Note: Confession time: I have wanted to spice up things a bit before actually delivering the main issue to the story. I don't know, it seems that it could use a bit of spicing up. I'm not skilled in writing a mystery, I confess. And this chapter and the next, and I think the other two that will follow will be based on one of the oldest episodes of Detective Conan. I apologize before hand.

Thank you for reading!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan, sadly. :(

Chapter 7

"Wow! It's such a beautiful view!"

"Honto! It re ally is!"

Mouri Ran and Nakamori Aoko stood at the edge of the railed deck on the huge cruise ship that was owned by the Suzuki family, watching the sun setting beyond the horizon, making a carpet of orange against the blue waters, sparkling it.

"Ah! Ran-chan, thank you for inviting us!" Aoko exclaimed, smiling brightly. "It would have been boring those two weeks alone in the house, you know."

"Hmm. I know what you mean." Ran smiled, remembering her own boring days, lonely.

"Demo, I'm surprised your dad allowed you to come so easily, Ran!" Suzuki Sonoko said, stretching as she came up to the two girls. "I thought he would object."

"Well, he said it was okay. And he did have a few cases to finish with Megure-keibu and that's why he didn't come. But he said that it would be okay if I brought Conan-kun with me."

The three girls looked towards where Conan was standing, talking with Kuroba Kaito, as Agasa Hiroshi and Haibara Ai sat on the folded chairs of the deck, looking up at the sky—though it seemed that Agasa-hakase was sleeping soundly.

"I wonder when did those two get so friendly." Aoko wondered, eyeing Kaito grinning cheekily down at the small boy, while the youngster snapped something back.

Ran smiled, shaking her head. "No clue!"

"Ah! Sonoko-chan! There you are!" Suzuki Jirokichi's voice could be heard, walking up from the lower level of the ship. Lupin, his faithful dog, followed him obediently.

"Ojisama!"

"Just wanted to tell you to make your father's guests as comfortable as possible around. You know, Hatamoto-san could be very...aggressive."

"Sure, ojisama! You don't have to tell me!" Sonoko waved her hands off.

"Hatamoto?" Aoko tilted her head. "Isn't that the financial industry that has been rising lately into the economical world?"

"Hai." Sonoko smiled, tilting her head towards the young couple that was standing not too far away from where the three girls are standing.

"See those two? They are going to Koyakejima Island to get married tomorrow. 'Tousan was very generous and said that he would give them a ride there since we are already heading there. He even planned for the whole Hatamoto family to ride with us."

"Ah. So we aren't the only guests around here?" Ran sighed.

"Unfortunately, no." Sonoko sighed. "Demo, Natsue-san," she indicated to the female of the couple. "...is very nice. She's nothing like her sister."

Sonoko made a face.

"Your father must have been very drunk when he offered them the ride." Jirokichi mumbled, shaking his head. "By the way, Sonoko-chan, where's your other female friend?"

"Eh?" Sonoko blinked.

"AWESOME!"

Everyone's head snapped up at the highest, upper deck watching as Kudo Aya spread her arms at either side of her, allowing the breeze to slap her face and twirl her hair.

"I can see everything from here!" she exclaimed, excitedly. "Ne, Ran-chan, don't you think it's just that movie—the Titanic? I can be Rose, right?"

Ran laughed, shaking her head. "And Jesse-kun could be Jack?"

"I sure hope so!"

"Jesse-kun?" Sonoko asked, raising an eyebrow. Aoko looked just as confused.

"Her boyfriend."

"Let's just hope it won't sink with us above." Shinichi mumbled, making Kaito chuckle.

"Or worse. Sharks would be around."

"Hmm..." Shinichi smirked. "Aren't sharks a type of fish?"

Kaito's face paled. "Damn you, Kudo! Should you really remind me?"

Shinichi laughed.

"Ano..."

Everyone looked over as a tall, skinny old man with wrinkles and a gray moustache came to view. "Dinner will be served shortly. Please get down to the dining hall."

And with that, he disappeared.

"Who was that?"

"Hatamoto-san's servant, Sagami Yuusou." Sonoko shivered. "He's a good man, really—but he sneaks behind you like a cat. Anyway, let's go! I'll introduce you to the rest downstairs."

She looked over to Aya, who was still standing at the deck, looking out into the ocean dreamily.

"Aya-chan, come on!"

Aya didn't answer her. She seemed to be in a trance of some kind, looking out into the sun set like she had never seen anything like it before.

"Aya-chan?"

"Aya-neechan! Come on down!" Conan called out, childishly.

Aya's head snapped up, looking down at the guys before blinking twice, smiling.

"Hai!"

-.-

"Do you think I should offer Western food or Chinese in the ceremony tomorrow, Natsue-chan?"

The tall, board man looked at the couple with gentle dark eyes, his black hair gelled back, his black moustache trimmed neatly.

The young 22 year old bride-to-be blushed lightly, her black hair swaying from side to side as she shook her head.

