(Detective Conan disclaimed)

Since everyone wanted to know about Ouzo, I thought I would start with that. -grin- This chapter is lacking in Kaito and Shinichi plot but excelling in THE BIG PICTURE plot.

And remember: BOLD is English. (or another language not Japanese, but if it's not English it will most likely be written in that language anyway, so yeah...)


Korn sneered. Ever since he had met with the girl he hadn't had a moments peace. For being a veteran agent, she was awkwardly mediocre in the way she acted on an assignment. She held out her hand and spread her fingers to better look at the nails.

"What do you think, Korn? Does the Metallic Clover really match the green in my scarf?" He continued to ignore her, but just as she had for the past hour, she continued chatting regardless. She didn't even have a gun, so he had no idea how she was supposed to help him. "Hmm…I guess it'll be fine until we get back to the warehouse.

"Speaking of which," she began in a louder volume. "I wish Anokata would get someone to clean up that place. The damp air and mildew does absolutely nothing for my hair." She tangled one of her auburn curls around her finger in disgust. "It gets unbearable frizzy and I feel like I have to wash it every ten minutes. That's what I hate about this job the most, you know. The grime."

Her words fell on deaf ears as Korn continued to observe the patio through his scope.

"It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta keep the population down. Reminds me of the old days back in Wales…" She sighed nostalgically, green eyes twinkling. "Have you ever be-"

"He's here," Korn cut her off.

"Ooh! Really? Well, it's about time!" She quickly threw open the door to the van and hopped out, ignoring his protests. Kicking of her boots and pulling off her scarf, she quickly unzipped her pale blue coveralls and stepped out of them to reveal a dark forest green, knee-length, cocktail dress.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he hissed. She winked and smiled at him as she threw the coveralls back into the van and slipped on a pair of stilettos. Grabbing a high-end, designer jacket, she slipped the black suede sleeves over her arms.

"Haven't you ever heard the phrase, 'looks can kill'?" With that, she slid the door shut with a click and sauntered toward the front door of the house, disappearing into the mass of party-goers.

Korn clicked his tongue disapprovingly, but continued on with the task. Following the wealthy businessman with his scope, he tightened his grip on the trigger, waiting for a perfect, clear opening for a clean shot to the skull. It was rather difficult with consideration to the crowd and the decorations scattered across the room. The dark-haired man was staring at two women across the way, smiling suggestively for a moment before continuing on with the party.

"I'm in…" he heard through the com in his ear.

"Hn…" he muttered in reply, not bothering with the woman. If she was going to just crash the party, he would complete the mission himself. A little more to the left and…

"Damn it, Ouzo…" he cursed as a mop of curly red hair blocked his shot. She gently strutted past the target, bumping into his side. He stared as she continued on her way before turning back to another guest, rubbing idly at his hip.

"It's done."

"What's done?" he asked, waiting for another chance to pull the trigger.

"I'm headed out."

He didn't reply. Minutes passed and Korn had yet to come across another opportunity. The van door clicked and slid open. He spared he a glance before continuing.

"Oh, put the gun away. I told you it was done, didn't I?"

"I don't see a dead man."

She smiled. "You will."

And so, hours passed, Korn growing more agitated with the situation. The man was very good at hiding behind things. He was escorting the last of the guests out as the cleaning crew started on the patio. He directed them some, but mainly finished up the appetizers and wine. As the crew left, he looked around for a moment in his drunken haze before freezing.

"What the-" Korn stared, astonished as the man clawed at his throat, grasping at a tablecloth and gagging. Fluid was dripping from his lips and his face was turning crimson from the lack of air. He collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony by himself. His movements slowed rapidly before finally coming to a complete halt as he lay there, eyes wide and face paling.

Korn turned to stare at the girl who sat filing her nails in the corner, coveralls, boots, and scarf having returned to their original state. Without even looking up at him, she asked calmly, "He dead yet?"

