Prologue
On a normal spring night, the sky would be clear and the air would be slightly chilly. However, this was a different night. Winter proved that it hadn't left just yet, with cold fierce winds blowing and clouds covering the stars in the big black sky. Small drops of cold water pelted down on the city below it, echoing throughout. The bustling city was brightly lit up from all the different lights, like the neon lights and street lights. The rain started to fall even harder as more clouds blocked the stars from the pitch black sky. People walking along the streets hurried to get to their destinations before they were soaked. It was about 2:30 a.m. and the wind started to pick up, slanting the route of the rain drops.
The people of the city hurriedly walked or drove home. It was very late, but many people were coming home from work and running late night errands. Some were out to dinner or to the clubs. But since the rain spoiled the beautiful spring night, the people were running all over the place to get to a dry place, safe from the rain. Only two little kids walking along the streets were not in a hurry. One was about the age of 8, with short brown hair and wearing a small suit. The other was his sister; a small little girl of about 6 years of age. Her long black hair was swaying from the fierce wind blowing at her back and her glasses lens were covered from the rain. She was leaning on her brother, struggling to stay awake. Her brother walked on, being careful not to go too fast. He knew it was too late to be walking, especially when his sister was as ill as she was. But they had nowhere else to go and they couldn't stop unless they found a proper sleeping place. However, hotels wouldn't let them stay alone. They didn't have too much money and they were too young to stay alone in a hotel. So, they trudged on, seeking a safe place to rest. But, his sister seemed to be getting worse.
"B...brother...how m-much longer...?" the girl weakly asked before breaking off into a rough coughing fit. The boy glanced worriedly at his sister and made up his mind to have her rest shortly, to gather her strength before they started walking again. He took a sharp turn down an alley that was next to an old brick building near them. The boy looked around quickly and found an old cardboard box that was just big enough for both of them to fit inside. After inpecting it, he gently guided his sister to the cardboard box and had her sit down inside it. Even though it was a crappy old box, it would shield his sick sister from the rain. He felt her forehead and silently cursed. He didn't think his sister's illness would get this bad.
"R...Ranpo...I'm c-c-cold..." she moaned. She continued to cough while her brother covered her with his jacket. But not even the jacket could help get her warm. Her breathing became slightly faster.
Apprehension fluttered in Ranpo's chest as he saw how pale his sister had become. When they had started to walk, she wasn't as sick. But after some time, she gradually become worse. She soon had to lean on Ranpo when they walked because she had gotten so weak. He sat next to her and stroked her head with his hand.
"You can sleep now, Christie. But only for a while. I'm sorry but we can't afford to stay here alone and unprotected." He hoped the girl would understand; he wanted them, especially her, to be protected from any danger.
Christie nodded, but soon squeezed her eyes shut. The motion had made her head spin. She laid her head in his lap and sneezed. She hoped that the spinning would go away as she soon drifted off to sleep. While he watched his sister, Ranpo sorted out his options.
What should I do? Should I go and get help for Christie?, he thought. He glanced at his sleeping sister and shook his head.
I should, but I can't. I can't leave her alone. And I won't be able to carry her all the way to Beika Hospital in this rain. But what else should I do? What else can I do?
Can we keep walking? but, if we do, then where are we going to go? And I don't think Christie has enough strength to keep walking.
Christie coughed again, waking her up. She covered her mouth with her hand and coughed for a while, but she eventually slowed down. She took her hand off of her mouth and looked down at it. Her stomach lurched when her saw blood covering the whole of the palm of her hand.
"R-Ranpo! W...why is t-t-there blood...on my h-hand...?" Christie whimpered, shaking from panic. Panic didn't help her breathing, for she started to gasp for breath. Ranpo examined her hand and soon his apprehension turned to fear. Christie tried to catch her breath but the more scared she got, the worse her breathing became.
"Come on, Christie. Try to stand up" Ranpo shakily encouraged his sister as he tried to pull her up from the ground. He had to get some help for her. He didn't know how he was going to get help, but he knew that it was urgent. She leaned on him again and struggled to stand up, but as soon as she did, her vision went black and her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the cold, wet ground.
"C-Christie?"
No answer.
"Christie?"
Still no answer. Ranpo turned his sister onto her back. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was labored.
"Christie! Come on! Please...just a little farther..." the boy grabbed his sister and cradled her in his arms. The unconscious Christie was smaller than him, and due to her illness, she was lighter than a normal child her age.
He started to sprint with Christie in his arms. Careful not to drop her or hurt her in any way, Ranpo gained speed, weaving between people walking down the street. He came to the end of the street, and pushed through a thick bunch of people.