"Oh, Jouji-ojisama. You know that jiisama doesn't like Western food." She laughed lightly.

"I think Chinese would be good." Her groom, a young dashing man at the age of 24, smiled sheepishly, his arm linked with that of his bride-to-be.

"Tck! It seems like 'tousan would still consider me an amateur!"

The trio laughed lightly before a sharp voice cut in.

"Sons will be sons. How long do you plan to continuing wasting time drawing?"

The three looked up, seeing a kimono clad old man with hanging white moustache glaring at a young man of 21, who was sitting on a table at the dining room, drawing in a huge sketch book.

Another old man, wearing an orange suit, had his bald head bowed down as the older man looked at him with cold eyes.

"As his father, give him some advice! Hurry up and give up on his dreams that he had no chance of fulfilling!"

"Hai!" the bald man replied, hesitantly.

The old man turned, looking at the groom. "Hey, Takashi-kun!"

The groom looked up; the flower pinned on his suit swayed with the sudden movement of his body. "Hai?"

"I need to talk to you. Come to my room before dinner."

And with that, the old man turned around and exited the place.

Aya folded her hand on her waist, blowing a strand of hair away from her face. "Tck! That man sure has an attitude."

"That was Hatamoto Gozou-san, the headmaster of the family and the bride's grandfather. The orange suit man is his daughter's husband, Hatamoto Kitarou-san. The guy whose drawing is Kitarou-san's only son, Hatamoto Ichirou-san." Sonoko explained, dryly.

"Ah." Ran and Aoko breathed, awed.

"Have patience for the time being, dear," another voice, this time a woman, dropped into the conversation, standing beside Kitarou.

"Mariko..." the latter whispered.

"Father will only be around for a little bit longer. He won't last long. When that happens, and because there's no eldest son, almost all of the inheritance of the Hatamoto group will go to you!"

Materialistic family, too? Shinichi thought, sarcastically, eyebrow twitching.

"It doesn't look like it will, Mariko-obasama."

Mariko turned around, seeing a couple standing there, looking at her with cold amusement.

"What does that supposed to mean?" Mariko demanded, walking up to the black dress clad woman. "Akie-san, you know something, don't you?"

The brown haired woman smirked, looking away. "Don't be shocked when I tell you."

And she leaned in to whisper to her aunt's ear.

"Ne, Sonoko-chan, who are those two?" Aoko whispered to Sonoko, meanwhile.

"That's Natsue-san's older sister, Hatamoto Akie-san. And her husband, Hatamoto Tatsuo-san."

"They sure look like they are a very tight-knit family," Kaito remarked, placing his hands inside his pockets.

"Empathise on very." Haibara commented sarcastically.

Shinichi and Aya caught each other's eye before chuckling together.

Mariko-san's expression controlled with shock as Akie-san stopped whispered. "That's absurd! Can it be?"

Akie-san looked to the side indifferently. "Once jiisama lands on that island, it looks like he's going to make an announcement for it."

"Huh! You must be kidding me!" Tatsuo snorted. "We're up to our necks in debt."

"It's only 24 hours before we reach that island, obasama," Akie hinted, eyes narrowed. "We better do something before that."

-.-

Night has fallen over the sun set that was once viewed through the ship. Thousands of twinkling stars blinked crazily in the dark, midnight carpet as the crescent moon was almost invisible because it was too thin.

Hatamoto Takashi walked down the corridor to the family's head bedroom, stopping before the door and knocking.

"It's Takashi."

"Come in." the reply came.

The groom-to-be opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind him. Hatamoto Gonzo was sitting on a single sofa, arms crossed against his chest.

"Excuse me." Takashi bowed.

"Your speech at the reversal reception today was flawless." The old man started, eyes closed. "Natsue did a good job in picking a man."

Takashi's cheeks colored, his finger scratched his cheek as he replied shyly, "Thank you."

Gozou's eyes opened. "Scratching your cheek when you're embarrassed is just like him..."

Takashi looked at him, startled.

"It reminds me of your father, Zaiki Isao."

Shocked crossed Takashi's face as he stumbled a few steps away from the old man.

"No matter how hard you try to cover up your past, you can't fool me." Gozou informed him. "In order to avenge your father's death, you entered my company and will marry Natsue. I know it all."

Takashi's hands shook, but he kept quiet, not uttering a single word as he stared at the floor, eyes shaking as well.

"What are you after? Are you after money? Or maybe it's my life?"

Beyond the door of the room, a figure gracing the shadow pressed its ear closer to the wall, its interest in the conversation that was going on inside the room flaming like never before.

Inside, Gozou's voice could be heard ringing. "What's wrong? Why are you silent? Answer me."

-.-

"Ah!" Aya stretched her limbs, before allowing her arms to rest against the cold surface of the rounded table where she and the gang—plus Natsue-san—were sitting at.

