Title: To Stop Playing Sherlock
Author: Cross-StitchED
Fandom: Naruto
Rating: T
Notes:
Happy Christmas and New Year!
A few days after I started this fic, I decided to discontinue 'Summer School.' I had unfortunately outgrew it and I have been for a while wanting to work on a better and more mature version of it. A lot of people probably hate me now for discontinuing it. I really wanted a break from writing Shoujo and start practicing writing Shounen or at least something that resembles it.
I think Summer School readers will be able to see the similarities. It is still different, though. So, I really hope you will like it.
Ever since I was younger, I loved Detective Conan. Unfortunately, I was not that good in writing yet. I tried making a case in Summer School. I enjoyed writing it, but I wasn't really satisfied with it. I think I am a little better at writing now, so I decided to give it a try again and… re-do Summer School a bit. Fans, I think, will notice the similarities between this case and the case in Detective Conan.
I am going to be deleting a few of my old stories. I don't know if Summer School is going to be one of them. Probably not, but it really does remind me of my old writing- and at the moment I am not so fond of my old writing. Haha~ I will probably just start deleting slowly… enjoy the story everyone!
Disclaimer: The World you are about to Enter is Completely fictional. They belong to the Manga artist, Masashi Kishimoto. Any events or characters resembling real people is purely coincidental… or I am just psychic. :D
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Summary:.
AU. Sasuke likes two things: A good mystery and girls. Sakura dislikes two things: Crime and guys with big egos. Circumstances led them to dislike but respect one another. Not everyone is happy with these young detectives' success and think it is time for them to stop playing Sherlock.
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: To Stop Playing Sherlock :
By Cross-StitchED
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: Case 1 :
Murder in the Movie House
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Sasuke Uchiha.
His family was rich. He really can't help it. He was smart and he can't help. He was good-looking and he can't really help that either.
Rich because the family owned a successful computer business. Itachi, his brother was running it and had been since their parents were murdered many years ago. Of course, Sasuke received a generous allowance. Too generous even.
Smart by choice. as a kid, had developed a penchant for mysteries. That started his hunger for knowledge. He wanted to know everything- and never stopped. Physics, biology, chemistry- nothing sated him.
Good-looking- dark hair and eyes, athletic physique and just plain luck to belong to a family with such a beautiful gene pool.
But-he hated waking up every morning to the same routine. He hated waking up every morning and eat a calorie calculated breakfast made by their highly paid chef alone. He hated knowing that the car he got for his birthday was tuned and waiting for him when he got out of the house. He hated knowing that he will be greeted with a different beautiful girl everyday at Konoha high school. He hated that he was greeted by a lot of enthusiasm when he got into the Konoha Ninja Soccer Team's locker room because he was their star player.
In short, he is a lucky bastard that had everything but hates it.
Life was too predictable. To perfect. And he hated always knowing what the next moment would bring.
When life becomes a routine, life loses all excitement.
"Sasuke? Have you been even listening to a single word I said?" A blonde boy practically screamed into Sasuke's ear, as they walked to their first class. Despite being Sasuke's bestfriend, Naruto knew that Sasuke not listening was nothing unusual. He tended to ignore him when he was not in the mood for discussion.
On the surface, people found it unusual how two people who were so different could ever be bestfriends. Sasuke was dark and had a brooding personality. Naruto was blonde, blue eyed and had the personality of a loud… and sometimes unwanted firecracker.
What most people did not know was that they had a lot more in common than they would think. Naruto's parents had died as well… but unlike Sasuke, they did not leave Naruto with a fortune. Naruto was alone and lived with one foster parent to another until he was finally adopted by a detective.
As kids, Naruto would tell stories about his adoptive father's cases to Sasuke and further cementing their friendship.
Now, Sasuke looked up from his staring contest with the floor. "What? I'm listening now," he mumbled, his head not really paying attention.
Naruto shook his head and frowned. Sure, he was used to Sasuke being like this but sometimes he just wanted to conk him in the head at times to wake him up. Sometimes, he just felt like Sasuke was sleeping even though his eyes were wide awake. "What is it now? Don't tell me you broke up with Sachi already."
Shrugging, Sasuke replied, "This morning."
