Episode 19: Black Grasp (Hunted)

{Episode 19}


Opening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7URqQICTN7w&feature=related
Gin: Last time... on Detective Conan.
Gin: I broke into the house where that kid detective was staying and injected him with a powerful drug to make him talk.
Gin: Ultimately I gleaned little information, other than the fact that Sherry is local. Heh...
Gin: Unfortunately, it seems that Vermouth has caught on to my little plan, which has complicated things. Well... I'll have to insure I get the upper hand when it comes to "Anokata's Favorite".
Gin: Will our glorious organization prevail? Well, that was never a question.
* Gin smirks.
Gin: Find out how, this episode, on Detective Conan.
Gin: [Cue Title]
{Black Grasp (Hunted)}

[3...
[2...
[1...
[Cue Scene]
{First level of a parking garage somewhere, Gin and Vermouth are discussing events.}
* Gin glances at the ramp down to the parking structure before addressing the woman before him once more, this time with a darkened brow.
Gin: It seems we are at a stalemate, Vermouth.
Gin: Perhaps I can offer us a fair out, if you're interested.
Vermouth: That would depend on what it is *still glaring*
Gin: Heh.
Gin: You're not one to agree to something without knowing what it is.
Gin: Alright, the bottom line is this: Kudou Shinichi-tantei is not the Organization's largest priority right now. He's an affordance, at best, really.
* Gin takes another puff on his cigarette.
* Vermouth mentally sighs in relief
Gin: I'm willing to make a gamble with you.
Vermouth: Oh? And what do you believe is our main priority?
Gin: Heh. Our main priority is dealing with threats to the Organization proper. We have a leak, I'm sure you know.
Gin: Kudou Shinichi does not know enough to be a threat.
Gin: However, I'd rather eliminate him now while that remains true.
* Gin grits his teeth, twisting his face into a smile.
Gin: Help me set a little trap for "meitantei Kudou". If he makes it out, then he's not worth the trouble it would take to cover up the death.
Vermouth: I doubt eliminating him now or later would make much of a difference. You seem to imply he at least knows something, so why hasn't he told anyone yet?
* Gin glares at Vermouth in annoyance.
Gin: We can't say he hasn't. There are already two others I suspect he has informed.
Gin: Hence the reason for tonight's visit.
Gin: I like to make sure all loose ends are... taken care of.
Gin: So what do you say, Vermouth?
* Vermouth considers his proposal
* Gin taps his foot slowly, petulantly.
Vermouth: Alright then, I do enjoy games every now and then.
* Gin grins.
Gin: Very well. We'll give them the day to rest up. We do have the advantage after all.
Gin: \Heh... as if I would ever make a gamble on a target's life. With Vermouth not interfering, he's done.\
Gin: If we don't return soon, I imagine the others will start to ask questions.
* Gin pops open his door.
Gin: We'll reconvene tomorrow, here.
* Vermouth heads back to her motorcycle
* Gin slides in and shuts the door firmly before shooting Vermouth a glance and pulling away.
* Vermouth stares off as the car leaves
Vermouth: \Could this really be the end for you, our silver bullet...?\
{Time skip... Morning, the next day. Scene: Agasa's house. Camera is on Conan as he awakens.}
* EdogawaConan wakes slowly, mind fuzzy...
EdogawaConan: \Ow....why is my head killing me? Bright....\
* EdogawaConan covers his eyes with his hand.
HaibaraAi: So, you're finally awake?
EdogawaConan: \Wait...this isn't the couch....how did I get up here?\
EdogawaConan: Yeah....don't shout, OK?
* HaibaraAi is sitting in the chair next to the bed
EdogawaConan: I thought I fell asleep on the couch?
ProfessorAgasa: Ai-kun, I finished breakfast.
EdogawaConan: \Ow...why do I feel like I have a hangover?\ What happened?
* HaibaraAi gives him a wary look
EdogawaConan: Why am I up here?
HaibaraAi: Do you remember anything? From last night?
EdogawaConan: I thought I fell asleep on the couch....
* ProfessorAgasa struggles, trying to balance glasses on plates.
ProfessorAgasa: Oh, Shinichi-kun, you're up! Are you alright?
* HaibaraAi doesn't really believe he'll remember anything
