Eri found herself standing next to the female FBI agent while at the bank on a snowy day. Her eyes enlarged at the sight of the blond, she didn't think that today of all days would be the bank heist. "Ah, Jodie-san, nice to see you again."
"E-eri-san right?" Jodie Starling looked beside her, startled at being snapped out of her thoughts so suddenly.
"Yes, I'm glad you remember me, it's been a while since we met," The woman's smile was soft and somewhat comforting to the woman beside her.
Jodie smiled, finally calming down after the aftermaths of earlier. "Yea, what brings you here? I was informed that you lived quite a distance from here." She stepped closer to the woman as they struck up their small conversation.
Eri's somewhat gray-like eyes shone in the light. "I was running a few errands around, I figured I'd make a deposit before heading home." She made a few gestures with her hands.
"Is that so..." Jodie's voice trailed off as a gunshot cut through the air, emitting utter silence in the premises.
"Jodie-san, you wouldn't happen to be armed right?" She questioned the blond, before shaking her head as the woman cast a suspicious look. 'Perhaps I should keep to myself, there's no telling how much will change.'
Eri glared, first at the men who had taken everyone in the bank hostage and then at the impersonator that she spotted who happened to bump into her. Unknowingly, she made 'Akai' shiver. Eri tried her best to ignore him, but as Jodie fretted over the man and she felt cold eyes looking at her, she found it rather annoying. She shifted in position, trying to get comfortable but soon gave up. Her eyes flitted over the bodies of people, stare lasting longer on the 'Akai' that sat beside her now, seeing as how the blond managed to get away, claiming that she really needed to use the restroom.
Now as they were all tied up and taped so that they couldn't speak nor see what was going on, Eri found herself sitting back to back with the man who impersonated her friend. Catching his wrist, her fingertips glided against his skin as she searched for the corners of the tape to take off. At first, the man tried to withdraw his hand but soon caught on to what the woman was doing and proceeded in doing the same.
"All right, next we'll have everyone stand up. All of you are to make your way towards the sound of my voice!" She heard someone call.
Eri stood up, pulling the tape off her eyes and mouth before turning around to see the impersonator looking at her with suspicion. Turning around and shooting off their gun, disappearing into the crowd.
The woman sighed, tucking her hands into her coat pocket, leaving the area almost immediately. Trying her best to avoid being seen. She really didn't want the man figuring out who she was just yet.
...
"Ah that's right Eri-san was here." The blond woman said once she was outside with the kids. "But where did she go?" She looked around, eyes searching for the strawberry blond who seemed to disappear, seeming as if she was never really there to begin with.
Conan looked at her curiously. "She was?"
The FBI agent nodded. "I was speaking with her earlier, before the attempted heist. Though she seems to have disappeared." Jodie's eyes narrowed in thought. The woman might have been trusted in the eyes of Akai Shuichi but she was just too suspicious.
Conan narrowed his eyes in thought. 'Why did she leave so suddenly?'
...
"So why did you take so long?"
Eri looked at the man, "I'm sure you'll see it on the news later but, I was being held hostage at the bank with a few others. One of which includes your FBI friend, Jodie." She began to shed her warm jacket on the armrest of the couch her neighbor sat in.
Subaru looked at the woman curiously. "Is that so..." Eyes turning back to the book he had in hand.
"Hmm, you also have a small issue." She caught the man's attention. His gaze finally leaving the book and giving his utmost attention. "There's an impersonator of you walking around. You might want to take care that your friend doesn't get too caught up with it." She told him. Her hands on her hips, a smirk playing on her lips.
Akai smirked. "Of course."
...
"Sorry professor looks like I can't do much. It's cold and I'm afraid I don't have the right equipment." Eri told the old man as she wiped the grease off with a handkerchief. She shut the hood of the old car, sighing as she realized that she couldn't fix it, especially not when the professor didn't even carry many tools.
The old man apologized for dragging to woman all the way out there and then getting her stuck. "Don't worry about it, I volunteered to accompany you. I needed some more inspiration."
