"GO KAZUHA-CHAN!" Ran was on her feet with one hand punching though the air and the other close to her mouth to help carry the sound. The time was long past for subtle support. Politeness had no place in this arena. This was a battlefield where the slightest hesitation could spell defeat. "CRUSH HER!" Ran screamed and whistled, ducked and punched, blind to the other spectators filling the cheap bleachers. Her entire being was focused on the match in front of her, all her effort went in to pushing her friend towards victory. Why else would she have brought the cookies?

Kazuha-chan showed no sign of hearing Ran's hollers, no awareness outside of her opponent and her goal. That was good. Because even from far away, Ran could tell that the burly girl – just barely inside Kazuha-chan's weight class – was good. Really good. Maybe good enough to win. Kazuha-chan was fast and skilled, the opponent was patient and powerful. Their aikido styles were well matched, and neither had gained the advantage.

This kind of challenging match up was exactly why martial arts were so exciting. Ran lived for it. Testing the limits of her body and mind, pushing them as far as they would go. Learning about herself, her opponent and the world from a flurry of precise activity. Kazuha-chan probably felt the same, although aikido style was vastly different from Ran's preferred karate, the competitive spirit was no less.

Ran gasped and winced. Kazuha-chan had gotten too close, she wasn't prepared and she was caught up in a clever shoulder throw. This could be the end. A mach like this was measured by points, execution, skill, and strength, among other things were judged and scored. This throw was good enough to win the match, if it succeeded. Halfway through the manoeuvre, the opponent faltered, lost control and Kazuha-chan took her chance.

The moment her opponent waivered, Kazuha-chan shifted her weight just enough to alter the balance of momentum. When she hit the ground she rolled with it, grasping on to the bigger girls wrist and flinging her away. Within moments both competitors were back on their feet, circling each other warily. Ran was suitably impressed. A recovery like that required lightning quick thinking and Kazuha-chan rose to the challenge.

The tide was turning; Kazuha-chan slowly took the upper hand. The opponents movements became slower and less focused, her powerful strikes lacked impact. The larger girl was tiring and Kazuha-chan redoubled her efforts.

The whistle blew. Both girls were panting and dripping sweat, proof of the fierce battle they engaged in. Kazuha-chan was declared the winner and the bleachers erupted into cheers, Ran loudest of all. The fight had been one of the most exciting of the day. It was the kind of match spectators expected to see in the finals or semi-finals. This early in the tournament, it was a rare treat.

Kazuha-chan allowed herself a satisfied smile. Ran was too far to hear the words, but she saw Kazuha-chan speaking to the big girl in a friendly manner. Probably along the lines of 'you're really good, that was a great match,' or something equally sporting and kind. Kazuha-chan bowed politely. The other girl remained standing, chest heaving and legs wobbling. She had put everything she had into the fight and lost anyway. The girl pushed past Kazuha-chan and strode over to an unoccupied bench to nurse her pride in peace. Ran caught Kazuha-chan sticking her tongue out at the girl.

Minuets latter Ran made her way through the crowed to where Kazuha-chan stood at the tournament board, looking to see when, where and with who her next match would be. Ran snuck up behind her and said loudly next to her ear, "congratulations!" Kazuha-chan jumped and spun at the same time, ready to clobber who- or whatever had startled her.

She gasped and clutched at her heart, "Ran-chan! Don't do that! I coulda killed you. You coulda killed me!" Ran smiled and repeated her congratulations before hugging the girl fiercely. Kazuha-chan numbered in her small group of close friends, and Ran had absolutely no compunctions about showing affection in public. Kazuha-chan hugged back with equal enthusiasm.

"I can't believe I did it." Kazuha-chan was breathless with excitement.

"I know! That was amazing!" Ran shook her head, "I wasn't sure if you would make it for a second, but you pulled it off."

"Do you know who that was?" Ran silently admitted that no, she had no clue who the skilled opponent was. "Her name is Hayashi Hariko, she won last year's tournament. The reigning champion and I beat her." Kazuha-chan devolved into high decibel, unintelligible squeaking and Ran had to fight not to cover her ears.

Kazuha-chan wandered back into normal tones, "She was probably my toughest competition here." Ran gave her a skeptical look. "Don't worry, I'm not going to let my guard down, but Ran, I think I can win this!" Her eyes sparkled in anticipation. "Where's that idiot Heji? I told him I could beat her."

