Chapter 2 : Rainbow - CENSORED

"- Hattori ? Heiji !"

Still a bit panting in his grown up body, Shinichi had grabbed some clothes from Heiji's bag and was now at his own home, to check if the teen didn't hide himself in there, but only silence answered to his calls.

Not finding anyone during his quick inspection, he started to jog to the detective office, guessing his friend would go to familiar places if he wanted to do anything stupid and he didn't know a lot in Tokyo.

The azure-eyed detective face-palmed, trying to imagine, as creepy as it could be to him, what kind of way the other would use to end his life.

The Osakan would never take the risk to hurt anyone, so he wouldn't be the kind to jump under a train or from a building, that wasn't his style...

Drowning maybe, with the sea just near but any detective would know how difficult this way could be. Being young, they'd try to reanimate him if they found him and that could just turn to be a living hell for the rest of his life.

There was no chance he'd have his hands on a gun, being in a foreign town, it was too hard to get...

Medication overdose was more feminine and, being already so filled with it, he probably already had his share.

They'd be a lot of other ways but most needed more organization, so remaining solutions would be hanging and knife.

And they were the kind that needed some calm not to be stopped.

And the calmest place would be...

"That bastard..." Shinichi swore as he turned back.

He knew Heiji would be at his home : the detective would have hidden himself, waiting for him to check the house as it'd be the first place he'd look in, to be sure to be all alone after.

And that pissed him off so much, to know his friend was using his detective's brain to deceive him !

Once again panting as he crossed the threshold of his house after he ran like mad to go there, the Tokyoite's attention was caught by the sound of running water, somewhere upstairs.

"Knife then ?" He darkly concluded, rushing to the stairs and to the bathroom.

Shinichi took a deep breath as he saw his friend on the floor, eyes lost in the bathtub that was slowly filling, playing without probably knowing it with a kitchen knife.

Hearing the sigh despite the water, the Osakan turned his head at the entrance, a bored look on his face, his weapon still firmly in his hand.

"- Ya shouldn' have come back..." He flatly commented, his hand shaking around the knife's handle, knowing it was going to be harder now.

"- Don't do that, Heiji..."

The azure-eyed teen saw the other's mouth twitch at this name, that one that, except for his family, only Kazuha used. But he knew he had to use his first name, to draw his attention." I'll call an ambulance before you even start to bleed.

- I'll just have ta aim fer the throat..." The dark-skinned retorted, raising his blade to his neck, his grip on the handle firmer than before. "It'll be a mess an' it's trickier but it'd work. An' don' even think ta use that watch o' yers..." He darkly added, seeing the tiny move of the other towards his wrist. "I'll be dead before ya even open it.

- Don't be stupid, don't do that..." Shinichi finally resolved to pledge, locking his eyes in his, not knowing what other way he'd have to convince his friend not to kill himself.

"- I can'... " Heiji said, his shaking starting again, lowering his head to try to hide the pain visible on his face now. "I just can' go on. Bein' at home hurts me... Bein' by yer side hurts me... The two places I felt the best at are gone. Just... Just let me put an end ta this.

- I won't." The Tokyoite firmly objected, trying to keep a straight face despite the fact it hurt him to hear the green-eyed speak like that.

"- Why ?" The Osakan wondered, looking at him again with an interrogative face, not understanding why his best friend couldn't just let him go, let him leave this world to another, one that could only be sweeter than that. "Just forget me, go back ta yer life. Ta Ran. Just tell yerself I died in that accident, an' that'd be all.

- I can't..." Shinichi admitted, his voice breaking, clearly not far away from sobbing. "Don't you dare think you're not important to me ! I can't imagine my life without you so just... Just stop saying stuff like that ! "

The detective of the West had a bitter smile, noticing the distress by his friend. "So ya're tellin' me ta live fer ya ? Even if ya're aware I'll suffer by yer side ?" He concluded with irony.

"- No, I...

- Ahou..." Heiji gently scolded with a little smirk at his friend's sad face. He got up and let the knife go. "I didn' want you ta see me doin' that so, if ya don' leave, I will. Don' try ta follow me."

The Tokyoite got up on shaking legs, and, his resolve strengthening, he tackled the other unceremoniously on the floor, sitting on him and pinning both his hands on each side of his head as he felt he started to trash.

"- The hell I'll let you kill yourself." He stated with determination, staring at the teen under him. "Look at you, you're so feeble you can't even fight me anymore... You're not yourself, admit it !"

The Osakan, after he calmed a bit, aware after a few tries he wouldn't be able to free himself, felt his face blushed as he noticed the other was sitting on a very specific spot of his body and was bending so close to his face, being holding his arms.

"- Don'... Don' hold me like this unless ya want ta... unless ya're serious about it. Else it hurts too much." He stated, turning his head to look at the wall to hide the red on his cheek.