The blonde was not surprised. Sasuke changed girlfriends as much as Naruto changed his socks. They never lasted long. It was like he had girlfriends just to have someone there, but didn't care who they are.
Nothing was wrong with her. Naruto knew. She was a cheerleader. Like all the girls Sasuke seemed to date. She was beautiful. With long dark hair and legs a mile long. She was even a little smarter than some of the girls he usually dated.
"What did you do this time?" Naruto asked suspiciously.
"What makes you think it was something I did?"
"It always is."
Sighing, Sasuke stopped in front of his locker and stalled for time before answering by keying his locker combination. Naruto wasn't leaving though. He had his suspicions already.
Leaning against the locker beside Sasuke's, trying to get him to look at him. "Answer me this. Did you take her to a morgue on your second date?"
"Of course not."
Naruto sighed in relief. "That's good. Believe it-"
"I took her on our third."
Naruto almost tripped when he heard that. Sasuke often visited their old science teacher, Kakashi at the morgue. When he wanted to break up with a girl already, he would sometimes bring them to the morgue… where they would watch Sasuke help Kakashi get a corpse ready for autopsy.
Usually, people assumed that Sasuke was the sane one because of his looks. Naruto knew better. Naruto was extreme in a lot of ways, but he knew he could ever be as cruel as Sasuke when it came to women. No sane man took their date to a morgue.
"Sometimes, my friend, I really want to know what is wrong with you," Naruto told him, brushing a bit of his blonde hair away from his face. "Believe it."
Sasuke nodded, knowing that Naruto would probably never understand. Naruto is the type to smile and adapt soon after every tragedy. Enjoyed every moment. Lived like there was no tomorrow. Something Sasuke always envied about him. He's a guy that should be miserable after all the things he went through- yet he wasn't.
Rolling his eyes, Naruto tried again to ask his earlier question. At least now, Sasuke was kinda listening. "Are we still on for the movies? You were the one excited to watch (1) Edogawa Files the Movie not me."
Slamming the locker shut, Sasuke then turned to Naruto, looking surprised. "Was that today?"
"Yeah. Sachi didn't want to watch it with you, so you asked me." Suddenly, he frowned. "Though… I hope nobody from school finds out about this. Two guys going to the movies together might give some people the wrong idea."
"You think too much."
Raising an eyebrow at that, Naruto smirked. "I can't believe you of all people are telling me that- when you're the one that never stops thinking."
Sasuke smirked back and swung his bag over his shoulder before continuing their way to class. "How's your dad been lately? Any new cases?"
Naruto grinned and nodded. "He just recently finished a case where a guy used a fishing pole to kill his neighbor-"
"Don't you two ever talk about anything else but dead guys?"
They turned towards the voice of the new comer. Much to their surprise, it belonged to Ino Yamanaka and she wasn't alone. Her boyfriend and Sasuke's close relative, Sai was with her. As usual, he had a sketchbook in his hands.
Naruto grinned. "Hello there, Ino- and you're here too, Sai?"
Sai smiled. He had inherited a bit of the Uchiha family's beautiful gene pool. He had they dark hair and similar dark eyes, though his skin was probably a bit paler than most Uchihas. "Is it odd for a guy to escort his girlfriend to her class?"
"I guess not."
Ino was a friend of theirs. Sasuke and Naruto both dated her before. It never worked out, but they remained friends. For all her faults, Ino wasn't the type to hold long grudges. She was one of the lucky ones that had not been brought to the morgue. "Then, tell us, Ino-pig, what should we be talking about?"
She frowned at the nickname and crossed her arms. "Stop calling me that. You know I hate it." She then smiled and chuckled a bit. "But you could always talk about how you're going to kick the butts of Sand High's Storm Soccer Team. That is a good conversation to start the morning."
"I don't need to think about it. I already know how."
"How, then?"
Sasuke pushed the door of their classroom opened, before answering her. Most of the students were already in their seats. "None of your damn business," he answered her with a smile before going inside.
Naruto grunted and began grumbling about his bestfriend being an idiot. "Sorry about that, Ino-pig. He's probably just like that because- of his bad breakup."
Ino shook her head. "I am used to it. And, Naruto, you and I both know that there is no way he's like that because of a break up."