Ran shifted her gaze to the corner of the room. Boys were all idiots. "Uh, he left." She flinched away from the sudden angry heat waves pouring off of the martial arts champ. Ran hurried to explain. "He was complaining about all the noise and people around. He said that he was sure you would win so he didn't need to stay and watch. He grabbed Conan-kun and went to get himself some coffee."

Kazuha-chan said nothing, allowing her thunderous expression to speak for itself. Ran actually began to pity Hattori-kun for what the girl would do to him when he got back. Ran knew it was just an excuse to talk to Shinichi alone, but Hattori-kun was not as smart as he thought he was if he was willing to brush Kazuha-chan off for coffee with a friend.

"Where is he?" Kazuha-chan was eerily quiet. Hattori-kun had better be a fast runner.

"He said something about the shop down the street just before he took off." Kazuha-chan started walking. "What about the tournament?" Hattori-kun might be an insensitive jerk, but he didn't deserve whatever it was Kazuha-chan was considering.

"There's plenty of time. I can deal with Heji, grab a coffee and be back before the next round. No problem." She didn't sound angry, but Ran new better.

Ran stepped in front of her with her hands raised in warding. "Hold on Kazuha-chan. You want him sorry, not broken. Maybe you should just wait till you calm down a little." Kazuha-chan dodged around her and Ran sighed. There would be no reasoning with her now. Hopefully Hattori-kun was prepared to deal with what he had started.

"Hey, Hariko-kun. C'mon. what are you waiting for, Shun-kun's match is starting. He'll be pissed if you miss it." A snippet of conversation floated through the crowded dome. The university pavilion was never designed for acoustics, but for some reason, Ran heard that voice loud and clear. There was an unnameable quality to it that set her on edge. She turned to find its source through the crowed.

It was too familiar. Not familiar in the sense that she had met the speaker before. Not even familiar like a de ja vu conversation she could swear had already happened. The floating voice was familiar like an overused plotline in a bad soap opera. Familiar because Ran knew what came next.

"Ran-chan? Hey. Ran-chan!" Ran didn't have time to deal with Kazuha-chan. The boys were safe for now - hurried footsteps behind her told Ran that Kazuha-chan was following her - so Ran was free to focus on the task at hand: finding that voice and hopefully proving her instincts wrong.

Her steps took her over to the bench where the defeated champion was still sitting, half slumped to the side with her chin on her chest. The boy who had been speaking decided that just speaking wasn't getting anywhere and he reached out to shake the girl's shoulder. The bad feeling in Ran's stomach twisted uncomfortably when the girl didn't move.

Kazuha-chan came up behind her, quiet and careful. She probably felt it too, hanging out with Hattori-kun all the time. "Hey. Hariko-kun. Wake up. Are you okay? C'mon, get up." The boy's gentle shake became desperate, and the heavy girl flopped bonelessly to the side. Something reached up and wrapped icy fingers around Ran's heart. Of course. Perfect.

"Excused me," Ran reached forwarded to check the girls pulse. There wasn't one. "Kazuha-chan, go get a paramedic." There was always a staffed first aid tent at these kinds of events, just in case. Just because Ran couldn't find a pulse didn't mean the girl didn't have one. They needed to get professionals on scene as fast as possible. "Tell them we'll probably need an ambulance. And-" Ran hesitated, but the sick feeling in her chest wasn't going away, "tell them to get the police here as well." Kazuha-chan's eyes went wide. She knew what Ran was implying, and she didn't like it.


The girl was dead. It was too late. From what Ran overheard from the paramedics, her lungs had stopped working and she had suffocated. Ran was worried, really worried, because Kazuha-chan was the last person to actually speak to the girl, right after a rather violent competition. Hattori-kun and Shinichi still weren't back, and the police detective who had just arrived had already decided that Kazuha-chan was somehow involved.

"I didn't do anything! I swear! There were hundreds of people watching the match, are you implying that I somehow managed to poison her without any of them noticing?" Kazuha-chan wasn't nearly as worried as she should be. If she realized just how much trouble she was in, she would have had the good sense to keep her mouth shut. Instead she was standing on her toes glaring up and shouting at a man who had already made up his remarkably closed mind.