"…cyanide?"

She nodded, giving her nails a once over before continuing.

He was astonished. How had distributed the poison to him and him alone? Cyanide had an instantaneous effect. If she had put it in the refreshments, there was no way of knowing that he was the one who would be affected. But if she had given it to him directly, it would have happened hours ago.

"You're wondering, I suppose," she continued. He didn't respond but she looked up and answered his questions anyway. "It's a secret."


"…I'm sorry…"

Chianti looked up from her rifle to stare at the man next to her. "What?"

"I'm sorry…about Riesling…"

She huffed, returning to the assembly of her gun. "You shouldn't talk about the things that have nothing to do with you."

Calvados stared at her for a long moment with lazy eyes before flipping open his own shotgun case, flipping his black ponytail off his shoulder.

Silence pervaded for a long time after that before they got the call that their objective had just entered the meeting place. Calvados hid a few pieces in his clothing before stepping out of the GT and entering the warehouse. Chianti herself entered through the back before climbing up to position herself in the rafters. The American dealer would most likely have his men check the top floor for associates before continuing on with the deal.

It didn't take long before the lights in the windows signaled that numerous vehicles had arrived just outside. The sound of doors opening and shutting could be heard before the men appeared in the doorway. The man in the middle had the cleanest, most expensive shoes, and seemed to be the one to do the talking.

"So where is it?" he asked.

Calvados slowly pulled a small back film canister from his jacket pocket before returning it to the same position.

"And the money?" Calvados asked in return. Two men stepped forward, opening the briefcases to show the leaflets inside. "Is it real?"

The dealer stepped forward to slip a one-hundred dollar bill from it's spot. "I thought you'd ask that," he said, flipping open a lighter and setting it to the bill. Calvados watched closely as the fibers turned red.

"Alright. Set them on the table over there,' he nodded his head toward a table to his right. The men did as instructed.

"Now gimme what I want…" Calvados smiled, reaching for the film again, tossing it towards him.

The canister clattered to the ground, the dealer grunting and collapsing as blood poured onto the floor beneath him. The men panicked, pulling out their guns and looking around for the source. Many more were taken out with a small caliber gun before everything stopped. Calvados had ducked behind the table, pulling the money with him, but gasped as a rope was thrown up towards the ceiling and tugged back down.

Chianti lost her grip as she was tugged down by her ankle. She grabbed the railing of the second floor on the way down, slowing her fall. But that didn't stop the pain as she met with concrete, feeling numerous bones cracking. She struggled to sit, glaring at the woman who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Y'all should know better than to mess with Texas by now," she chuckled, wrapping the rope around her wrist and flipping her blonde hair behind her. They had shot the wrong person. She wagged her finger at a nearby henchman who quickly bounded over to her with a Smith & Wesson .460 XVR magnum revolver. The gun was huge in comparison to her tiny hand, but Chianti supposed that the men were scared of this girl for good reason. And that didn't include her blue jeans and brown boots.

Calvados was led from his hiding spot at gunpoint while the money and the film was confiscated. Once the film was safe in her left hand, she smiled down the barrel as it was pointed directly between Chianti's eyes. She couldn't help but notice the butterfly engraving on the side of the barrel - custom made.

"You like it?" the woman asked, tilting it so as to give her a better view.

"Sure…" she answered smugly. The dealer frowned, aiming at the ceiling and pulling the trigger before bringing it back down in front of her. Chianti quickly closed her eyes and was glad she did so. The heated gun was pressed harshly against her left eyelid and she felt two men grab her and hold her down as she screamed in agony. The burning hot sensation imprinted itself into her skin and her eyes saw nothing but bright yellow and white. It seemed like an eternity before the scalding metal was removed and Chianti was gasping in pain as her skin continued to blister. She refused to cry.

Calvados looked as calm as ever, mentally establishing a plan before whipping out two guns and shooting his assailants in the ears. He turned his gun on the others before the Texan even had time to turn around. She pointed her revolver at him, sneering, and he returned the gesture.

