Chapter 8
'Great, he wasn't in the room, and neither was the girl. I don't like this. The roof is the last place to check…found them. Hmmm... With his back to me, I may be able to sneak up and…'
The person pulls the cap he is wearing down over his eyes and quietly creeps up behind the unsuspecting duo. Doing his best to not draw the attention of the boy, pausing right behind him for a second when the two of them start laughing. The girl turns toward them just as he grabs the boy, lifting him by his collar with his left hand and wrapping his right arm around Conan, pinning his arms by his side.
'Well, at least I managed to sneak up on him before she turned and gave me away.'
Next thing he knows, she is right in front of him, her left arm weaving under his right arm then between his body and Conan. She grabs his left wrist with right hand and he feels his grip slacken as her body twists away, tearing Conan from his grasp. A moment later, all the air is forced out of him as she thrusts her right foot into his gut. He stumbles backwards, doubled over and attempting to get his breathing back to normal.
'What the…'K, I did NOT expect that.'
He looks up in time to see the door to the stairwell swing close.
"She was kinda right. We can't help her the way you all did for me. We don't know what to do or say to jog her memory, nor can we take her to her home or anyplace that she may recognize. It is different."
"She still shouldn't have said that. I say we get the brat and just leave. She didn't appreciate that you told her your story. Not to mention, she totally blew up at you for no reason. No one does that to my friend and gets away with it. If she wants to be alone, than let her."
Ran looks at her friend and shakes her head sadly. They had been going in circles since shortly after the girl had stormed out. She was grateful her dad had stalked out of the room, saying he was going to smoke, and hopefully calm down. Regardless, she decides that Sonoko would not accept anything less than the worst possible punishment being brought down upon the girl. Ran thinks back to all the threats that Sonoko has made against Shinichi for his absence and figures if she defends his actions…well absence, without knowing the reason why, then why not the girl's emotional reaction, when that was understandable.
"That poor girl has no memory, I was lucky I had all of you to help. I never stopped to consider…"
At that moment the door bursts open and the girl dashes into the room, holding Conan in front of her. She slams the door shut and leans against it, breathing rapidly. The rest of the people in the room look up and four sets of eyes stare questioningly at the two of them. The girl raises her head and meets each person's gaze in turn, settling on Ran as she walks over. Without a word, she drops Conan in her lap and turns to the two officers.
"I think your theory was right…someone just tried to grab Conan while we were up on the roof. I'm not sure if he is still there, or if he is chasing us, or what, but…"
"Conan-kun, is that true?" Sato steps forward and kneels beside the bed where Ran is suddenly holding Conan quite tightly, "Did someone try to grab you?"
"Yes, I was picked up from behind; I never saw who it was."
"I saw him, but not very well. He had a baseball cap on, pulled down low over his eyes so I couldn't make out his face. He had dark skin and was…" The door opens once again and in walks a dark skinned male with a hat on, "HIM!"
The girl goes to get in front of Ran when Ran and the newcomer address each other.
"Hey, Neechan, How ya been?"
"Hattori-kun, what are you doing here?"
"Wait. You know him?"
"Heiji-niichan came because he saw the news like Ran-neechan did."
"Hattori-kun, that was nice of you."
"But, why did he sneak up behind us and grab Conan-kun."
"He and Conan-kun are almost like brothers. I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the first time Hattori-kun had tried that."
"Oh, that means you were just playing…Oh no, I kicked you. I am so sorry. I didn't know. Are you alright?"
"Wait you kicked him?"
"I'm fine. I've had a lot worse, believe me."
"I don't know if that should make me feel better or worse. Oh, speaking of feelings," The girl turns toward the group and gives a bow, "I am so sorry for the way I acted. I was rude and inconsiderate and I am sorry for that." Stepping up to Ran, she bows once again and says, "You deserve an additional apology. You were trying to help and I acted like a total jerk. I should never have said those things to you and I hope you can forgive me. Please…"
Sonoko scoffs quietly, but Ran puts her hand on her shoulder and motions with her head. The girl's long hair had fallen in front of her face, obscuring it from view. However, that hair was swaying. Ran stands up, placing Conan on the floor before reaching out and bringing the girl's head up. The girl's glasses had water droplets on it and her cheeks were streaked with tears. Taking her handkerchief from her pocket, Ran holds it out to her, but she simply stares at Ran, not even acknowledging the offered item.
