Characters: Aoyama Gosho

To Keep A Secret-Pt 2

"Don't keep a secret." What could he possibly mean by that? Does he know…?

"Kazuha-neechan!" Conan yelled in an attempt to get Kazuha out of her phase.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry, Conan-kun. What happened?" She asked, smiling widely as if she had been paying attention the entire time.

Conan said, as politely as he could manage, "Heiji-niichan said he was going to take Ran-neechan to another restaurant because this one was too 'kiddy,' remember?"

The two were sitting on a booth in a small restaurant located in Osaka. Under the influence of none other than Hattori Heiji, Conan insisted that he and Ran went during the holiday season. During their second day, Kazuha insisted that she and Ran go to a restaurant while Conan and Heiji spent time together. That plan, however, fell through after Kazuha accidentally took Conan by the wrist instead of Ran. By the time Kazuha had realized her slip-up, she had already discussed things she would only tell Ran, adding further to her embarrassing situation.

Upset with herself that she didn't stop them, Kazuha frowned. "I see." Looking into each other's eyes, Conan and Kazuha sighed.

'Kiddy!' thought Conan, How could Hattori leave me just because he thinks it's too 'kiddy'?! And dragging Ran, too!

'Kiddy!' Kazuha thought, How could Heiji say that knowing I love this place?! And dragging Ran, too, I bet!

"What do you think of this place, Conan-kun?" Kazuha asked, giving with a dim smile on her face. "You don't think it's too 'kiddy,' do you?"

Realizing very well what she would have wanted Heiji to answer, Conan smile, encouragingly, "No, I love this place! Better than anything else Heiji-niichan has ever taken us to!"

"Thank you, Conan-kun!" Kazuha said earnestly. "Heiji never takes you all to fun places, does he? Now, what would you like, the Circus Plate, or the Balloon Special?"

While Conan ate his Circus plate, an order he hoped he would never have to place, Kazuha continued to think of the note attached to the rose. How could he possibly know? Who was he, for that matter? Heh, probably just some crazy walking around, bumping into people, and passing out roses! Ha! Yes, that must be it! Right…?

"It's that man, isn't it?"

"What?" Kazuha asked Conan, startled. "What is the man?"

"That Niisan was the one that's making you get a distant stare in your eye." Conan stated, continuing to eat, in a nonchalant manner. With a seven-year-old grin, Conan asked, "Correct?"

Kazuha was taken aback at first, but leaned forward to listen to Conan's explanation, "What makes you think that, Conan-kun?"

Still in his childish routine, Conan stated, "Maybe because you are still holding the flower he gave you!"

"That's not it!" Kazuha exclaimed with crimson-red cheeks. Conan gave her a smug smile. "Don't look at me like that! It's just that…well…"

Conan, with his act now forgotten and his detective ears ready, leaned in closer. 'It's just that…'?

"I keep wondering where the rose came from!"

Hey…Conan sat back down, feeling misled, that couldn't have been it. Having the same feeling come over him, as Kazuha did, Conan stared down at his plate in thought. Who was that guy? He's obviously given Kazuha-chan something to think about…but what?

"So, Conan-kun, how'd you like the Circus Plate?" Kazuha said, breaking the tense silence. He laughed, mumbling, "Yes, I enjoyed it a lot!" I just wish they hadn't have named it that.

"I wonder, though," Kazuha's eyes sparkled, "I wonder who that Niisan was."

Conan blinked, not expecting Kazuha to bring it up again. A frowned appeared on Conan's face. His voice…his composure…Who was that?

-DM-