Big Brown Boxes
Shinichi is growing up. For each day that passes, he starts looking more and more like his old self. Hiding his identity, he realises, will only get harder unless he finds a cure soon.
a/n: I don't own Detective Conan, obviously. I think I started off pretty well, but please tell me what you think. Excuse any spelling or grammatical errors I might have missed. Thank you for reading, I hope you like it.
Chapter 1: For the cause.
Six years have passed, Shinichi thought to himself. He was sitting alone in the floor of Ran's new, but currently empty flat. Shinichi was far from surprised when she announced she was moving out. After all, she was 24 years old now, she had finished her education and she even had a new job. It was about time she left the nest, so to say. He wasn't surprised when she asked him to come live with her either. He wasn't expecting it, per say, but Ran had practically adopted Conan by now. She had even made sure that the apartment she bought had a room just for him.
He couldn't hide the smile that always crept up when he thought about it. She was sweet. And she really seemed to love Conan. Even so, Shinichi thought, I can't stay like this forever. And I can't fool her forever. The older I get, the more I'll look like my old self again, and Ran isn't stupid. Two people can't look exactly the same.
He sighed. What was he going to do? Ai and the professor had worked out several antidotes, but none of them had been permanent, and he couldn't just take them whenever. If he got immune to the antidote, he'd never get back his old body.
Keys rattled outside, and Shinichi could hear the locks being turned. "Eh? Conan? What are you doing here?" Ran popped her head inside.
He put on a smile. "Eh, well, I wanted to look around again! It's a really nice place."
"You think so?" Ran smiled, looking out the window. Shinichi imagined she was thinking about the future, or something that made her equally happy. Perhaps she's thinking about me, he thought. He blushed a little at this. Six years, and she was still waiting. She must really care for him. The feeling of guilt was stronger than the happy feeling he got from this, though. She'd been alone for six years. Maybe she was even used to it by now…
He hadn't noticed her sneaking up on him, but there she was, face to face with him, looking at him seriously. "Ne, Conan," she said. "You've really gotten big."
"Big?"
"Yes, you've gotten really tall!" Ran smiled. "You look exactly like him…" She trailed off, staring at him.
Shinichi gave a nervous laugh. "Is that so? I don't think Shinichi-niisan and I look alike at all!"
She didn't say anything, but she looked at him, obviously not convinced, before she stood up. "I guess so. You're much cuter. Aaanyway, if you see that jerk, tell him to come home already."
"Y-yes!"
"Let's go and pack the last things." Her voice changed from suspicious to happy when she said this, "the truck is coming tomorrow morning so there'll be no time for packing then. Hurry up!"
She threw her bag over her shoulder and walked out of the room, holding the door open for Conan. Shinichi quickly got to his feet and ran after her.
A few hours later, Shinichi was in his old room, packing the last of his things when his phone called. It was Ai.
"I heard you're moving." She said dully.
"Hello to you too…" Shinichi said, picking up a book and throwing it into one of the boxes. "Yes, I am. Ran wanted me to come."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Do about what?" Shinichi looked at the cover of another book before throwing it into the same box as before.
"Agasa told me the reason you're living there is because it's a detective agency. To get leads on the Black Organisation."
"Oh yes… I'll have to do something about that… Well, don't worry. I'll figure something out!" He dumped a few dusty books that he hadn't touched for years into the box before closing it.
"Well then. Good luck moving tomorrow, detective-san." She hung up before he could say anything else.
He glared at the phone for a few moments before he put it away. "That girl… she needs to stop doing that."
"Conan! Dinner's ready!"
"Hai, hai." He replied, leaving his room and heading towards the kitchen. Hmm… about that, he thought. What should I do? Ah… I guess some flattery should work, and he'll let me become his apprentice. He's simple minded like that.
Kogoro and Ran had already started eating when he reached them. He sat down quietly, thinking of a way to bring up the subject.
"Tousan!" Ran exclaimed. "How are you going to get by if I'm not here? I've been busy for three days, packing my stuff, and this place already looks like a pigsty!" Indeed, the room was, mildly put, messy. There were case files and old newspapers scattered on Kogoro's desk, along with an ashtray filled with ash and old buds. Most of his Youko videos had been pulled out and were stacked next to the TV, and his coat was hanging on the couch.
Kogoro just waved her words away. "I am the great detective Mouri Kogoro-sama. I don't have time to do petty things like cleaning." He nodded proudly.
"Well then we have a problem, because I don't have time to come here and clean all the time either." Ran said, concerned. "I guess you'll have to hire a housekeeper…"
"Ah!" Chance! Shinichi thought. "I'll do it! But only if Occhan agrees to take me as his apprentice!" He didn't particularly want to clean up after this man, but he was willing to do it for the cause.
"The great detective Mouri Kogoro does not take apprentices. Especially not brats like you."
"But dad, that's a great idea! You won't have to hire a maid and Conan has somewhere to be when I'm at work!" Ran smiled and patted Shinichi on the head, as if telling him he was a good boy. But Kogoro still didn't budge.
"No way."
"I want to be a detective, Occhan! I can't settle with anyone else than the great detective Mouri Kogoro!" It hurt Shinichi somewhat to say that, considering he was the one who always solved Kogoro's cases. Never the less, he reminded himself of the cause.
Kogoro sniggered to himself. Nodding, he patted Shinichi as well. "I can't disagree with that. But I'm not paying you."
Shinichi sighed to himself. For the cause. He put on a happy face, nodding. "Mm!"
"Very well then! It has been decided! From tomorrow, you will be my, the great Mouri Kogoro's, apprentice. I'll teach you well, little one."
a/n: I won't say that I won't update without reviews, but it sure would make me want to write, so please tell me what you think.