"Please," the girl repeats.
Ran finally realizes what she is waiting for and smiles, embracing the girl.
"There is nothing to forgive. I should have considered your situation before saying that I knew what you were going through."
"But…that's no excuse…for my behavior…"
"Stop it. Now dry your eyes."
Ran looks around at the quiet room to see that everyone but Sonoko had looked away. Heiji and Conan were talking to each other against the wall while Sato and Takagi were seemingly fascinated by the rest of the hospital room. Ran walks over to the far corner of the room and grabs a bag, inside was the set of the clothes that she had brought that morning.
"Here, I figured you may be able to use a change of clothes, I hope they fit."
"Thank you," The girl opens the bag to find a blue T-shirt and a pair of tan shorts, "I wish I had some way of paying you back. I'll return them to you as soon as I can."
She leaves the room, and a few minutes later, Megure walks in with Mouri right behind him. He scans the room than addresses his two officers.
"Where is the girl?"
"She went to clean up and change, sir," Sato reports quickly, "She should return shortly."
"We were unable to get anywhere as far as attempting to get her identity, and no one has filed a missing person report. When she comes back, I want a photo taken so we can start circulating it in the news and maybe find SOMEONE who knows her."
"Ran, can we please go home and have supper…I'm starving."
"I'm back. And thank you Mouri-san…"
"It's Ran."
"Oh…ok, Ran-san. What do you think? These clothes fit pretty well."
"Well, I say tomorrow we take her and get her something nicer that she can wear to dinner, not to mention getting her hair done. It seems to have a natural wave to it, but I bet my stylist can do way more. After all, can't show up at a dinner party with me in those."
"Sonoko, do you mean that?"
"Yeah, I set up another chance to visit the exhibit. I have to admit, she did save the brat's life and she apologized, besides, it gives us a chance to do some serious clothes shopping for you too." Leaning in close to Ran she adds in a stage whisper, "We can get some outfits that will make that wayward husband of yours so-o-o-o…"
"SONOKO! STOP IT!"
"What's this about a hus-"
"Dad, you wanted supper right? Let's go home right now; I'll make you something as soon as we get home. We'll be back tomorrow to go shopping OK? Conan-kun, are you coming?"
"Why…oh right," The girl looks over at Conan from where Sato had taken her picture with a sad expression, but smiles, "I guess since I'm awake, you can go home."
Conan glances at Heiji than over at Ran, finally going back to the girl. Ran watches as several emotions seem to cross his face, and thinks about what the girl had said before storming off.
"If not for Conan, I doubt I would have anyone but the police visiting me"
"Actually Conan-kun, why don't you stay, and we'll meet you both here in the morning."
"Hai."
Ran sees the smile form on the girl's face and hopes that having something, or in this case someone, that was somewhat familiar might be a comfort. Mouri opens the door and turns back to Ran.
"Are we going? The kid's staying again, right? Come on."
"Coming," Ran says, looking back at Conan, she sees Heiji kneel next to him and whisper in his ear before standing up and taking a step toward the girl. "Good night Conan-kun." Ran calls before following her father and the 3 officers out the door.
"I owe you a thanks as well. However, Ku…Conan-kun was pretty worried about you so you oughta apologize for- ow."
Both teens look down at Conan who smiles, but his eyes lock on Heiji's for a moment. The girl brings a hand up to her mouth for a moment before dropping to her knees, putting herself at Conan's level.
"You were worried about me? What could I…why would you…?"
"You saved my life. It was because you were helping me that you got hurt."