Shinichi looked with wide eyes at the teen, not understanding how so little contact could distract him.

"And to that extent ?!" He wondered in his mind, blushing with embarrassment as he felt the kind of "reaction" he was getting from the other's just by sitting on him.

And then he understood. He understood there probably was a way to stop his best friend from doing something stupid.

It's just it was... So strange ?

He wasn't disgusted by it... It's just he never thought of Heiji like that. The teen was handsome, clearly, in perfect physical shape, but Shinichi knew he was a hetero... Mostly ?

Wasn't there that pinch of... curiosity about same sex relationships ? ...Something else ?

And just how far was his pride going ? If that's all it took to stop his best friend to take his life, he had to try, without even a second thought...

"- I'll let you do want you want ..." He proposed in a whisper, drawing the other's attention back on him. He went on, bending his head even closer to Heiji's. "But just promise me you won't say you want to die anymore." The azure-eyed ordered, closing his eyes to put a slight kiss on the Osakan's lips.

The dark-skinned was now as red as a tomato, unable to believe the other just...

"- Ya... Ya don' even know what ya're offerin', Ahou..." He stated with a low voice, turning once again his look away.

Not even minding to answer, the detective of the East let go of the wrists of the Osakan and started to unbutton his own shirt, before throwing it away, his determined eyes locked in the other's.

Heiji blushed, gulping as he looked at his friend, more than conscious that he was somehow back to his grown-up body, detailing his torso as he never had, his pale skin, his thin but efficient build.

The teen was looking at him as if he was waiting for something, the Osakan could read it in his azure eyes, those piercing eyes that had been giving him chills lately, that had turned to a kind of lighthouse in his life.

Unable to retain himself anymore, the dark-skinned suddenly moved, swinging his legs to exchange their places, finding himself sitting on Shinichi's pants. Bending on him, he gently cupped his face, staring at him with his green eyes and finished his manoeuvre with a deep kiss, closing his eyelids to enjoy the moment.

His brain suddenly managed to regain control of his body, sending pikes of horror to his heart as he saw when he moved a bit away that Shinichi was keeping his eyes tightly closed, his whole body tensing in what very probably was fear of what the other was going to do to him.

With disgust, the Osakan kicked himself so fast away he almost slammed his back on the wall behind him.

"- I'm the worst..." He bitterly said, banging his head on the cement he was leaning against. "I can' believe I was goin' ta..." The detective added with a blank voice before, feeling nauseous, he rushed back to the bathroom.

Hearing the precipitated footsteps, the azure-eyed raised his head to see Heiji was facing the toilets, sick with disgust. He crossed the small distance between them and circled his chest with his arm from behind. "I told you it was ok..." He said, putting his head against the detective of the West's back.

"- Ya're even more stupid than I am... Yer whole body says it doesn' want ta..." The green-eyed teen pointed out when he was finally able to turn to the other, with a blank face and a dirty shirt.

Seeing the stain on the cloth, Shinichi approached his hand to remove slowly the buttons of the shirt.

"- Just don'...

- It needs to be washed." The Tokyoite stated with pragmatism, pushing away the arm Heiji had put between them, his hand already on the last button.

Once the shirt fell, he looked at the other chest, impressed at the muscles he could distinguish, though they weren't too prominent, and gave a harmonious effect. Clearly, Kendo helped with having a nice upper body. With a sad smile, the azure-eyed teen's hand gently touched the remaining scars of the accident, with its shining new skin, just near his left floating ribs.

When his azure eyes met the other's green, he saw the surprise in Heiji's look, clearly wondering how he could still want to touch him. Wanting to brush that wrong idea he had away, the detective of the East bent to let a swift kiss on the Osakan's lips.

"- I'm tensed because I'm a bit afraid." He admitted as he moved away. "But not of what you could do to me. I know you wouldn't hurt me."He added with a warm smile. "Ne, let's just forget everything. Everything that happened, everything that could happen. Who we are. And let's forget everything that could happen tonight, starting tomorrow.

- That's..." The dark-skinned tried to articulate with an incredulous face, not knowing what to do or what to think, divided between his male urges and common sense. "Kudô, it's...

- Shinichi." The other teen corrected with a firm voice, feeling names should stop to be a barrier between them.

"- Shinichi, that's..."

Hattori's objections were interrupted when the azure-eyed forced him on the floor and approached his mouth to his ear. "I said, let's forget everything..." he reminded to him.

o.O.o

Eyes suddenly snapping open, the Tokyoite woke up with a start, to find an empty spot at his side, just where Hattori had been lying after that sweet night they shared.

He quickly got up, to see only his clothes - well, the clothes he borrowed to the Osakan - were on the floor and Shinichi started to dread for the worst, before spotting a note on his bedside table.

