I'll probably do a good deal of these "partial cases" named after the original case just including scenes I think would be fun to write / stuff I majorly change~
xXx
"You know, you're really soft," Ran commented, pulling Shinichi to her chest and scrubbing between his ears. Shinichi cursed his traitorous body for purring at that, and tried not to think too hard about the all-out closeness while squirming a bit.
"I'm glad the Professor said you weren't hard to take care of, though," she laughed. "I wouldn't mind, but my dad might have less of a cow if I tell him all you need is an open window and some food every now and again. If you were the type that needed to be inside all the time… he might go crazy."
Shinichi tried to imagine an actual cat picking its way confusedly through the beer cans, and then tried to picture Kogoro being affectionate towards one. He couldn't.
"You do need a name, though, don't you?"
Shinichi rolled his eyes, fully prepared for Ran's "genius" name that would sound like something a five year old would name a toy.
"How about Conan?"
Ok, actually, that wasn't bad at all. Especially compared to the cutesy alternatives his mind was supplying. Still, where did she come up with that? She wasn't exactly the biggest Sherlock fan.
"You seemed awfully interested in that Sherlock Holmes book, but Sherlock is too obvious, and that sounds like something Shinichi would name his pet," she laughed, as though reading his mind. Shinichi bit back the indignant thought of I would not! and reconsidered that yes, he probably would. And then Ran turned a bit somber, mumbling, "I wonder where he went."
Shinichi guiltily purred in her arms.
Kogoro interrupted Ran's depressing mood by bursting out of the detective agency with the squawk of "I finally got a case!" and before either teen could process it, they were in the car and driving towards the case, Shinichi accidentally in tow.
xXx
Shinichi stared at Jumbo for what felt like an eternity at the dog currently straining against its leash, nose to the ground, seemingly searching for the girl that had been kidnapped.
Thank goodness the police didn't need his help to figure out what had been a fake kidnapping turned into a real one— now he only needed to figure out the whole chimney thing. Shinichi eyed the map being passed hand to hand ruefully. Ugh— he couldn't wait for the poison to wear off to participate in that world again. Until then, he should remain an outsider, staring on bitterly to catch drifting evidence.
As soon as Kogoro held it low enough, Shinichi grasped it with his mouth. He inwardly shuddered at the indignity of the action and taste of the paper as he darted up the nearby pine tree.
It only took a few moments to memorize the map, placing the schools in his mind and quickly picturing the chimneys in the surrounding area, narrowing it down as his mind whipped through school after school. Shinichi was momentarily grateful his mental capacity had not been reduced to that or a cat as well, bouncing over the pathetically shouting Kogoro at the base of the tree who paused in his jumping attempts to swipe the map back.
And then.
He landed right on the dog.
As he clung frozen to the beast's collar, an awful, awful idea came into bloom in Shinichi's mind. He dug into the collar with his claws, fumbling with the leash release using his teeth.
There was a satisfying click and the cat was tearing through the city atop a dog that was attempting to track Akiko's scent. Shinichi tugged at the collar to guide it, though it was very hard.
Soon enough, one realization that it may not have been a chimney but in fact a darkened skyscraper later, Shinichi had reached the criminal standing over Akiko with a knife.
He did not even think of his tiny body as he launched himself bodily at the criminal, catching him off guard enough for Jumbo to get a good hold on him.
Unfortunately, Shinichi was slammed into the hard wall and landed with a faint thud amongst the dusty sports equipment. A soccer ball stared huge and taunting at him, and he cursed his weak, tiny body.
The criminal interrupted his frustrations with a raise of a boot, clearly intended to crush his skull.
It got knocked aside as the man was tackled, and Ran quickly beat the pulp out of him. Shinichi slunk over to Akiko, quietly marvelling at Ran's strength all the while. He unsheathed his claws and carefully slit the bandages, allowing Akiko to free her mouth-
And after she did so, she gave the disgruntled cat a big, warm hug.
xXx
Shinichi may not have been able to be rewarded truly and fully for a case well solved but… Akiko's tearful thank you and childish hug had warmed his heart well enough.
Of course… he would never admit to being alright with being hugged as though he were a plushie.