"You're right."
Grinning, Ino then pulled on Sai's arm tighter. "We should get going too before we're late."
"Tell my cousin he probably just needs to get a girl," Sai said, smiling innocently. So innocently that it almost scared Naruto.
"As if he ever had any trouble getting one before," Naruto grumbled as he joined Sasuke inside. As usual, a girl was sitting by Sasuke offering him comfort after she heard he broke up with Sachi. Naruto rolled his eyes. He had a feeling that by the end of the class… Sasuke was not going to be single anymore.
Sasuke was only barely listening to the girl. She offered to buy him a cup of coffee later if he was still hurting… when he didn't even know her name. He found himself looking out the window. Nothing out of the ordinary… cars drove by, joggers taking their dogs for a way…teachers chatting and waiting for the last bell to ring.
Scenic.
Normal.
Predictable.
There had to be something out there more than this. For some, this might be ideal… or paradise, but not his.
Naruto coughed to get their attention. The girl, noticing that they were not alone anymore, left. But Naruto could see she looked very annoyed at being interrupted. Naruto occupied the seat she vacated. "Oi, Dobe, stop looking like that. You look stupid."
"That doesn't sound so bad. You look stupid all the time."
"Sometimes, I really want to hit you." Naruto grumbled, pulling out his ipod and plugging his headphones into his ears. It would do as a distraction until the teacher arrived. It looked like Sasuke wasn't in the mood to talk again. "Tell me when the teacher arrived."
Sasuke made no response, and instead pulled out a Sherlock Holmes novel from his bag.
Ever since he was a kid, Holmes had been his idol. For a fictional character, he was very human. As brilliant as he is, he had his mistakes… but his mistakes never overshadowed his brilliance.
He probably read the novels hundreds of times and even owned multiple copies. The soft bound copies were well cared for. The edges folded on his favorite parts. He worked one whole summer tutoring kids to purchase an expensive hardbound copy. He could easily have bought it with his allowance, but he wanted to earn it.
He turned his head again to see Naruto sifting through a basketball magazine. Not a surprise really. Naruto was the Konoha basketball team's captain. He joined the team when he decided to quit the gang he used to belong to.
Naruto never really talked much about his gang association to Sasuke. But, Sasuke saw the bruises on his back when they were changing out of their jerseys after a basketball game the summer before he joined the team. He still had some of those bruises and a lot of injuries that one could only get after a fight.
Like a knife injury just above the pelvis. Nothing vital was hit, but it was a pretty deep slash. If Naruto had been any slower, he would have definitely died
But that was a different story. A story about a gang member and detective would still be one heck of a story.
Naruto whispered over the music. "Don't you ever get sick reading that?"
"Are you kidding me? I'd give anything to have a life like this guy." Maybe not the cocaine, but he lived a life and died a death that was not in vain.
"Be careful what you wish for. Believe it."
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The line for Edogawa Files the Movie wasn't too long. It was an old crime series starring an old actor that the new generation just didn't appreciate. What Sasuke always liked about it was that all the crimes were based on real crimes and criminals.
"You mean you never figured out that it was the butler?" Sasuke smirked at his bestfriend as they lined up to purchase their tickets. They were discussing the case of the last Edogawa Files Movie. "You really are an idiot."
Naruto frowned, wanting so much to hit him for that comment if his arms were not already stocked with popcorn, soda and chips. "Just because I don't like figuring out the crime doesn't make me an idiot! Believe it!"
"The picture of his daughter in his bedroom practically screamed I did it," he told him, pushing the money for the tickets into the counter. The woman took her time with it. It was hard not to linger when two such good-looking boys were waiting in line at her ticket booth. "If that didn't, the fact that he used to be a Chemistry major did."
"He looked like too much of a good guy to kill that old man."
Impatiently, Sasuke tapped on the window for the woman to hurry up with their tickets. "It is because he was a good guy that he killed him. That old man was planning to kill his daughter's family. Should he have just let him live?"
"You got a point," the blonde grumbled. Not a lot of people could see it because of his loudness, but Naruto was a guy that had a really good heart. He hated seeing good people punished. He couldn't really understand why Sasuke seemed to like it. "So, tell me… who do you like better? Edogawa or Holmes?"
