Wind chill... it's a wind chilled night. A perfect time to complete my mission but wait! Foot steps! I took an abrupt turn around the corner and gazed about meekly. Someone was here... searching... for me no doubt! The feet were soft... young... they sounded like those of a six year old... in fact, I'm sure they were.
I scowled then soon heard a voice... a teenaged voice. It was Shinichi! Kudo Shinichi! The great high school detective... I knew him. I gazed about a bit more until my eyes landed on a kid. Shinichi...? No, wait... Conan.
It all started around seven years ago. Around that time, I was only around seven years old... go figure. I moved from Canada all the way to Japan, on the other side of the globe. My parents were both white and bilingual.
They were loved all over Japan however when I turned eight, someone snapped and killed my parents along with three social scientists: an Anthropologist, a Sociologist and a Psychologist. They were killed the same week on alternate days. The five of them were murdered during the school week while I was in school... so that gave me an immediate alibi and eliminated me as a suspect.
I didn't understand what happened however; Shinichi was able to put it all together in an instant it seemed, finding the necessary evidence. The killer was imprisoned and I was sent to an orphanage. There, I wondered and studied.
Why would that person kill: my father a writer who mostly writes scripts and co-directs movies, my mother: an actress who was still at her peak when she was killed and a handful of stuffed shirts?! I couldn't see the connection or why they were killed one after another between Monday and Friday... and for that matter... why didn't they kill me too?
I was ruled to go into an orphanage where I could be adopted. Two years went by and around my tenth birthday, they started a secret drug ring... where we made and illegally sold drugs. I tried to stay out of it however; I had to deal with hidden data for yet another year... and somehow, I got sucked in. Immediately at that point, I fled not wanting to deal with that any longer!
I found the Black Organization and they accepted me in because even though I was only eleven, it was already in my second year of high school... which was something I refused to give up. I worked hard for my education and I wouldn't ever lose it. They sent me on undercover spying missions, data escapades and other things to make my smarts and common sense bend a new way.
They let me continue high school and looked after me. I worked for them for three years... making medicines, keeping data files, passwords, working to keep their organization secret and very much in power... however... one day...
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WON'T DO IT?!" Vodka shouted after throwing his glass at the wall in frustration,
"I'm sorry... but I'm not a murderer. If you want Kudo or Miyano dead then I'm not your person," I said, undeterred by the broken cup on the floor,
"Are you betraying our organization?!" asked Gin, in anger,
"So what if I am? I won't release any information... besides your organization would fall without me. I'm merely a spy here to get information for you and make things... also... the sight of blood makes me sick... wouldn't want me to pass out the instant I shoot either one of 'em!"
"Why you incompetent..." an obviously drunk Vodka, continued,
"Incompetent what and what are you going to do about it?"
"Just do it Kaori!" a very much sober Gin said, handing me a gun,
"A C-Unit... very nice... very rare... and... you're giving this to me...? Oh yeah... and can you stop calling me Kaori? It's Kio!"
"You need a codename, Kaori! I would think a smart cookie like you would know that... anyways, you're changing schools!" Gin continued,
"What?"
"Yes. We're sending you to Kudo Shinichi's high school," Vodka said, seeming to sober up a bit,
"It's so you can complete your mission!"
"I already told you I won't do it... besides, you're doing this to me because you know I won't!"
"At least start a distraction so we can do it later. We'll give you some gadgets to work with... as well... we want everything recorded... you will get everything back to us," Gin responded, tiredly,
"Hmm..." I pondered, eyeing the gun, "I might actually be able to do this after all... you've convinced me. Now where are my gadgets?"
"Very good," Vodka grinned, pulling out a briefcase.
Oh yes, through all this story telling, I realize that I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Kio Soyer. You probably think I'm a boy, right? Well, from what you heard before upon them continuously calling me "Kaori," you probably already figured out that I am very much female. I am simply a misunderstood youth struggling to survive in this careless society.