"Did you?" He glowered back at her. Uh oh, Ran thought as Kazuha-chan practically stopped breathing. She was getting well past the point of having any control over her own actions and wouldn't stop to think of consequences. Ran stepped forward, hoping to diffuse the situation before her friend ended up arrested for assaulting an officer. Ran had to admit that the idea of hitting the jerk right in the nose was tempting, it just wasn't productive.

"I can vouch for her. I watched the whole thing and Kazuha-chan didn't do anything other than fight. This is a tournament, you can't arrest her for competing." If it had just been Ran's word, she had no doubt the officer would have ignored her like he ignored Kazuha-chan, but the spectators gathered behind her nodded and mumbled agreement.

The fool just looked down his nose at them. "What about after?" He pointed sharply toward his fuming suspect, "she had plenty of time to approach the victim after the fight and kill her."

Ran was about to provide Kazuha-chan with an alibi, but she was interrupted "Why the hell would I do that?" Kazuha-chan really needed to shut up, before she managed to talk herself into a jail cell, or at the very least an interrogation room.

He looked smug. Stupid man thought he had it all figured out. "It's obvious. You were so angry after being defeated that you killed your opponent." He nodded, pleased with himself.

"Oh. So I killed her cause because I can't stand to lose, did I?"

He lifted an eyebrow. "Did y-"

"NO I DID NOT!" Kazuha-chan screamed in frustration. "If you weren't such an IDIOT and could actually do your job, you'd already know that I WON!" Ran hit her palm to her forehead even as the crowd once again nodded collective agreement. It was a mistake to call him and idiot. Even though he was one.

The so called detective's cheeks turned red. Ran couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or anger. Probably both, she decided. "That's it girlie. You're under arrest!"

"On what charges?" Ran's mouth was open, but the voice wasn't hers. Hattori-kun pushed his way through the growing crowd, followed by three other teenagers all dressed in the same crisp white uniform as Kazuha-chan. Their school logo on their backs marked them as belonging to the same club as the victim.

The stupid detective glared at the new intruder. "The murder of Hayashi Hariko-san."

Hattori-kun's smile knocked the smug look off of the man's face. "On what grounds?" he challenged. The officer sputtered, but did not answer. "I thought not. You have no evidence. You can't arrest her."

"She had motive and opportunity –"

"I think we can all agree that the girl was alive and well at the end of Kazuha's match." Hattori-kun looked around, playing the crowed. Most of the people here agreed that the police detective was being a moron. Hattori-kun gestured to the three people directly behind him. "If you'll talk to these guys, they'll tell ya that Kauzha wasn't anywhere near the victim after the fight. And I'm guessing that nee-chan will be able to tell you where Kazuha actually was."

"It's true," one of the teen competitors said, "no-one went near Hariko-kun until I tried to wake her up." Ran realized that this was the same boy that was there when the body was discovered. His light brown hair and green eyes were distinctive, and he was taller than most of the people around him. A foreigner perhaps, though he spoke the language well.

"How can you be sure?" If Ran didn't know any better, she might have thought the officer was finally doing his job. His petulant tone told her otherwise. The oaf was actually disappointed that Kazuha-chan was putting up a defence.

"I'm sure." The boy nudged one of his companions, a small indistinctive fellow with glasses. "Shun-kun here had a match soon after Hariko-kun's ended. I promised him I'd watch and make sure she went to cheer him on." The bespectacled boy nodded.

The officer narrowed his eyes. "Then why didn't you get her up earlier? Surely it would have been more convenient?"

The third of the three club members spoke up. "Hayashi-chan hated being disturbed while she was thinking. It was her habit to go over a match in her head, especially if she lost. She said it helped her eliminate performance flaws. She was always trying to improve her technique." The girl was smaller than either of her male companions, but she somehow avoided looking frail. Her small frame was well muscled. She could probably do more than hold her own in a fight, especially if her opponent made the mistake of judging her by her stature.

"There ya have it. She was alone the whole time after the match until she was discovered dead. Soichiro-san was watching the whole time because he promised Shun-san he'd make sure Hariko-san saw the match, and the reason Soichiro-san waited so long was because he didn't want to disturb her." Hattori-kun must have felt the need to reiterate, just in case the man really was as dumb as he seemed.