Grinning, Sasuke smugly answered, "Holmes. Edogawa is good, but Holmes can figure out someone by just touching their hand. I'd like to see Edogawa do that."
"He did!"
Naruto and Sasuke turned to the voice that decided to interrupt them. Behind them were two girls. It looked like they were there to see the movie too. One looked worried, while the other was practically spitting fire with every word.
Sasuke was familiar with the one looking worried. It was the beautiful, dark haired Hyuuga heiress, Hinata Hyuuga. She went to a private all girls high school, but they still saw her pretty often because her cousin, Neji went to their school. The other… was a stranger, but admittedly a very unusually beautiful stranger.
Why unusual?
Because her hair was pink and her eyes the most unique shade of green he has ever seen. At the moment though, she was furious. Her eyes were blazing-or throwing knives. Oddly, Sasuke only found her anger quite interesting.
"Naruto-kun? Sasuke-kun?" Hinata whispered, her voice shaking and her cheeks giving a pinkish tint. "Are… are you here to watch the movie too?"
Naruto grinned. He knew Hinata, she always seemed to blush, but it was probably because she was crushing on Sasuke… like all girls seemed to be. She was a beautiful, rich girl and he was a poor nobody. He'd always liked her, but he knew he should stop dreaming when he clearly didn't stand a chance. Weirdly, even though she was beautiful enough to be Sasuke's type they had never been together. "Yeah. Sasuke is kind of like a fan, so he forced me. How are you doing, Hinata-can?"
Hinata blushed even more furiously, but her friend interrupted her before she could respond. Turning to Sasuke angrily, her pink haired companion began. "If you really call yourself a fan, you would know that on Case # 230; episode # 301 Edogawa figured out that the woman was not the daughter of a rich man as she made herself appear by just kissing the back of her hand," she reminded him. "He's just as good as Holmes."
"Holmes came first."
"He is fictional and Edogawa was based on the real deal!"
Their arguing was interrupted by a very loud laughter behind them. "Are you serious? Are you guys really serious? You all actually came here to see the movie?" A tall and skinny male walked up behind him, one skinny arm around a smaller girl. She was pretty and a bit quiet. "You have got to be kidding me."
Naruto cracked his knuckles, ready to give the skinny man a piece of his mind. Sasuke placed a and on his shoulder, though warning him about making a scene here. "That is pretty hypocritical thing to say when you're here to watch the movie too."
He laughed again and kissed his girlfriend firmly on the lips before continuing to talk. "People don't come to this movie to watch the movie. I can think of a few things you can do and watching is not one of them."
An usher approached, looking annoyed. "I would appreciate it if you don't insult a classic. There are other movies that are made for the purpose of what you have planned."
Fishing out his tickets from his pockets, the guy grinned and dropped the tickets into the usher's hand. "No. This will do."
"If you want to go on a date, watch something else," Sakura told him, throwing a few kernels of popcorn at him.
Her obvious lack of interest didn't seem to bother the guy. He just took one long appreciative look at Sakura and smiled. "Is that an invitation?"
"You wish."
He laughed. "My name is Hidaeki Ito, beautiful. Maybe we'll see each other again soon."
The girl he was with pushed herself away from him and crossed her arms angrily. She did not like it that he was openly flirting on another girl while he was on a date with her. She was pouting prettily, but that didn't stop her from taking a second look at Sasuke as they walked pass them.
"What a douche," Naruto grumbled, not knowing that he said it aloud.
They were about to leave when a man with disheveled hair suddenly came running into the theatre, lugging a school bag, laptop and a camera bag. He looked tired and worried, but he still smiled when he saw his co-worker.
"Yo, Takeshi."
"Kio! About time!" The usher didn't sound pleased with his tardiness.
Grinning, he waved to the usher. "Sorry, Takeshi. I needed to pick something up in my apartment first. This new project is a killer. My sponsor is getting anxious too," he mumbled, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket.
"If it is such a pain, why bother?"
Kio rumpled the shorter guy's hair and chuckled. "It's my dream, little man. Why so mad? Did the other guy leave?"