Sitting as he grabbed the little paper, he started to read it, his face saddening at each word.

" I'll respect that promise, I won't try to kill myself. Won't try to die either. That, I assure you.

Thank you for last night. And sorry I forced you, I don't think I'll ever be able to face you after that.

We won't see again, I'll be leaving the country, finding myself something to do, some other place to belong to. Send my stuff back to my parents, if you can.

You're the best thing that happened to me, Shinichi. Sorry I spoiled it all.

Heiji"

The azure-eyed teen's hands were clenched really hard around the note, as he was lost in his thoughts.

He didn't know, and that was quite new to him...

What happened last night was... Of course it had to do with his friend's distress but... He'd never say he regretted it. Or did it out of pity. Out of curiosity maybe. And he clearly couldn't deny he appreciated the sensations they shared, the warmth of the Osakan against his skin, the peaceful oblivion after they shared what some retarded would call a sin, a same sex physical relation.

He knew he had Ran to come back to but Heiji was also an important part of his life and to lose him was just...

The detective saw the tears on his hands and the paper before he knew he was crying.

He knew his friend would respect his promise.

He had managed to save his friend's life. But at what cost ?

In the end, for him, he was as good as dead...

Shinichi let himself lie back in the bed, crossing his arms before his eyes, and sobbed, sobbed like never.

o.O.o

"- Get down !"

Conan froze as he recognized the voice, even with such a short exclamation, that voice he hadn't heard for two whole years, that warm voice and its accent that gave him chills just at the thought.

But freezing in the middle of a hideout of the Organization wasn't a good idea, above all after a fierce fight, when only the most desperate and most dangerous members were the only one standing, starting with Gin and Vodka in that very room.

"- Ahou!"

The small detective only saw a dark shadow rushing to him, wrapping him between his wide arms, protecting him from any harm.

They rolled together, while two detonations echoed in the warehouse, and Heiji quickly pushed him behind a pile of wood boxes, getting two guns out.

"- Take that one... An' try ta go ta the other side..." He panted, giving one of the weapons to the boy who left with a nod.

Grimacing as he left the cover of the boxes, he shot towards the men in black and hit Vodka, sending him to the floor, not moving anymore.

Heiji's smirk when he saw he got his target quickly faded as his legs gave up under him and he had to put a knee on the floor, bringing his hand to his side as he coughed blood.

"- We knew you dogs would come with damn bulletproof jackets so we prepared a little surprise..." Gin stated with a smile, though his eyes were icy-cold as he approached the dark-skinned, his weapon aimed at his head

"- Piercin' bullets... Ya... Bastards..." The Osakan concluded, understanding the two impacts he had previously felt against his back had been going right through his vest, very probably wounding him heavily, seeing how feeble he felt and the taste of blood in his mouth.

"- That's it... Good bye." The blond-haired said, ready to fire.

"- Good bye to you !" The azure-eyed intervened, pulling his trigger, hitting the killer in the torso and sending him to the floor.

He quickly approached, kicking the man's weapon out of his reach, before turning to the green-eyed, not understanding how he could be here, look filled with startle.

"- Nice shot..." Heiji observed with a faint smile before finishing falling on the floor, unable to stay awake anymore.

"- Heiji !" The small detective called with worry, rushing by his side, horrified to see his hand come back tainted with blood as he tried to pat him. "HEIJI!"

o.O.o

"- It's been two years he's been helping us." Jodie stated as she sat near Conan who was on a chair, near the ER's door, head between his arms to hide his distress.

"- What ? !" The boy asked, suddenly turning at the FBI agent with a surprised look.

"- He called me one night. Asked me if he could help us." The blond-haired explained, her eyes dreamy as she remembered that evening. "He had only two demands. First was to help us against the Organization. Abroad if possible. I knew how valuable he was and English wasn't a problem to him so I convinced my boss to train him despite his age and sent him to our headquarters in the US. I visited him once or twice, I must say I've been impressed at how motivated he was and how he improved so fast each time I saw him. Six months ago, he was declared operational and sent back here, as a support against the BO. The fact he was young and a native Japanese was clearly an advantage in this fight.

- And the second ?" The Tokyoite asked, though he had already guessed the answer.

"- Not to tell you the truth. He helped you in the shadows, Cool Guy." Jodie confirmed, locking her eyes in his. "Participated in a lot of missions. He was the one who found out the site we were in today. Usually, he didn't want to come in the operations you were having a role in, but he knew this could be your last fight and he didn't want to miss that.

- And that's what sent him here... That baka." The azure-eyed boy sighed, looking at the red light above the door next to him with eyes filled with sorrow.

His eyes were starting to shine when he felt his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Conan gulped, not wanting to answer with a broken voice, and picked up the call. "Yea ?

- Kudô-kun ? You ok ?