"Toldja I didn't do it!" Kazuha-chan calmed down as soon as Hattori-kun had returned. She had probably been more worried than she seemed. The corner of Ran's mouth lifted slightly. Hattori-kun was Kazuha-chan's shining knight of justice, or something equally romantic and cheesy.

It was Ran's turn to add strength to the argument that Kazuha-chan simply did not have the opportunity to commit the crime. "Kazuha-chan and I were standing over by the match board. We were checking to see who Kazuha-chan would be fighting next."

"You two seem to be close. Pardon me if I don't just take your word for it." The investigator crossed his arms and continued to glare suspiciously at Kazuha-chan. "Just because no one saw her do it, doesn't mean she didn't."

This was getting ridiculous. "There were plenty of people around. I'm sure if you ask around, you'll find someone else who will tell you the same thing. I was with Kazuha-chan from right after the match until she left to get the paramedics and the police. I don't think I have to tell you Hayashi-san was already dead at that point." Ran felt a little bad for speaking of the victim so bluntly, but she was losing what patience she had left.

"That's right. This girl knew to call the police. Why would she do that unless she somehow new that the victim was murdered. Somehow as in she's responsible." It was amazing really. The guy just would not give up Kazuha-chan as the perp. There was a murderer walking around free because this incompetent fool was trying to make a quick arrest. Ran wondered who he was trying to brown nose by closing the case as fast as possible. Surely he wasn't one of Megure-keibu's men, even though they were in the inspectors jurisdiction.

Ran sighed, exasperated. "My father is a detective," she explained, "I told Kazuha-chan to call the police because I suspected there might have been foul play. You really have no reason to think Kazuha-chan is responsible for the poor girls death."

"Have ya even determined cause of death yet?" Hattori-kun asked. Judging from the officer's lack of reply, the answer was no. "It could have been an accident, or natural. You can't just cry murder whenever ya feel like it."

"And just who are you? What makes you think you can just walk into the middle of an official investigation and start giving orders?"

"You call what yer doin' investigating? Buddy, you need to go back to the academy. This's a joke!" What the hell was Hattori-kun trying to accomplish by arguing with the buffoon? He was a detective for goodness sake, he and Shinichi should be looking for evidence, not provoking incompetent officials!

Wait. Where was Shinichi? Ran hadn't seen him at all. She had just assumed that he was with Hattori-kun, but looking around, the little boy was nowhere to be found.

Hattori-kun and the officer were trading escalating insults, but Ran had stopped listening. She edged away from the gathering of people, keeping her eyes cast down, looking for the diminutive detective through a sea of legs. Ah. She caught sight of him as he snuck behind another officer. Not a detective, just a regular cop who was shaking his head trying not to look embarrassed by his superior's behavior.

Ran's gaze followed the little boy as he skirted around the crime scene before suddenly popping up next to the body. Hattori-kun's verbal match with the detective had grown in volume. All eyes were on the spectacle and nobody noticed when a little kid began systematically examining a corpse.

Ran struggled to keep a smile off her lips. So that was there game. Of the teen detectives, Shinichi was the more likely to not get caught poking around where he didn't belong, and Hattori-kun was realy good at providing distractions. Ran had never thought that either Hattori-kun or Shinichi were of the type to cooperate with anyone, but they managed to work together remarkably.

And then it all went bad.

One of the regular officers got tired of the display and returned to his duties: guarding the crime scene. "Oy, kid. You're not supposed to be here." Ran was moving forward to claim Shinichi before he got into any trouble when the stupid detective decided to take personal offense to the perimeter breach.

The fool man stomped over to where Shinichi was crouched and grabbed him roughly by the collar before Shinichi had time to react. Ran was shocked by the abruptness of the movement. So was Shinichi, judging by his undignified squeak. Ran could only watch in fascinated horror as the man lifted Shinichi with one hand, bringing the boy up to eye level.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" The man was shouting not six inches from Shinichi's face and the boy winced at the volume.

"I was just…" The man shook Shinichi roughly, cutting off whatever excuse he was going to offer.

"Never mind! I don't care. I'm done with you annoying brats coming into my crime scene, figuring you can do my job better than I can. I don't want to hear anything out of you, or that other brat, so just get out and stay out!" With one final shake the idiot threw, actually threw the child across the police tape boundary, not really caring where or how the boy landed.

