Characters: Aoyama Gosho

I find it ironic how, aside from the stories with a variety of one-shots, I believe a story with short, multiple chapters unattractive. -sigh-

To Keep A Secret-Pt 3

"That ahou! Why won't he answer his phone?!" Kazuha yelled once outside of the restaurant. "I'm sorry, Conan-kun. Ran-chan didn't take her phone, did she?" With a sad smile, Conan shook his head. "Really! Well," Kazuha put her phone back in her purse, "if Heiji isn't answering his phone and Ran-chan doesn't have hers, I guess we're on our own today. Sorry."

"Don't worry, Kazuha-neechan!" Conan exclaimed, happily, "Besides, if we don't find them, I'm sure we can talk about something exciting." There had to have been something else to that man than just a rose. But what…?

"Say, Conan-kun, do you have anyone you find special. Like, I don't know, a girl?" Feeling the uncanny resemblance in the start of Kazuha's conversation, Conan decided to approach her question differently.

"No," he said walking away from her casually, "do you have a special girl, Kazuha-neechan?" He looked over his shoulder with an almost too childish grin.

"Conan-kun!" Kazuha walked over to him, face red due to his 'misconception' "That's a rude thing to say!" She took hold of his hand, muttering, "This kid…(his grin grew larger)…But, really, Conan-kun." Her voice changed to a more soothing tone.

Again, Conan shook his head, his grin getting slightly smaller. He looked up at Kazuha to see her staring ahead, eyes distant At that point, Conan forgot about teasing Kazuha. It didn't seem to be making her cheer up anymore, and, Besides, teasing Toyama-chan is the job of Hattori.. "Are you alright, Kazuha-neechan?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Kazuha answered. They continued to walk in silence.

"Actually…" Kazuha spoke up. "It's not that the person is particularly 'special,' it's just that…" worry was in her eyes, "Why did you come to Osaka?" she looked down at Conan seriously.

"Oh, heh," he laughed nervously. "Just to visit you and Heiji-niichan!" He grinned although he sweated tensely.

"Oh, okay…" Kazuha looked back up at the sidewalk ahead. "It seems that every time there's a Kaitou KID threat, you end up in the spotlight. Why is that, Conan-kun?" she looked down at him again, this time with concern in her eyes.

"Uh…" he searched for the words, "he…it's a coincidence!" he laughed again, rubbing the back of his head.

"I see…" she accepted with a cocked eyebrow. They continued walking down the street, reaching a more homely area. "Come, you must be tired of walking all this time, aren't you?" Kazuha smiled sweetly, opening the gate to her home.

"Thank you, Kazuha-neechan!" Conan said entering the house after her. He left his shoes at the door and looked around, absorbing every detail. Over on a bookshelf in the living room, he noticed a picture. Wow, this lady's beautiful! He thought as he tried to reach up to get it. Oh, yeah. I'm seven years old. He thought as he stood on his tip-toes, reaching up desperately to get the picture.

"That, Conan-kun," Kazuha said, behind him, getting the photo down easily from the shelf, "is my Okaa-san."

Conan blinked. Kazuha kneeled down beside him, showing him the picture, love clear in her eyes. Okaa-san?

The picture showed of a lady, waist up, in front of a tree in what Conan assumed was the park. She had intense forest-green eyes and somewhat messy dark-brown hair. Aside from her bangs, a head band made of ribbon wrapped around her head. She stood, hands behind her back shyly as a floral dress covered her.

"See that?" Kazuha asked Conan as she pointed to the woman's stomach.

Conan's eyes widened. "This was taken before you were born, Kazuha-neechan?"

"That's right!" she said proudly, getting up and placing the picture back upon the shelf. "My Otou-san told me she wore a ribbon as a headband all the time! That's why I wear this." She tugged on the ribbon that wrapped around her hair. She smiled sadly, "I just wish I could have met her…"

Conan looked down, sorry of what he had brought it up. Kazuha-neechan…He lifted up his head, trying to change the subject. "What made you ask about Kaitou KID, Kazuha-neechan?"

Kazuha looked down at Conan. "That's right!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "I want to confide in you, if you don't mind."

Conan's face got red, remembering of what she had told him earlier that day. "W-well…"

"I can't tell Ran-chan, I don't want to tell Heiji, and I know you're smart enough to give me advice. Please, Conan-kun?" She looked at him with pleading eyes.

Conan looked up at Kazuha, unsure of what to do. Now he really was regretting what he had brought up. He looked down sheepishly, "Well…" he repeated.

"Or," Kazuha straightened herself up.

"Or…?" Conan looked up at her, feeling uneasy.

"Maybe I can ask Kudo-kun. He's sure to help me! Do you know his number, Conan-kun?"

For the third time in the past five minutes, Conan laughed uncomfortably. What can I tell her? I don't want to keep anymore secrets… Giving up, he sighed. "Actually…"

"Well, it started like this…" Kazuha began her tale as Conan listened intently.

OOH! Flashback!

"Heiji!" Kazuha cried out. "I don't think Ran-chan and Conan-kun came to Osaka just to see that stupid thief!" The four of them were inside a museum just outside of Osaka. It was getting dark and closer to the time of Kaitou KID's arrival.

"Is that true, kid?" Heiji asked, looking down at Conan.

"Ran-neechan, can I just see what Heiji-niichan is going to do? I won't get into trouble this time, I promise!" Conan asked, tugging at Ran's hand. Ran smiled a little. Before she could speak, however, Kazuha interrupted.

"No! If you can go with Conan-kun, you can go with me and Ran-chan! Or you won't go at all!"

"But…" Heiji said, considering her ultimatum. Her eyes burned with a passion that could never possibly be described as Ran and Conan backed away from her slowly. "Fine!" Heiji pouted. "But stay out of the way, Kazuha!"

"It's fine, right Ran-chan!" she said, merrily causing Heiji to wish he had never caved into her taunt.

"Now, let's go Ku…Kun, Conan-kun!" Heiji said, grabbing Conan by the wrist, running towards the hallway.

"They're always running off!" sighed Kazuha. "But it's okay, right Ran? We'll run off, too!"

Ran smiled with a nod as Kazuha took her by the wrist.

Later

"Ran-chan!…Ran-chan!" Kazuha yelled. She had gone to the restroom with Ran but got with all the commotion the officers had made. Kazuha grumbled, "I lost her…"

Just then, a shadow ran across the pitch-black hallway. Straining her eyes in an attempt to see what it was, Kazuha backed away from the middle of the hallway and leaned against the wall. "R-Ran-chan…?" she muttered.

"Shh…" She heard someone whisper in an attempt to calm her. The voice was deeper and definitely did not belong to Ran. "R-Ran-chan…?" she mumbled again, pushing harder against the wall.

Suddenly, Kazuha felt something brush against her leg. She opened her mouth to scream, only for it to be shut by someone's hand. With tears in her eyes, she thought this was the end.

"Wh-who are you…?" She spoke against the push of the figure's hold on her. Squinting her eyes more, she could see the glare of its eyes. Looking closer, she saw it smirk.

I think I'm gonna hold out on the rest because I still don't know what you think. I can't read your mind, Silly! With love, Dire Moonstone