Great story, I really liked it

I agree with your sentiments and I find interesting the premise of Ran finding the truth herself. I was looking for a fanfic like this one. I mean there were like 3 cases where she almost discovered the truth and I really hope that when Gosho decide to reveal things he will portray her as never letting go of the suspicion but just decided to ignore it or wait

'k, I've finally finished this story...

Hm, I'm torn apart between fulfilment and sadness...

I'm satisfied by the way you've handled the plot and its resolution. This story was worth of its promises and suited to my expectations, no matter if we're looking at the plot, the characterisation, the relationship between the characters, or the atmosphere, it worked in a perfect manner...

The final confrontation between Ran and Conan was wonderful. I've loved how you've built your tension and increase it in a gradual way, it begun with subtle undertones and a dialogue filled with different level of meanings, then we've Ran cutting Conan's Gordian knot once and for all, leaving no choice but...to chose, and to deals with the consequences of his decision, and finally, we've a reconciliation between the two childhood friends...

Usually, when a fic author is trying to show me that Ran could forgive Shinichi, or that Shinichi could learn from his past mistakes, I'm not convinced at all... But with you, I could add another exception to the rules...
Maybe because you haven't taken the resolution of your plot as granted, on the contrary, you've made your best to underlines how hard it could have been for Ran to gives her trust to Shinichi after his betrayal, how hard it could have been for her to understand the reasons behind his friend's actions...

It was also a good thing to establish a parallel between Conan and Ran's situation, and Holmes's dilemma when he had chosen to fake his own death, even if it would harm his best friend...
It's suited to the DC universe and its holmesian undertones, it's suited to Shinichi's character, and finally, it was a good way to illustrate the whole situation...

Regarding the final chapter... Hm... Well, it was a pleasant surprise. After all, you've captured Gosho's universe without problem, I could imagine this kind of case happening in canon without problem...
But besides all, it was a conclusion suited to the story... We could see how the relationship between the characters had evolved in the course of the story, what is staying, and what is changing...
I've specially loved what you've done with Kogoro... It was truly Ran's father, with his flaws and qualities... Even if the real Kogoro would never reach the level of the sleeping Kogoro, he's not a moron, and he could makes a good detective's job once he get the right kind of help when he needs it...

And it was a good thing to underline Ran's personal dilemma, regarding the idea of keeping her father outside the truth... Ran is also wandering in the shades of grey of the real world, now, with its difficult questions, asking for answers which are not always suited to our ideals and desires...

But as I've said, earlier, I'm still sad...
Sad because the story is finished, and it's always when you're forced to close a good book, once and for all...
To be honest, I would be glad if you're writing a sequel, one day...
(And if I'm not mistaking my hope with reality, you've implied that it could be in the realm of possibility... So I would join the choir and ask for more...)

Thanks for this story, anyway, and good luck with the one you would offer to us in the future...;)

This story was amazing!! I love how you pictured Ran. I can't wait for more from you! XD

Yeah, I'm in a typing mood today. Btw, did you get my email regarding the manga/anime difference? Anyway.

"Even if he did change back he wouldn't be the same person. She would have to say that while his time as Conan has changed him for the worse in some ways it had also changed him for the better. The old Shinichi would have never worked with anyone on his investigations, much less a rag-tag group of kids. It was probably true that he didn't have much choice, but it was also true that he showed more patience with them than he used to. She had noticed the way the other kids looked up to him and the way he treated them like younger siblings."

Now I do take a look at the later stories when I get the chance, but not necessarily in order. So as far as his patience as you put it goes, does he tend to genuinely enjoy spending time with them in the more recent stories (compared to the early episodes where he simply played along to be convincing as a child)?

"Akemi Miyano was Ai's sister. She was also a part of the Black Organization, but she was able to lead more of a normal life than her sister the scientist. Akemi made a deal with Gin to buy freedom for her and her sister, and she ended up losing her life in the process. See episodes 128-129."

Fun fact: Episode 128 was made as a retcon of sorts. The final portions of Episode 13 "The Strange Person Hunt Murder Case" was heavily altered from a story in Detective Conan Volume 2 (The Manga). It was Gin and Vodka who were the masterminds of the case, with Akemi being killed at the end.

However, the anime writers wanted to keep the early episodes free of the Organization (especially Gin and Vodka), so they altered Episode 13 so that the mastermind was Okita, and had Akemi surviving. Incidently, the manga version of Episode 5 "The Shinkansen's Bomb Case" actually did have Conan running into Gin and Vodka (rather than their lookalikes) and learning their codenames.

"Agasa, Ai, Shinichi, and Heiji all seem to think that if Ran finds out the secret then it would only be a matter of time before the Black Organization tracked them down and slaughtered them all."

Actually, Heiji seems to be the only secret keeper (aside from Shinichi himself) who thinks that he should tell Ran. True, he contributes to hiding the truth, but it's not his secret to tell. At the beginning of Episode 524, he even suggests to Conan to come clean.

I think as suggested by someone else, maybe go for a story in which Shinichi suffers a blow to the head and only remembers himself as Conan, and those in on the secret, especially Ran have to help him regain his memory. I mean one downside of all of these Ran discovering Conan's secret is that they coincide with the BO or are oneshots. We never get to see a basic story with her in on the secret and their interactions.

As for the story here, the only objection I have is that Ran doesn't recall the time she bathed and slept with Conan. There is also the matter of the movie references. Some could have happened, but unless the manga gives an indication that Kaito Kid knows, then Movie 3 or any anime exlcusive stories on the plot point should be taken with a grain of salt. But the positive aspects automatically make this the recent best stories I've read as far as DC goes:

1. I don't think any official story or fanfic covered it, but I myself always wondered why Ran or Kogoro never questioned Agasa on why he has Ai living with him, when he was insistent on having them take in Conan. Sure, we know why, but those not in the know should have at least thought about it.

2. I'm not a big mystery fan, but given that Detective Conan is full of mystery references, using The Final Problem/The Empty House story to reference Shinichi's decision would definitely impress Gosho Aoyama.

3. Truth is that Shinichi/Conan's actions do have justification, but still questionable, which was handled well here.

4. Many stories that have Ran finding out either has her hating Shinichi for a portion of the story or brushing off the revelation as a minor annoyance. Here, it was well balanced. She was reasonably angry, but her reasons for forgiving him felt natural.

It's not that they think she will give it away. They think that if the Black Organization finds out, then everyone who knows anything will be in danger and Shinichi doesn't want to put Ran in danger. Her not knowing could save her life in his eyes.

Great story, I loved that Shinichi managed to tell Ran just about everything she needed to know. Good ending :)

*claps like hell*

AMAZING WORK!

I love this kind of story and it was very very believable~

Your writing style is awesome and the flow of events are smooth.

I hope to see a sequel and more from you.

Keep writing!

This story was amazing! I loved it almost as much as I love parts where Shinichi comes back/flash backs of Shinichi! And I love those a lot. xD Please write a sequel! :D

very well written! read the whole thing! write a sequ!!

Thanks for the story.
The case was not bad, either.

*clap clap clap* Very nice. Though I don't figure Shinichi as the type to be able to just be Conan around Ran most of the time now that she knows, it was still believable. The characterization was great too.

You're right though, he does keep secrets from everyone. I wonder why. Maybe a poor coping mechanism, or maybe just because he thinks they can't handle the danger. Hmm.

Anyway, thanks for writing something so enjoyable. The idea was great.