EdogawaConan: My head is killing me...like that time with the Paikaru...but other than that...
EdogawaConan: Hakase, can I have some water? Please?
ProfessorAgasa: Ah, sure, you can have my drink, though it's milk.
EdogawaConan: Yeah, thanks....
* ProfessorAgasa works his way over carefully and lowers one of the plates bearing a glass on it.
* EdogawaConan takes the glass of milk and downs it quickly.
* HaibaraAi waits silently, impatient
* ProfessorAgasa passes Ai a plate and drink.
EdogawaConan: Haibara? Why are you glaring at me like that?
HaibaraAi: You...you can't remember, can you?
ProfessorAgasa: Ai-kun, don't press it. I told you that it was likely it would induce this kind of effect...
EdogawaConan: Remember what?
EdogawaConan: *suddenly dead-serious, more than usual* Haibara? What happened last night?
* HaibaraAi looks away
EdogawaConan: Hakase?
EdogawaConan: What happened?
HaibaraAi: *whispered* He needs to remember, even if he might hate himself for it...
EdogawaConan: *at the edge of panic* What happened? What don't I remember?
* HaibaraAi looks back at him, completely serious
EdogawaConan: Was I...drugged?
EdogawaConan: That would explain why I feel like I have a hangover....
HaibaraAi: I sensed Them...last night
EdogawaConan: Who drugged me? With what? Why? What happened?
HaibaraAi: They were close, much too close
EdogawaConan: Them??
* EdogawaConan's eyes go wide.
HaibaraAi: I was in the lab and went to go check, I didn't see anyone, but you weren't on the couch anymore
HaibaraAi: I found you in this room, you were indeed drugged
EdogawaConan: Who drugged me, though? And with what?
ProfessorAgasa: Based on the symptoms, it was a compound used to temporarily hurt your inhibition, similar to alcohol or sodium pentathol, but it was much stronger and more concentrated than either of those chemicals.
EdogawaConan: Truth serum....
* EdogawaConan slumps down, looking somewhat defeated.
HaibaraAi: You said some things, some things that you may have revealed…
* EdogawaConan is silent, trying to figure out how on earth he's going to get out of this one.
HaibaraAi: You never actually said who it was though, but it might not be hard to guess...
EdogawaConan: Gin or Vodka. They saw me in Fukuoka.
EdogawaConan: Vermouth....but I don't think she would. She promised to leave you alone after that time on the docks with Jodie-sensei....
* HaibaraAi gulps before saying her next sentence
HaibaraAi: You had said it was a man...and that he had called you Kudou-kun, just as I had...
EdogawaConan: Gin or Vodka then. And they must've figured it out from Fukuoka....
* EdogawaConan slumps down, banging his head against the pillow behind him.
EdogawaConan: Now everyone's in danger and it's all my fault....Ran.....Ayumi.....Mitsuhiko....Hattori...
HaibaraAi: You also mentioned that you told him that Yoshida-san and Ran-san didn't know anything, but I honestly doubt that will stop them.
EdogawaConan: Of course that won't help....they won't care....kuso!
HaibaraAi: Kudou-kun, we need to think of something, who knows when they will strike next, but I can guarantee it will be soon!
ProfessorAgasa: If they know you're here, they also likely know about your lodgings with Mouri-kun.
* EdogawaConan continues swearing under his breath.
EdogawaConan: We need backup...someone to at least help protect Ran...
EdogawaConan: And Ayumi-chan, who doesn't actually know much of anything....
HaibaraAi: Maybe for the moment we can at least make sure they're alright, right now…
EdogawaConan: Yeah....that's probably a good start....
EdogawaConan: Can you...call them?
EdogawaConan: Make sure they're OK?
* HaibaraAi nods
EdogawaConan: Thanks.
* HaibaraAi started to walk out of the room, looks back at him, and leaves
* ProfessorAgasa sighs.
EdogawaConan: They need more protection than we can give them...
ProfessorAgasa: I've never even seen one of 'Them' before that trip...
ProfessorAgasa: And they broke into my house...
EdogawaConan: Maybe...should we call the FBI?
ProfessorAgasa: I don't think we could make things much worse, at this point.
ProfessorAgasa: Do you have their number?
* ProfessorAgasa speaks wearily, "I just don't know..."
EdogawaConan: Yeah, I can call Jodie-sensei....

