Title: His Orchid

Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan or any of the characters.

A/N: Here's another story! This time a chapter fic. I don't know what's been going on with me lately... I haven't written anything in ages and now I'm so obsessed with DC. It's crazy!

Chapter 1: The Blue Hour

Drip. Drip.

One by one, droplets fell from the water tap and disappeared into the drain below it. Once more he lowered his head into the sink and let another stream of water rinse through his hair. It was cold— refreshing.

A shuddered sigh broke out from his lips. And with that exhale he turned down the faucet and straightened himself, staring into the mirror where blue met blue. Water dripped from his chestnut brown hair.

His features were round and soft. Not as sharp and chiseled like he was used to see. This was a look he clearly revolted. That young and immature face reflecting back at him. Sure, at times it was useful, but for the rest of that time he just wanted his old physique back. And even if it was just for the fame, pride and love… How would anyone freely want to change their body from a seventeen-year-old to a seven-year-old? It was despicable, depressing and very annoying. But this so called 'chance' was so much better than being killed as the ones who had shoved that blasted drug down his throat had actually planned. Instead of being killed by the poison Apoptoxin 4869 (APTX 4869 for short) of that organization, his body had been reduced to that of a child's. A side effect perhaps? But a darned well good one.

And now, a short while ago (about one or two months tops) a girl around his child age had appeared in his life. Ai Haibara alias Shiho Miyano. She was responsible for inventing those poison pills that altered your body into that of a kid's. Indeed, she had been part of the Black Organization. But after her sister had been murdered and she refused to work for the organization any longer, she was locked up in the basement of her lab. And the only chance she saw back then was to put an end to her life. With APTX 4869. But to her luck or misfortune the same effect that reduced his frame, has happened to her as well. And so she escaped… to find him.

Once he learned of Ai's true identity as Shiho Miyano, he had been thrilled and was excited to finally get his regular body back. But with one sentence the scientist had crushed his new found hope. Even though she was the one who had created that poison, she wasn't able to recollect the active ingredients and substances that were used. The recipe had been destroyed along with her lab.

Since then they were stuck together, teaming up to find the responsible ones for this mess— the Black Organization he had been searching for, ever since had been sedated. They wanted to stop them. And that as fast as possible before things turned out for the worst (that wasn't even imaginable). But how were they to hinder them when they were stuck in a child's figure? Trying to find a dangerous association and staying undercover at the same time… Well, hell, wasn't as easy as it seemed.

At least one thing had turned out for the better. During the past few weeks Ai's sole experiments had lead her into creating anti-pills that altered the body into its normal form. He had been very happy to hear that and volunteered to be her lab rat as she watched him carefully when he changed back into his usual self. And then she would make notes in her book to compare the durations of staying normal.

Twenty-four hours were the limit so far. Twenty-four, and not a minute more. He knew that because he had taken that tablet quite a few times. Of course it was very irritating to have his body back only for so long and be stuck in the young one so much longer, but there was nothing he could do about it. Unless maybe… catch the culprits, run them down and regain the poison to create an antidote.

Yes, he wanted to do that as fast as he could.

But for now… he had to stick to being undercover.

So by taking the short lasting antidote it most likely meant (of course it did) that he shouldn't be in the spotlight, but no one had ever said that he wasn't able to see his friends, or Ran, in this matter. At least that is what he had told Haibara. First a frown, and then a shrug of her shoulders had lead him to the conclusion that she didn't care in the least. It was his life and body anyways. Why not risk this chance then?

Besides… It wasn't as if he was handling completely selfishly. Not all the way, at least. It was for her sake too. Ai and Professor Agasa must know what he felt for a certain girl in his life. What she meant to him— if not more. Ever since he had left her at Tropical Land to seek out the suspicious strangers of the Black Organization, he was only able to come back for a short amount of time. And exactly that tore up her heart ever so often. Each and every time she was left heartbroken and with tears that he could no longer bear to see. He heard and saw it so often when he was that little boy… Now and then he was capable of comforting her and reassuring her that everything would be alright. At times she was so distraught that no matter how much he tried, she would refuse to eat and cried herself to sleep for nights. And then she would curse him, crying her heart out. …She must hate him what he did to her.

For him it was a curse to be stuck in this young body, living with his cherished person who didn't even know (but had guessed several times) that the junior he pretended to be, wasn't who he really was. Although he was there and was at least able to provide her little protection of what was out there (crimes and such and the corpses he seemed to attract like a magnet)… it wasn't enough. It was torturing him not to be able to be with her in his true self. As a little seven-year-old Conan, he couldn't be with her like Shinichi. He couldn't laugh with her, touch her, feel her… Make everything right that he had done wrong.

