A Small Problem

Disclaimer:Don't own Detective Conan. (:
Summary: Akai Shuuichi is faced with a.. small problem.
Notes: This.. doesn't take place anywhere specifically in the DC timeline, so don't break your brain muscles trying to figure out where it goes. It's just for fun.
Also, screw however many years Apotoxin is actually supposed to shrink the body. Like many others, I don't care.

Edited.

-O-O-O-O-O-

One wouldn't think Akai Shuuichi would let down his guard long enough to be knocked out, but it had happened. It wasn't exactly the highlight of his life, and he was sorely thinking about just how stupid it was of him to do so when returned to consciousness.

It all started when James informed them of a suspected new member of the Organization, codename: Absinthe. Shuuichi, of course, wanted to have this person tailed. He took on the job himself, and after being given the details, was out the door and on his way.

The person was surprisingly easy to find, and even easier to follow. The person called Absinthe was a boy no older than nineteen at most. According to their information on him, provided oh-so-graciously by Mizunashi Rena, he was the Organization's newest sharp-shooter. She said that he was pretty good for a kid, but that much didn't really matter to Shuuichi. The kid was sloppy, though. He didn't seem to notice that Shuuichi had been following him for days.

Even so, the boy didn't lead Shuuichi anywhere. Not once did he meet with any of the members. He simply went to work (at a convenience store, how glamorous), and went home. He once caught the boy in a suspicious conversation on the phone, and twice heard the boy dial the Organization when sending mail. There was no doubt in Shuuichi's mind that this was who he was looking for.

Perhaps, though, it wasn't the kid that was being sloppy. Instead, maybe it was actually Shuuichi that was being sloppy. He was underestimating someone that he should not have. He of all people knew what members of the Organization were capable of.

At a moment of rest while the kid was at work, Shuuichi stood in a nearby alley smoking a cigarette. He sighed, blowing smoke out into the chilly air around him. As he moved to dispose of its remains, he didn't see the person coming up behind him until their shadow, much smaller than his own, was upon him. His eyes widened, immediately regretting not being more careful when he felt the sharp pain in the back of his head. His vision was blurry, and through his hazy mind he could hear a person sigh.

"How reckless of you, Akai Shuuichi," the soft voice said. Shuuichi recognized it as the boy's. He then heard the boy chuckling quietly, as if at some private joke. "Oh, Gin will kill me when I tell him that I got to you first." Shuuichi knew what he meant. Gin and he had been enemies now for a very long time, and the long-haired man would surely be angry when he was informed that Shuuichi was already dead by someone else's hand.

Shuuichi attempted to move, anything at all would have been fine, but he found that his head was in such pain that it felt nearly impossible.

"It's unfortunate that I can't shoot you, though. Being in public and all," the boy said, Shuuichi felt a boot on his back, pinning him down. A hand grabbed his face and pulled him painfully in the boy's direction. "I don't see what's so great about you. You don't seem so special to me." Shuuichi's head was pounding, and he felt something being forced into his mouth.

"I snuck some of these from the Organization, I'm sure they won't mind," he said with a laugh, popping the cap off a bottle of water he had handy and tilting it into Shuuichi's mouth, causing the pill to slither down his throat against his will. "I would say it doesn't hurt, but I honestly don't know! With this, I take my leave. Goodbye, Akai Shuuichi." And then he was gone. Shuuichi's body burned like a spreading fire. It hurt much more than the comparatively small wound on his head. Every fiber of his being felt like it was being torn apart and lit on fire. He wanted to call out, but couldn't. Eventually, he found himself passing out from the intense pain.

As he was coming to, he remembered all of this, and counted his blessings that he was somehow still alive. Perhaps there was a God after all? The thought was gone as quick as it came as he heard someone calling out to him. As he was still gaining his senses, he couldn't tell right away what they were saying.

"-you okay?" the voice belonged to a female. He was starting to be able to understand her now. "I think he's injured! Maybe we should call an ambulance?" she must have been with someone else. Shuuichi groaned, the last thing he needed was to be taken to a hospital. He needed to be careful. The Organization would be sure to confirm his death, so sitting comfortably in a hospital bed healing wouldn't be the safest nor smartest idea in the world.

He sat up, using both hands to heave himself off his stomach and prop himself up. As he did so, he noticed something was a bit off.

"Little boy? Oh! You're awake! Are you alright?" the female asked again. Still looking down at his rather.. smallhands, it finally connected. Who is she calling a little boy?

His eyes widened in realization. He shot up, frightening the young woman, and then ran away. She called after him, but he ignored her. It was late afternoon now, and the sun was setting. How long had he been out? Had anyone else seen him? He stared down at his unusually short legs as he ran, wondering what in the hell could have caused all this. Could it be the same thing that happened to the younger Miyano? Before, Shuuichi hadn't had an explanation as to why Miyano Shiho was all of a sudden a child, when he knew well that she was actually an eighteen year old woman. Now, he thought he had the answer.

What was he supposed to do now? He looked ridiculous and suspicious in his too large clothes sprinting down the street. He couldn't risk going back to the FBI like this. Not because he didn't trust them, but because theywould find out for sure if he did.

The sun was now well beyond the horizon, plunging the streets into darkness while at the same time lighting up the city with neon signs. He found himself running all the way to the Beika residential areas, and praised his luck when he happened upon a fat, gray-haired man stepping out of a small yellow car. He almost laughed at the irony of it.

-O-O-O-O-O-

Conan made his way to school as usual, and sat at his usual seat next to Haibara. The shrunken scientist seemed rather amused for reasons unknown to him, but he had long since learned to just roll with it. He did wonder what it was that was causing her to have such a look, but he knew it would present its self soon, so he didn't even bother asking her about it. She wouldn't tell him even if he did, so there really wasn't a point.

Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko were chatting animatedly about last night's Kamen Yaiba episode, but he paid no mind. Kobayashi-sensei finally made her appearance, later than usual, but Conan soon found out why. Not only to the reason why she was late, but also why Haibara had been smirking so.

He narrowed his eyes and gave her a look as the boy followed Kobayashi-sensei into the room. He was around Mitsuhiko's height, with short brown hair that was slightly wavy at his bangs. He wore simple jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. He was also wearing a black cap, but Kobayashi-sensei was persistent in getting him to take it off. Hats weren't allowed.

It took a while, but after sensei had managed to get the cap off of him (which he was not too happy about), he was introduced to the class.

"Today we have a new student joining us!" she said happily. The students were all staring at the front of the room, Conan swore he caught Genta saying 'Again?' He laughed inwardly. "Please introduce yourself to the class."

The boy's eyes skimmed the class lazily before finally stating, "Shima Ryousei." His eyes caught Conan's, and he smirked faintly. "Nice to meet you all."

I picked his name out randomly. I actually had a list of names, both first and surnames, and had my mom pick XD and that was what I ended up with.

Lastly, I've finally introduced my OC to the world. He was Absinthe (no, I didn't create him for the soul purpose of putting him in the BO, he actually has a real name too). I've had him for a really long time, and I finally found something to stick him in on here. Woo!