Unfortunately, he didn't see the traffic light for the cars turn green. The automobiles started to zip up the street when Ranpo ran in front of one of them.
The brakes squealed and Ranpo froze, squeezing his eyes shut. People screamed, ready for the car to hit the kids. Luckily the car stopped an inch away from Ranpo and Christie. All the cars behind the vehicle all screeched to a halt and veered away from each other while staying on the road. Ranpo fell on his knees, panting and still clutching his sister in his arms.
Furious, the passenger of the car got out of his car and angrily walked up to the kids. It was pouring at this point, making the air colder. The man was tall and had short, black hair. He wore a suit and had a mushtache. People on the street whispered as they saw him; he was a famous author named Booker Kudo.
"What is the meaning of this? You can't just walk into the street! YOU COULD'VE GOTTEN KILLED!" The man glared at the two kids.
Ranpo returned the man's glare, and with a serious voice, replied coldy, "Sorry. But I'm in a hurry." He glanced down at his sister. "My sister is very ill and needs to see a doctor as soon as possible".
Something clicked in the back to Booker's memory. There was something abou these two kids that seemed familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Booker knelt down to get a closer look at the two. The boy was wet, wore mud-stained clothing, but otherwise seemed fine. The girl was extremely pale, with a trickle of blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.
He put his hand on her forehead and was shocked at how hot it was.
"Come with me. I can get help for her" Booker replied. He went to take the girl from the boy's arms, but Ranpo backed away.
"I'm not going with you" he stated roughly. "I don't trust any adults I don't know"
Booker chuckled and held out his hand to the boy.
"You don't need to worry. I promise I won't try anything bad. I just want to help you and your sister" Booker reassured.
Ranpo have the man a suspicious glare.
"Trust me"
The boy looked down at his ill sister and decided to give in. At this point, he couldn't turn down an opportunity like this. Ranpo gave Christie to the man, who cradled her in his arms. He carried her to the car and gently laid her down on the back seats. The boy and the man were deaf to the sounds of car horns honking angrily at them.
By this time, the police and paramedics were called, just in case. Among them were Inspector Meguire and Inspector Wilder, two detectives from the Beika Police Force. Meguire was a burly man with a mustache. He wore a brown coat and matching hat. Wilder was a tall young man with short black hair. They had arrived in a black and white police car, with their blue and red light blazing. The car sped up to the scene, and screeched to a halt. Meguire was in a bad mood; it was late at night and he had to work the late shift. Just when nothing seemed to be going on, he got a call about an accident on a main street. The two men got out of the car and stormed up to the crowds of people.
"What the hell happened here?" Inpector Meguire yelled to the crowds.
Booker turned around to see the two inspectors walking around the scene.
"Ah. Inspector Meguire and Inspector Wilder. How are you?" he casually asked the two. Their attention turned to Booker after he called their names.
Meguire's eyes grew wide and replied, "Kudo! Hey! How are you?"
"And if you don't mind, can you tell us what happened here?" Wilder asked.
"Oh it's nothing. While I was on my way to my house, this boy," Booker explained, motioning to Ranpo," ran out in front of my car, looking for help. His sister is ill, so he wasn't thinking where he was going. I'm terribly sorry for this trouble"
"Oh. That's all it was?" Meguire asked. He looked around and stated, "well, there aren't any accidents or injuries." He was pleased that it wasn't as big of an emergency as he had anticipated. He looked down at the boy and asked, "Who is this boy, anyway? He looks a little like your son, Booker" Meguire stepped back and nodded, confirming his guess.
A rough coughing noise came from inside the car. Ranpo ran to the window and looked inside. His sister was awake again, coughing harder than before.
"Mister...please, we have to go..." Ranpo pleaded.
Booker nodded and told the two inspectors, "I'm sorry but I have an emergency to attend to. Do you think I could leave to get these kids some help?"
"I don't see why not. We'll sort this out. Its not that bad of a mess anyway" Meguire replied.
"Thank you very much. It was nice seeing you two again."
"You too, Booker!" Meguire replied.
Booker got inside the car, with Ranpo sitting next to his sister. They drove away, leaving the chaos behind them.
Suspicion and uneasiness buzzed around inside Booker's head as he thought of what Meguire had said.
How can that be? How can he look like Jimmy?
"Tell me, son. What is your name?"
"Ranpo. And this is my sister Christie. Who are you?"
He paused for a while before stating, "Booker. Booker Kudo"