"I'm bored." She whined.

Ran smiled. "Ne, how about we go stargazing after dinner, Aya-chan? I know you like doing that."

Aya's eyes shined. "Really, Ran-chan? You'd do that for me?"

"Sure." Ran laughed.

"Stargazing?" Natsue asked, tilting her head.

"Yup. It's the most relaxing thing you could ever do!" Aya enthused. "It's pretty fun too while you're trying to connect the stars and make funny shapes and all. Jesse and I do it all the time—when we find time, that is."

Shinichi laughed under his breath.

Aoko smiled. "Why didn't Jesse-san come with you?"

"He seems to be an interesting person," Haibara commented.

Aya smiled, cheeks flushing. "Uh, well, he was...busy."

She didn't elaborate more than that.

"That's so cool!" Natsue exclaimed, happily. "What is kind of a person is he like, Aya-san?"

"Now that's a question I would love an answer to." Sonoko grinned leeringly at Aya.

Aya blushed more. "Um. Well, he's really smart and brave. He's an ace in basketball and you can rely on him anytime, even if he could be such a pain in your throat at times."

The girls laughed at the last line.

Shinichi and Kaito sighed, shaking their heads. Girl will always be complex, no matter how much you try to understand them, they decided.

"Anyway, Kudo," Kaito leaned in to whisper to the kid. "Have you contacted Hattori?"

"Ah. He said that he'll be there after we arrive in a day. He couldn't get any ship sooner." Shinichi answered back.

"And I thought that Haibara-san didn't want to have anything to do with this," Kaito said, giving him a haunted look.

Shinichi laughed at Kaito's face. "She said she's coming because of the vacation. And not because she wants to catch them."

"I see..."

"Ne, Takashi-san is sure late." Aoko suddenly remarked, looking around.

"You're right. He hasn't returned since he went to see grandfather." Natsue said, looking towards the doorway.

"They are probably talking about something shady, anyway," Akie said, making sure Natsue could hear her.

"O-Oneesama." Natsue exclaimed.

Slowly, one by one, each of the other family members entered, Mariko and Kitarou taking a seat on one table. Akie's husband, Tatsuo, came in and sat on the table that his wife was already sitting at.

She looked up at him, smiling uncomfortably. "You're late."

He smirked. "My bad."

Hatamoto Jouji was about to sit down when he paused, looking around. "'Tousan still hadn't shown up?"

"Yes. But I think he'll be here any minute now." Sagami Yuusou explained.

"You're late, Ichiro-san. Did you make sure to wash your hands?" Mariko addressed her son as he sat down on the table with them.

"Hai." He said softly.

"Mou, Sonoko-chan, I really wanted to see that Kyougoku-san of yours!" Aya meanwhile was whining as Sonoko explained that Makato had to go back to America after that week he spent with her.

"Gomen." Sonoko smiled sheepishly.

"Ne, it doesn't matter, I guess," Aya sighed, folding her arms. "I'll make sure I see him next time."

"Are you staying here for the whole winter, Aya-chan?" Aoko smiled, looking at her.

"Honto?" Ran exclaimed, smiling hugely. "Please say you do! I don't think I've seen enough of you yet."

Aya laughed. "We'll see about that."

Shinichi sighed, shaking his head.

"Unless, Conan-kun wants me gone, ne?" Aya winked at him.

His cheeks flamed. "Not at all, Aya-neechan."

Kaito laughed.

"Ano, why are you laughing, Kaito?" Aoko asked, raising an eyebrow at her childhood friend.

"No reason." He grinned.

Aoko's eyes narrowed, before she looked away. "Humph. Be that way if you want to be."

"Oh, come on Aoko. It really was nothing." Kaito sighed, shaking his head.

"Whatever."

-.-

Sagami Yuusou knocked on the door of his headmaster, informing him that dinner was ready. The silence that greeted him was cold and indifferent. Yuusou frowned, looking down at his pocket to get his extra key before he noticed a single flower laying there on the ground before the door.

He knelt down, picked it up and placed it inside his pocket, before reaching for the key door again.

He slid the key into its slot and slowly turned the knob of the door and opened it wide.

-.-

"Takashi-san, you're so late," Natsue said, standing up from her seat and approaching the young man.

He looked up and Aya raised an eyebrow at the sudden shift that his teal eyes took. Hmmm, interesting...

"Sorry. I had some things to think about in my room."

"Are you okay? You look pale."

Doesn't he? Aya thought again, frowning lightly internally.

Natsue suddenly remarked. "Huh? Where's your flower?"

He blinked, looking down at the place the flower she pinned on him should be in. "That's strange! Where could have I lost it?"

Abruptly, a scream echoed around the ship, thunderously shaking every cell in each and every human body on board.

"What was that scream?" Suzuki Jirokichi demanded, standing up.

Everyone else did as Aya sighed.

"Guess we aren't doing any stargazing tonight..." she mumbled to herself.