I am going to the new school today for the first time... unfortunately, I had to take all of Shinichi's courses... so while I'm still getting educated... it's not quite all I want to learn... oh well, I'd just have to get him out of the picture before the course selection is over with.
I walked into class, my backpack draped over my back. Students turned to look at me from all angles... they all act like they've never seen a fourteen year old before. I know that this is the fourth year of high school... AKA. The last year... grad year! Great...
I have been attending high school since I was ten. That's when they gave me a test to determine where I was... I didn't want to seem too smart so I answered some questions wrong. They stuck me in first year high school. Now, I guess I'm stuck in this class of freaks.
Suzuki Sonoko leaped to her desk, full-heartedly realizing that this was the first day back to school after summer break. She squealed with joy and spun in circles. There was no sign of Shinichi anywhere... I had taken all the courses he had taken last year so I had expected him to take at least one...
"Suzuki! You know you're not supposed to do that! You can break something!"
"So? Besides... where's Shinichi, Ran? Hmm?"
"Wha... WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME?" she asked, blushing,
"I'm just saying... he suddenly disappeared last year... he's falling behind... and you're missing your little boyfriend!" she said, pointing and laughing.
"Yeah... though when he disappeared, Conan showed up..." Ran said, sighing,
"Conan..." I pondered... I knew that name but where did I know it from? Suddenly it struck me! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! Of course! He was the writer of Sherlock Holmes... who Shinichi was a big fan of... there was my immediate lead! In case you're wondering, it was no secret that he liked Sherlock Holmes. He talked about it in many articles and things that he featured in.
All I knew was that I had my first lead and that I had to follow up on it... I suppose I'd have to befriend Ran and Suzuki. I walked over somewhat hesitantly. I paused a moment before deciding that I needed to play it cute.
"Ahem... HI THERE!" I said as obnoxiously as I could, though somehow my voice still sounded shy and quiet,
"Huh? Hey there! Aww, you're so cute! What's your name?" Suzuki said,
Just as I was about to answer, the teacher entered the room and demanded silence. So I just shrugged and took a desk right at the front. It was someone else's seat and this person wasn't very happy.
"Hey you! That's my seat!"
"I'm sorry... may I please sit here? My eye sight really isn't that great," I said as politely as I could,
"Then get glasses, nerd! Out of my seat!"
I simply stood and kneed her in the shins before sitting back down.
"Oops! My foot slipped," I stated as I sat back down. She wasn't hurt any, just startled. She glared at me then tried to pull me out of the seat. She sent me flying across the classroom where I landed rather roughly.
"THAT HURT!!!" I shouted, trying not to cap it off with cussing. I didn't want to seem like the bad guy. She simply shoved my stuff off the desk and I pretended that I was going to cry. Ran then came over and socked her, hard enough to get her out of the chair.
"SHE SAID SHE NEEDED THAT CHAIR! AND YOU DON'T THROW GIRLS! IT'S RUDE!"
The girl who tossed me was rather startled by Ran's sudden outburst. They tried to pick a fight but needless to say... Ran had already won the battle by the time they started. She sent the girl soaring just as the teacher told them to cease.
"Ooh! Goodie! Finally, a helpful person to have around!"
Somewhere in the background, I could hear the bitch shouting something along the lines of "I'M A GIRL TOO, DAMMIT!" but I disregarded it and returned to my seat, politely thanking Ran as I got myself together.
"No problem! What did you say your name was?"
"Ran, does this look like a time for socializing? Please return to your seat! And young miss, you need to go register," The teacher stated,
"If it's alright, sir. I think I'm going to do that later,"
The school day went on and finished eventually. No sign of Shinichi! Impossible! The kid wouldn't miss his first day, would he? Ran, wanting to be friendly however decided to invite me over for dinner... she had heard rumours about me being an orphan, no doubt... not that she was too far off.