- Yes... " The detective preferred to lie, not to worry the little scientist at the other side of the line. "We got them. Anything new on your side, Haibara ?

- I made it. The antidote. It's ready, Kudô-kun, thanks to the info you gave me. You can go back to your true body whenever you want."

The boy stayed silent, feeling he wanted to rejoice but wasn't able to, with Heiji undergoing an emergency surgery barely 10 meters away.

"- Kudô-kun ?

- I got that. Thanks, Haibara. I'll be calling you later.

- OK. Sure you ok ?

- Mostly, yes. Laters."

Conan rubbed his temples after he hung up, still a bit divided about his feelings. That antidote he waited for during two long years was finally ready. But at what cost...

"- Everything alright ? Bad news ?" The FBI agent enquired, seeing he was done.

"- Nah, on the contrary. The antidote is ready. I can go back in my former body.

- That's great news ! " She exclaimed with a smile, glad to know he'd be at least back to himself.

She had learned the truth one year before, when he became really active in his hunt, and had been forced to share with the FBI that information that explained a lot of things about him. The fact the temporary antidote wasn't working anymore because he overused it also had rushed his decision to spill the beans.

"- But you don't have your "great news" face..." The girl stated, seeing how dark he still was.

"- How could I rejoice when Heiji is between life and death ?

- He's strong you know. He wouldn't give up. Go and take that antidote so you'll be able to welcome him with your grown-up body." She ordered with a firm voice. At Conan's hesitation, she decided to add. "I'll call you if anything happens, ok ? It's barely a matter of hours, I don't think much would change in such a short notice. Take a taxi, you'll be faster to come back here."

The azure-eyed boy hesitated but finally took the money she was handing to him. "Sorry. Thanks..." He corrected at the blond-haired woman's frown.

"- Go !"

With one last nod, he rushed to the door, taking his phone out to warn Haibara he was coming at the professor's.

o.O.o

Heiji's eyelids were just beginning to flutter as Shinichi entered the room, a cup of coffee in his hand.

"- Hey !" He smiled, settling back on the chair he had just left near his best friend's bed.

"- H..." The Osakan tried to say, before starting a coughing fit.

"- Easy, you've just been extubated, take your time." The azure-eyed detective explained, turning to fetch a plastic glass filled with water with a straw in it.

As he was slowly drinking the liquid, the dark-skinned teen's eyes fell on his friend, to notice he was back to his normal body.

"- I thought... The antidote didn'...

- ... Work anymore ? Yea. But for the definitive one, that's a different thing.

- It's... Ya'll stay in that form ?!"

At his friend's nod, the detective of the West had a wide smile. "That's great, ya'll be at last ... able ta go back ta yer Nee-chan..." He started to say without any bitterness, feeling truly happy for his friend.

"- We separated." Shinchi interrupted him. He had a sad smile at the other's surprise. "After you left, I found the courage to tell her the truth. It was a hard blow on her. On us. I hurt her. Every minute of every day since. I had lost the hope to go back to my body. She... gave up last year, she couldn't wait for me anymore, this life filled with lies was too much for her. She found herself someone else a few months ago. That was perhaps for the best, they seem happy.

- If yer body or yer lies were the problem... then go back ta her, everythin' is over now..." Heiji pointed out with his usual honesty, a scolding look on his face, knowing how his friend had been in love with Ran, since they were young.

"- Heiji... I can't really say I stopped her to go away." He answered, shaking his head. "In fact, there was that little part of me who thought... Ne... Did you forget that night... ?" Kudô asked, locking his eyes in Hattori's and taking his hand.

"-What night ? " The Osakan said with a straight face, before smirking at the other's wounded look. "O' course not, ya Ahou.

- Well, neither did I. Question is... Did anything change ? I would understand, I've taken my sweet time to...

- Ya mean... Are ya... ?" Heiji tried to ask, blushing as he wasn't able to articulate a whole sentence, too surprised at the other's words, not wanting to believe in what he was implying

Amused at the red on his cheek, Shinichi bent on his friend to put a kiss on his lips. "I love you, Hattori Heiji. Sorry for being so long to understand it."

A wide smile on his face as the azure-eyed was moving away, the dark-skinned felt butterflies in his stomach, and it had nothing to do with his wounds. "I love ya too, Shinichi. My feelings didn't change since then.

- Then hurry up to heal, how can I hug my boyfriend when he's bandaged from head to toe ?! " The detective of the East gently scolded, squeezing tenderly his hand.

"- Aye sir!" The Osakan said, rising a hand to his forehead as he could in a kind of military salute.

Happiness was written all over his face : after such trials, after such a long time, after such a roller coaster, between the darkest place and the highest pleasures.

Heiji thought about something Kazuha used to tell him, to cheer him up in difficult times.

"After the storm, there may be a rainbow."

And indeed, he had found his.