Haibara stuck close to the older woman as some guys came to pick the car up. "You wouldn't happen to have any money on you?"
Eri shook her head, pulling her arms closer to herself a bit sheepishly. "I got up in a bit of a hurry, I don't even think I brought my phone." She checked her person to see that she only carried a notebook, pen and a small gun she always seemed to carry.
They all sighed as they called Conan, hoping that the detective he was residing with would be able to pick them up. 'I wish I remembered what this case was about...' Eri tilted her head in frustration. 'I read this chapter rather quickly.'
"Sorry about that... for being a girl with Narrow eyes..." Haibara said as she took the phone from the professor.
Eri chuckled, continuing to listen to the girl's conversation with the shrunken detective. For a while, the woman was silent, though she saw the few glances Haibara threw at her as she said her suspicions of Subaru Okiya out loud. 'If only you knew Haibara.'
"We can give you a ride if you need one!" A woman pulled up as she honked her horn. "You don't have any money on you right?" She asked.
The professor was the first to respond followed by Eri who glanced unsurely at Haibara and ushered her forward.
The fit was tight but Eri ended up putting the parcel that took up the majority of the space on her lap. The woman drowning out the conversation as she tried to think of what case was going on. 'They are detectives but for which case...' Eri kept glancing up ahead before she heard Haibara. "Grandpa Now's a good chance for us to get some sleep. "
Eri looked at the pair rather confused. 'Why are they sleepy?' She saw the pair whispering before closing their eyes in what looked like a slumber. Eri decided against sleeping and instead stared out the window before the man's voice shook her from her thoughts.
"What's up with that? The stuff in the car multiplied while I slept." The man shot a glance backward, taking note that the woman seemed to drift away in her own thoughts as the child and old man looked to be asleep.
"I picked them up along the way. They seem to know detective Mouri." The woman driving responded.
"That so, How convenient, Looks like we'll be saved the trouble of looking for the house."
Eri spoke up. "In that case, are you close to the private detective?"
The man looked back at the woman, narrowing his eyes in thought before nodding. "Somewhat... I assume you know them fairly well right?"
Eri nodded. "I guess you can say that. I've known the family for quite some time now. As well as the new addition that came recently."
The man looked forward. "Then what do you think of that kid.."
"What kid?" the woman beside him questioned.
"The one who sticks to Mouri Kogorou. The little youngster called Edogawa Conan."
"He's a smart kid," Eri said, rather unsure of what else to say her mind still trying to come up with an answer as to what the case would be.
"I think for a kid, he has a pretty sharp mind..." the other woman said as if still thinking on the matter.
"The way I see it, that youngster is the one leading everything. A terrible phantom..." The man began, continuing his talk with the woman driving. Finally, Eri remembered what case it was smiling at the thought of what was to come.
...
Eri chuckled as Haibara and the professor rushed off, seemingly to forgotten their companion. The woman turned to look at her. "What's so funny?"
The strawberry blond only laughed louder. "Sorry... It's just that those two think you guys are murders and are now targeting the Mouri detective agency."
The man looked at her in question. "And you don't?"
Eri shook her head. "No. You guys are detectives right?"
The two people nodded, slightly surprised that the woman was able to figure that out.
"Well since they ran off and left me behind for some would be killers, why don't we play around with them for a bit?" Eri said.
...
Eri couldn't help but laugh, as she spotted Haibara's and the professor's faces of surprise when they learned the truth.
Conan looked up at the woman with a glare. "If you knew then why didn't you tell them anything?"
Eri shrugged her shoulders, sending the old man and little girl a look. "I needed the entertainment, besides they left me behind. What if they really were killers?" Haibara and the professor looked down guiltily. "But don't worry, I would have handled myself rather fine."She assured them.
As they all headed back to the car, the man walking beside Eri spoke. "If we were killers you would have gotten the better of us with that gun you have concealed." He spoke lowly.
Eri looked at him, slightly surprised that he noticed. "Perhaps..."
...