Wanting to fit in, I suppose, I decided to join her. I just told her to keep that kung-fu crap to herself, to which she responded with a trying-not-to-be-insulted bit. We returned to her house where her incompetent father was semi-drunk and Conan had just returned from school. Conan then gazed at me... he knew me, obviously. The look he had was a look of recognition. I would have to investigate this kid.
"Hey! Hey! Ran! Can... Uh... Maureen stay tonight? Ooh! Please! Please! Please!!!" Conan asked, this shocked me but I tried not to make it obvious,
"Maureen? Come to think of it, I never did get your name,"
"No, no. It's fine. Call me Maureen," Though I glared at Conan to which he just smirked in return. Oh yeah, he knew me alright and it seemed he wanted something from me now. Ran went to get some stuff, at which time I started talking,
"You know me," I stated,
"That's right," He responded simply,
"Kudo Shinichi?"
"That's me,"
"In hiding, I presume?"
"You were always good at figuring things out... and keeping secrets," he grinned,
"Ah... so you do know who I am..."
"Yeah, you disappeared for quite a while. Are you doing ok?"
"... Fine. I just have some unfinished business,"
"With me, no doubt,"
"Always the observant one!"
"Going to tell me or is it a surprise?"
"I thought you liked surprises, Kudo,"
I didn't say anymore but from the look he gave, it seemed that he already knew what I was here for... either that or he really wanted something from me... I couldn't seem to decide at the moment. We went in, had dinner and then Ran showed me to my room.
"Good night, Maureen! Is there anything else you need?"
"Hm... No, I'm fine. Thank you. But I'd like to talk to Ku -- Conan before I go to bed... if that's alright!"
"Sure! I'll send him in,"
"Thanks!"
She left and I lounged back... now just to figure out what he wanted... or didn't want. A few minutes passed but he eventually came to see me.
"Hey Kudo! You know... you were a cute little brat when you were that age though I don't remember you ever saying you needed glasses, dork,"
"Well, you apparently do if you can't see the blackboard!"
"WHAT WAS THAT?"
"Nothing! Just something Ran mentioned... eh... just never mind,"
"Yeah, them high school girls can't ever shut their yaps! Anyways... go on,"
"How did you find me...? And for that matter... how are you still alive? You disappeared after we convicted the murderer and no one was able to find you,"
"I'm assuming you already know that I joined the Black Organization then,"
"Of course... or else I would've found you,"
"Cute, kid... very cute," I said, definitely not amused,
"We're not stupid people, Kio,"
"Sometimes I wish I was... then I wouldn't realize how much life sucks,"
"You get used to it,"
"Easy for you to say... you're living under the same roof as your girlfriend,"
"Yeah, giving popularity to her incompetent father and never able to be there for her when she really needs me!"
"Well, at least you have someone you want to be there for... all I have in life... is my knowledge... and mine still doesn't surpass yours, Detective,"
"No... The only thing you can't surpass me in is physical strength... because... hey, I've seen you kick a soccer ball... you're lucky if you can even hit the damn thing in the first place... regardless... you still have smarts and you were able to track me down through a simple conversation,"
"And leads..."
"That too... and you remembered vividly that I'm a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fan,"
"And an Edogawa Rampo fan, it seems!"
"Guess so... but that was a fluke!"
"Seems kind of coincidental though... Conan was a huge influence on Rampo,"
"You sure know a lot about writers,"
"Nah... My writer knowledge is all simple useless stuff... things I study when I have nothing better to do,"
"Well... ok. Anyways, is that it for tonight?"
"Yes, and sleep young Detective... don't go spying around all night. I'm the spy here,"
"Yes, ma'am! Miss spy, ma'am!" then he said in a sickening kiddie voice "GOOD NIGHT, MAUREEN!" before heading off to bed. I held back a shudder... can you say CREEPY?
I tried not to let it bother me too long. I then pulled out a recorder that was hidden in my sleeve... time to see if I had recorded anything worthwhile during the day...