"Well, I'll head out…oh wait. Here," Heiji reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a small badge just like the ones the Detective Boys had shown off earlier that day. "I ran into those kids on my way back here and they said they couldn't get back, but they wanted you to have this. Something about an honorary member due to your actions," He passes it to the girl.
"Well, I…wow. I'll be sure to thank them next time I see them."
A knock at the door causes them all to look up. The girl stands and goes to answer it while Heiji once again leans down to Conan.
"Something that I was told ta tell you is that that badge will be picked up by your glasses even if it is turned off. Any particular reason it would need to be, or is it just 'cause she ain't a little kid?"
"No, I'm sure it's just because she could be in danger too."
"Yeah, I heard that video was scrutinized even more and it seems she may have seen into the car before she was hit. Is that why you agreed to stay here again? So help me, if something happens…"
"Hey, look Conan-kun. Ran-san sent a couple of bentos for us. Do you want some too Hattori-san. There are two here, but we could share."
"No, I'm gonna get goin'. And don't be so formal, or I think you're talking to my father."
"Very well, Hattori-kun than. Conan-kun, shall we eat?"
"Hai, good night Heiji-niichan."
Officer Chiba had been sitting outside the hospital room since Inspector Megure had ordered a guard be posted until further notice. When the door opens, he looks up from his chair to see the girl smiling at him with a half empty bento in her hands.
"Conan-kun has fallen asleep without finishing this. As you know, Ran sent it and I would feel bad if it went to waste so I figured since you would be here all night, I would offer it to you."
Chiba leans over and looks past the girl and sees Conan lying in the far bed, glasses and bowtie set on the bedside table. Smiling he reaches out and accepts the bento with a nod.
"Thank you young lady, that is very kind of you."
"Oh it's nothing. I just…well, between that picture, the police interest, and a guard…not hard to figure out that there is more to this than the simple hit-and-run that you all seem to insist it is. Conan may be in danger…right?" At Chiba's hesitation, the girl nods, "Thought so…count me in. I won't let anything happen to him if I can help it, and I've already told Ran as much." She closes the door and Chiba starts in on the bento.
"In other news, the girl from the hit-and-run the other day has yet to be identified. The police have provided a photo of the girl and we ask any viewers who recognize her to please notify the police."
Hakuba Saguru glances up at the TV, only to find himself unable to look away from the picture of the girl on the screen. 'It can't be.' The wavy, light brown hair, bangs that just brush the top of the glasses, blue eyes behind those very frames. He knows who she is alright, but after 2 years, that she would show up here, in Japan...Beika of all places. He thinks back to the newspaper article that he had read yesterday in class.
"Well, I know my first stop today."
"Chiba-kun, what are you doing asleep at your post?"
Sato is standing over the now awake Chiba, tapping her foot impatiently while she awaits an answer from the still-groggy officer.
"Sato-san…what are you doing here?"
"We," Sato says, indicating herself, Ran, and Sonoko, "are here to pick up Conan-kun and the young lady to go shopping. You were apparently snacking at some point last night," she adds, pointing to the now visible bento box that had fallen to the floor.
"What? Well...it was the rest of the one Ran-chan sent that Conan-kun didn't finish…"
"What do mean that I sent? I didn't send any…no…CONAN!"
Ran pushes past Chiba and bursts through the door, Sato close behind. They both stop short at the sight of the empty beds. Ran walks over to Conan's as though in a trace. She kneels down and touches Conan's shoes, which are neatly placed half under the bed, before looking up and seeing his bowtie and glasses. Tears begin to fall quickly from her eyes and when she feels a hand on her shoulder, she looks up into Sato's eyes, seeing similar sadness, but also a steely determination reflecting back.
"Don't worry, we WILL find him. Both of them."
A/N: I got it up in time...with 1 minute to spare, but it was up on Thursday. I had a couple requests for more detail so I hope that I did ok and didn't go overboard. Also, I hope 2,500 words is long enough for this chapter, and to those of you who don't like them short: as I promised, they will continue to be longer than the earlier ones. Please let me know if this is better or if it still needs improvement. Thanks.
~Mysteryfan17~