Eri stood in the back, watching the band of detectives interact with the newly found case. The mystery of the blood-soaked 'red wall.'
'Huh, so it's time for this case.' She looked at the two detectives. 'Should I stay for it?' Though as the conversation continued Eri thought again. 'Better not, besides I do have other stuff to do for today.'
"Ne Eri-san?" Conan called out to the girl as she was bidding goodbye to Ran and her father who gushed about how much she had grown over the years.
"Yes?"
He gestured for her to lean forward. "Were you the one that shot the gun at the bank?"
Eri shook her head. "No, but the one who was... well its best if you watch out for him."
"Oi Eri-san," Detective Mouri called out to the young girl. "Why don't you come along, you can get more inspiration for your upcoming book." Ran urged as well.
Eri chuckled nervously. "As much as I wished I could, I really can't. I have a small event to attend to." Eri glanced at the time," If I don't hurry now, I'll be late and my date wouldn't be too happy about that." She admitted.
Ran gushed trying to pry about the woman's date. "It's Subaru-san. He was free tonight so I asked him to accompany me." She spoke casually before leaving. "Well then, I'll be taking my leave. I wish you the best of luck in the case."
...
Eri was slowly getting ready, looking out her window every so often to get a good glimpse of the sky. A knocking sound broke her out of her thoughts as she put the finishing touches. "Eri-san."
The woman turned to get a good look at the man that would accompany her to her dinner, her smile, however, turned into a frown as she saw his clothes. "Busy tonight?" She dreaded hearing his answer.
Subaru nodded, frowning as well. "Something came up, I'm afraid that I won't be able to escort you."
She sighed, getting up to pat him on the back. "That's alright, duty before anything else right?"
The man nodded, truly sorry for abandoning the woman. Especially not when she was dressed so beautifully.
"Well, it can't be that bad if I go alone." She tried her best to smile despite her disappointment. Something that the man noticed.
How untrue that became. The dinner was filled with slightly older men, her only highlight being that she met with Yusaku Kudo and his wife, Yukiko.
"Oh, Eri-san, How lovely it is seeing you here." Yukiko-san was the first to approach, saving the woman from several men that asked for a dance and held unpleasant conversations with the girl.
Eri breathed in appreciation. "Excuse me, gentlemen, I'd like to talk to my friend right now." The gray-eyed beauty turned and walked off with her friend, both joining Yukiko's husband at their table. "Vivan," Eri slipped into her English tongue. "Thank you so much, such a pleasure it is seeing you." She turned to Booker. "And it's nice to see you again."
Booker/Yusaku Kudo smiled at the young author. "It's nice to see you as well, Eri. Though we did live next to each other for a few years, I never did get the pleasure of speaking with you properly." He said, grabbing the girl's hand to shake it.
Eri smiled at the comment. She took a seat, conversing with both the author and ex-actress. Most people passed and view them as an odd sight. Mostly because many didn't realize that the strawberry blond sitting with the older pair was the famous author that went by Ballantine.
"Well, this has been a lovely night but I'm afraid that we should be leaving," Yukiko said as she interrupted her husband and the girl.
Eri looked at the time, "Ah you're right. I guess I should be leaving as well." She stood up along with the pair. "Mind if I walk out with you as well." She pointed her thumb behind her. "I really rather not get caught up with the crowd. They get rather crazy. Especially since they aren't aware of who I am."
The pair laughed, nodding happily as they exited the place.
"Thank you so much for spending the evening with me, next time I'll be sure to bring my date with me to not become a bother for you both." The woman bashfully stated, entering her car.
Vivian stopped her friend. "Oh, do you mean 'him.' How are things between the two of you?"
Eri looked up at the woman. "Fine. He's a rather nice neighbor, I find that I enjoy his company."
"Ara, well I'll be sure to visit very soon next time."
Eri started up her car. "I'll be waiting."
...
She was getting drowsy, barely making it into her home before passing out entirely on the floor. Her vision blurred and her breathing turned heavy, she choked on air before finally falling into an abyss or torment.
