were free, much to the surprise of other occupants.
“H…How did you? Where did you get that Ran-neechan?” Conan asked, pointing at a coin in her hand.
“I don’t know,” Ran muttered “But it’s in between my hands when I woke up.”
Could it be…? An image of a blonde-haired femme fatale crossed Conan’s mind. That’s it! A plan began to form in his head. It's risky, but...