Oh, damnit! This was utmost the worst thing that could have ever happened to him! Was it an act of selfishness that he wanted this hell to be over with and return to his regular life where he solved crimes and was actually happy? No, what he wanted most was to be with her. Maybe he was just a dreamer, thinking of such a thing. As if miracles would happen that easily. Maybe he was just crazy as well.

A church bell chimed nearby. Like an alarm setting off to remind him of what should be done. The sun was beginning to set as well, illuminating the last of its rays before it would let the moon fully shine. The twilight, also called the Blue Hour gave off its last colors in a low light. It danced across the rooftops accompanying the last chirping of the birds along with the echoes of the bell.

…It was about time.

He yearned to be his old self again. Letting his eyes cast to the small shelf over the sink, he stared at the single pill that lay in its open box, right next to where he had put his glasses. …This was it. He would swallow the drug and be who he really was once more.

He stripped his shirt off, not wanting to rip it once he changed. It was embarrassing enough to have to wear it and he didn't want to be forced to buy more when he was a little kid. With a soft thump the shirt fell to the floor and he just left it there without looking at it a second time.

He picked the tablet out of the box and stared at it for a long while, sorting out his thoughts. He sighed heavily, his chest rising along with it.

"Okay… Here we go."

Bringing the pill to his mouth he took it between his teeth before tucking it under his tongue. Shortly after, he turned on the water faucet and cupped his hand under the streaming water before bringing it to his mouth and gulping it down along with the pill. Up to now nothing has happened. But he knew the pain would start soon. Cautionary, he grabbed the sides of sink, mentally preparing himself of what would soon come.

His heart raced with anticipation. Anytime now… Not that agony was a good thing.

"Ah!" he winced violently.

A sharp pain hit the inside of his chest, fully slamming into him. These sharp pains kept coming in short irregular intervals and it wasn't long before his face was covered in sweat. He was panting.

The next ache that stroke him completely hit him unprepared, as it always did, no matter how much he told himself that it couldn't really be that bad. But of course, the reality was something completely different.

"Arrrgh!"

He broke down, stumbling from the box he had set there so could reach the sink in his smaller form. He toppled over and clawed at his chest.

"I'm burning up…!" he gasped and groaned.

With his other hand he was searching something… something to grip, something to hold into while the pain lasted, but he only found the soft carpet beneath him.

Another blow and he was left gasping. He felt like screaming out loud and opened his mouth to do so but nothing –no scream— left his lungs.

This melting feeling… It was as if his bones were dissolving and stretching at the same time. All that to form his original body. But why did the process have to be… so damn painful!

"Shit!" he groaned and grabbed a handful of wool into his fist. His head hurt like hell and his insides were burning up.

When was this finally going to be over?

His thoughts were swirling. And before he knew it his sight was beginning to fade. Am I going to lose my consciousness?

Before he did his eyes wavered to the blurry red digits of the clock on the bureau near him. Ot was exactly 8:54 PM when his vision faded to black.

Around 9:25 PM Shinichi sat up with an aching headache. He leaned his back against the tub and instantly cursed himself for fainting. When he brought his hand up to his head he noticed that he had regained his usual body back. Even though he had headaches he began to grin like a maniac. It was good to have his body back!, he thought as he checked to see if every part of him was back to normal. And it was. Thank goodness. It would have been extremely strange if it hadn't.

Now all that was left for him to do was get ready. He heaved himself from the floor and turned on the shower.

All before long he was ready and dressed. He buttoned the first button of his sack coat and pulled himself from the mirror, noting that he looked good. He definitely did and he knew that. And… there had certainly been quite a few females in his school and at other places that completely agreed to this fact. Even Ran thought so, as she had told him, or Conan in this matter (as if she'd tell him that to his face).

…Ran.

He blushed and at that very moment his heart tingled when he thought about seeing her soon. Geez, how cheesy was that?

With one last look into the mirror he finally turned around and headed for the door. Passing a narrow table on the way he grabbed a small wrapped casket which he tucked into his pocket and a bouquet of orchids and roses. With a shake of his hand he let the most drops of water fall from the stems and wrapped them in a tissue he had preparedly laid next to the vase.

And with that he was on his way.

It wasn't wrong to meet her, right? After all it was her birthday. Wouldn't that be rude not to show up when she had gone all out last week when he had turned 18 himself. He remembered what hell of a trouble it was to get that tablet from Ai. And what a fit his mother had thrown until she finally handed it out… Quite embarrassing, really.

Laughing to himself he closed the door behind him and locked the house. Ran didn't yet know that he was coming. Of course she had sent him an invitation but he had chosen not to reply because he wanted to surprise her.

He knew that the celebration of her birthday was going to be held at Sonoko's place. And Sonoko, being who she was had most certainly invited the whole school and several more guests (ignoring Ran's protests in the process).

Shinichi smiled at the small gift hid in his pocket. This was going to be interesting, he just knew it.

Very interesting, indeed.