They fired. It continued on for many minutes as the dodged and ducked through the maze of crates and machinery, but before he even knew it, the girl was gone with the film. The deal had been completed. Calvados sighed as he returned to Chianti. The woman had passed out.


Akemi frowned as Dai got up for the sixth time to answer his cell phone. Shiho was asleep to her left and across the aisle was his empty seat. She leaned out to glance up at the break in seating where the man was animatedly speaking with the individual on the other end of the conversation. She quickly unclasped the belt around her waist and quietly made her way to his position.

He glanced at her before quickly saying goodbye. "What are you doing up here, Aperol?"

"Oh, quit calling me that. What's happened? Is my sister in danger?" she questioned. He paused before answering.

"No, she's not in any danger right now, Akemi. The Organization is just having some problems with an old colleague of mine in America. They want me to switch out with Vermouth once we arrive in Nagasaki," he sighed.

"Vermouth? But isn't she a bit too high in the Organization to be on guard duty?" she asked worriedly.

"I know. That's why I'm concerned. Vermouth is a great member but she's Anokata's favorite, so that just shows how important your sister is to the operation we're undertaking."

"…Apoptosis…" She looked at the ground with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Dai…"

He sighed in exasperation. "It'll be fine, Akemi. I promise. Once she finishes their work…" She smiled sadly.

"I know. Okaa-san and Otou-san refused to give them the solution for a reason though…they burned the finished product…that's why they're dead…"

"Akemi, I don't know what the Organization wants out of this program, but I know that your sister will finish it. And then we'll get out. You and me and Shiho will get out. I promise." She nodded as he pulled her into a hug.

"I know, Dai. I don't know how we're going to get out, but I trust you. I know you'll find a way."

Shiho frowned as she quickly made her way back to her seat. This program she was becoming involved with was the reason her parents had died? What was this exactly? And why do they want it so badly?

She clicked the belt shut once more and tilted her head towards the window, feigning sleep as her sister and Rye returned. Akemi wiped her eyes as she picked up a magazine and continued reading some article on a pop-star.

There were a lot of questions Shiho wanted to ask, but now was definitely not the time to do so.


Many days had passed since Shinichi had come to live with the Kurobas. Of course, relations between the two boys had yet to become civil once again, and Shinichi had even joined in the pranks. Kaito was definitely not happy to find his tricks swapped around when he had attempted to shoot confetti from his sleeves. He had another two days of detention for dousing the entire class and Goudai-sensei with guacamole. He could almost hear the detective's smirk a room away.

It was the last day of class now, however, so turning in all his homework was just as fun as dealing with the outsider. Aoko said he was just jealous that the school had turned its attention to the new kid rather than giving him the time of day. Of course, he thought, she had obviously been mistaken. Kurobas did not get jealous.

As he left the building that day, after serving every last second of his detention with Goudai-sensei, Kaito was surprised to find Aoko waiting for him at the gates. He was also surprised, and possibly a bit perturbed, to find Shinichi there as well.

"What are you doing here, Aoko?" he asked, ignoring the other.

"Hello to you, too," Shinichi grumbled.

"We were waiting to walk home with you. I wanted to ask you if you wanted me to come over and help you finish up the homework. We only have a few weeks until school starts again. Plus, with Shunbun no Hi in two days, I thought that it would be best to finish it before then."

He stared. "…you're asking me? Since when do you ask to come over?" She pouted and swatted his arm. Shinichi rolled his eyes, wondering why Kaito insisted on teasing the girl mercilessly if he cared about her so much.


So, I said I hoped to have another two chapters out this week to make up for my mini-hiatus, so here's one of them. Let's see if I pull off number two. -wink-

"Thank you"s to mangaluva, mel72000, and nequam-tenshi for the reviews. THANKS FOR STICKING WITH ME!

-DiGi