Ran's fascinated horror devolved into just plain horror. She watched – not quick enough help – as little Shinichi flew awkwardly through the air, an expression of pure shock on his face. Ran mentally braced herself for the collision, not wanting to think of what damage the unforgiving ground could cause to the small body if he happened to land the wrong way. She vaguely recognized the same disbelieving feeling mirrored on Hattori-kun's face.

Shinichi's shock dropped away and focused intent took its place. Moments before he hit the ground, he twisted in just such a way that he managed to roll instead of bounce or slide. It was amazing to watch. The first point of contact was his elbow which he used to shift his momentum from something down into something forward. He ducked his head and let his shoulder take the force of the landing, following through with his hip before coming up to his feet with a few quick steps.

Shinichi hmfed, dusted himself off, and casually examined the small scrape on his right elbow before remembering that he was supposed to be seven years old. Then his breath hitched in a way that had all parents and older siblings wincing in preparation for a fit. Ran was too relieved that Shinichi was alright to be impressed by either his gymnastics or his acting.

The relief was short lived when comprehension and hard, cold anger shoved it roughly out of the way. How dare he! Kudo Shinichi was the best detective Ran had ever met, and this fool just picked him up and tossed him from a crime scene! Shinichi's breath hitched again. At least right now, acting the part of Conan-kun's big sister would let her do exactly what she wanted to: chew out this looser cop.

She hurried over to the boy and scooped him up, hushing him before he dissolved into tears, much to the relief of the crowd. Then she gathered up all of her anger and focused it on one small target. Ran turned slowly, like evil things did in horror films. The detective flinched, and Ran filed the image away in the self satisfied folder of her brain. She advanced on him with quick, sharp, forceful steps, stopping inches from his face.

The man took a step backwards and Ran pressed her advantage. She had to look slightly up to glare properly at him, yet somehow the difference in height did not diminish her intimidation factor. Ran smiled and the officer swallowed. "I'm sorry," her voice was perfectly calculated to be polite, irritating, and frightening all at once. She could only hope her target had chills at the sound of it, and she rather thought he did. "I didn't catch your name."

The officer at least had enough sense to stammer out a reply "Yamada Rikouto"

"Well, Yamada-san, It seems there have been some unfortunate misunderstandings this afternoon. You seem to have mistaken my friend Kazuha-chan as a murderer, and an intelligent detective as a pest. Myself, I've mistaken you as a police detective. I'm very sorry for the confusion, it won't happen again." The man looked offended. Good for him.

"Not to worry, now that we understand the nature of our mistakes we can take steps to correct them. I will try to remember that behind your badge, you are an incompetent buffoon and incapable of the simplest of reasoning. You would do well to remember that Kazuha-chan is not guilty of anything, and Hattori Heiji is the son of the Osakan police chief, a respected detective in his own right, and more than capable of investigating circles around you." As Ran moved to turn away, Yamada-san's mouth opened as if to say something.

It could have been an apology, retaliation, or defence and it wouldn't have mattered because Ran didn't give him a chance to speak. "Oh. One more thing," Ran tossed the words over her shoulder. "If you so much as look at this boy the wrong way, I will see to it that you will spend the rest of your life writing parking tickets."

"Are you threatening me?" His voice was cold and dangerous.

Ran's laugh tinkled through the air. "Why yes I am. I'm surprised you noticed. You're more intelligent then I gave you credit for."

He fumed. "Now listen here. I won't stand for arrogant brats telling me what to do or little girls throwing about idle threats! I earned my position and I deserve to be treated with respect." His face was shadowed with anger and confusion. Ran looked at him, and kept looking at him as he slowly wilted under the weight of her gaze.

The man had no backbone, Ran realized. He was all frenzy and bluff, no substance at all. She stared him down, making it clear which of them was stronger. "I assure you Yamada-san, my threats are not idle. And as a piece of advice, you would do well to listen when Hattori-kun over there has something to say. Who knows? You may come out of this intact if you can manage to not screw it up anymore then you already have."


AN: First off, thanks to Hazelmoon for the names (Shun, Soichiro and Sumi. The other two oc's I named myself).

Secondly, what do you think? My very first murder, I'm so proud *sniff* I'll get into the solution next chapter. This one was running a little long, completely without my permission.