{With Haibara}
* HaibaraAi goes to the phone and dials Ayumi's number, suddenly anxious
phone: ring
phone: ring
phone: ring
* Yoshida-san picks up the phone.
Yoshida-san: Hello?
HaibaraAi: Hello? This is Haibara Ai, may I please speak to Yoshida-san?
HaibaraAi: Or rather, Ayumi-san? *trying to keep her voice under control*
Yoshida-san: Ah, just a moment....*covers mouthpiece* Ayumi-chan! Telephone!
Yoshida-san: Ayumi: *muffled* Coming! Who is it?
Yoshida-san: *muffled* One of your friends. *louder* Here she is.
Yoshida-san: *phone changes hands*
Ayumi: Hello?
* HaibaraAi sighs with relief at hearing her voice
HaibaraAi: Ah, Yoshida-san? It's me...
Ayumi: Ai-chan! Good morning!
HaibaraAi: \I wish\
Ayumi: Did you need something? It's still kinda early....
HaibaraAi: Yes, well no, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You haven't noticed anything suspicious, have you?
Ayumi: Suspicious? No....do we have another case?
Ayumi: Where should we meet up?
HaibaraAi: NO! *quickly calms down* It's not a case, more like a warning, please be careful.
* Ayumi realizes this is serious, and her voice drops to a lower tone so her mother can't hear.
HaibaraAi: And I need you to follow through with your promise.
Ayumi: What happened? Is Oniisan OK?
HaibaraAi: He's fine, for now...
HaibaraAi: Can you go check on Ran-san for me?
Ayumi: Sure...
Ayumi: And you can't tell Ayumi what happened, but it must've been bad for Ai-chan to be so upset...
Ayumi: Ayumi will go protect Ran-oneesan.
* HaibaraAi gives a sad smile to the phone
HaibaraAi: Thank you
Ayumi: No problem. You stay safe too, OK?
Ayumi: And see if you can keep Oniisan from doing anything stupid.
Ayumi: You have Ayumi's new phone number, right?
HaibaraAi: Yes, I do.
Ayumi: Good! If you need Ayumi for anything else.... just call. OK?
HaibaraAi: Right, I'll keep in contact. *silently wonders if that's a lie or not*
HaibaraAi: If anything happens, you call as well
Ayumi: Of course!
Ayumi: Take care, OK? And tell Oniisan to take care too...
Ayumi: Ayumi will help any way she can. Promise.
HaibaraAi: Un.
HaibaraAi: Bye
Ayumi: See you later!
* HaibaraAi hangs up
* Ayumi hangs up.
Ayumi: *at Ayumi's place* Mom! Ayumi is going to visit Ran-oneesan! Be back later!
* Ayumi takes off for Ran's place, making sure she has her badge and phone.

{Back with Conan and Hakase}
* HaibaraAi sighs and walks back to the other room
HaibaraAi: Yoshida-san is fine, I asked her to check on Ran-san for us
EdogawaConan: *sighs with relief* Well, that's at least something....
EdogawaConan: Ayumi-chan isn't much protection, though....
HaibaraAi: True, but then again, nothing is much protection in the end...
EdogawaConan: I'll call Jodie-sensei; see if the FBI will help protect them....
ProfessorAgasa: You should also contact Ran-kun, too.
EdogawaConan: Who should, though? *wry smile* Conan or Shinichi?
Ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDN_9V71reQ