Takeshi straightened is hair and glared at him. "He's about to. Get your butt in projection room. We're about to start."
The one named Kio laughed and ran to the direction of the projection room.
The lights went out and they knew that the movie was about to start and the usher remembered that he still had a job to do. The pink haired girl lifted her chin in a haughty way and pushed pass them, pulling the Hyuuga heiress with her. Not without handing the usher their tickets of course.
"Goodbye, Hinata-chan!" Naruto said, waving at the girl.
The girl responded by blushing more and giving a wave back.
"Who is she?" Sasuke asked him when the girls were out of sight.
"Seriously? You don't know her? It's Neji's cousin, Hinata Hyuuga-"
"Not her, idiot," he said, hitting him on the head. "Her friend. You're stupid and dense."
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Naruto shouted, holding his head. "That hurt! And how am I supposed to know? This is the first time I met her too! And what do you mean dense?"
They began moving inside to get inside the theatre. When they got inside they were still playing the last clip of the theatre's major sponsor. Even in the dark theatre, he could see the two girls clearly. Her hair was too much of a dead giveaway.
They took a seat a few rows behind them. Before Sasuke realized it, he was staring at her.
It was only when the opening song of Edogawa Files began playing that he realize what he was doing. He shook his head and went back watching the movie.
As usually, Sasuke couldn't help taking note everyone who came to watch. Most people had came in twos to the movie. There were three couples- including Hidaeki Ito and his date, most of them at the back to… use the dark as a camouflage to do what couples always did. There was one man who came alone. He was seated five rows in front of Hidaeki. Two ushers were at each side of the theatre, watching as well.
Once the movie started, he wasn't paying attention to the people around him anymore but Detective Edogawa's reasoning and adventure.
Thirty minutes into the movie nothing eventful happened… Naruto screamed like a girl a few times, but nothing else notable, then they finally reached the climax of the movie. Edogawa was being pointed a gun by the suspect. A suspect that was suffering a psychotic break.
A shot was fired—most of the girls screamed. A girl even screamed he's dead he's dead. The odd thing was she did not stop even after they revealed that the man had missed shooting Edogawa. She kept screaming he's dead.
"He's dead! He's dead! My boyfriend is dead! Please help me!"
At that, Sasuke leaped up from his seat and turned to the direction of the scream. Even in the dark and the considerable distance, he could see the blood covering the girl's face. He turned to one of the ushers that were staring in shock. "Turn on the lights! Now!"
He nodded to do just that and ran to the nearest switch. He also heard the pink haired girl tell Hinata to call the authorities, so that was taken care of. "Naruto, keep everyone inside. No one goes out. Everyone here is a suspect."
Naruto grabbed Sasuke's arm, stopping him from taking off. "Sasuke, this isn't a game. If you are doing this for fun, I want you to stop right now." He knew of his bestfriend's attraction to a good mystery. Normally, Naruto didn't mind if his friend plays Sherlock while watching a movie… but this was real life and it would not be a good idea to accuse the wrong people. It is a an even worse idea to send the wrong person to jail.
Sasuke was able to pull his roughly arm away from him, not pleased. One thing he didn't like was being told what to do. "I am not playing. Someone committed a crime right under my nose. Do you want me to just sit around and do nothing? You know me better than that."
Naruto didn't reply. He did know him. Instead, backed away and walked away to the people who were now trying to get out of the theatre out of panic. A second later, the lights inside the theatre turned on.
The sight of a frantic, blood-covered girl greeted him. She was screaming and sobbing, a headless body sprawled on her lap. Being a small girl, she had a difficult time trying to move it. She wanted out. It was clear. Blood was still oozing out from the neck of the corpse. Her popcorn on the floor was covered with blood as well.
No.
This was not a movie anymore.
This is only too, very, very real.
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Notes:
(1) Edogawa Files the Movie- Edogawa from Detective Conan. The protagonist's name is Conan Edogawa. Files from Kindaichi Files. It is another detective manga. Also very good. Give it a chance if you love mysteries.
Author's Note: Good luck solving the case! And, have fun! Let me know who you think the killer is. I noticed lately that my stories have very long chapters. Almost too long. For this story, I am going to keep the chapters nice and short and update every two weeks at least.