Characters: Mouri Kogoro and Kisaki Eri

Title: Past Reminds Us of the Present

"Stop it Kogoro!" Eri squealed as Kogoro, for the eighth time during their walk to school, stepped on the heel of her right shoe

"I didn't do anything! You're crazy!" Kogoro lied blatantly for the sole purpose of aggravating his childhood friend. Eri had nothing to say and instead stomped away from him angrily. Kogoro chuckled at her irritation as he jogged up behind her. Once he was walking beside her again she swung her head away from him in an effort to openly ignore him

"Hmmph I don't want to talk to you" Kogoro laughed heartily, only infuriating her further

"What do you think sensei will make us do in class today?" he asked, trying to bait his friend out of her silence. After a few long seconds he coughed deliberately and tried again "I hope she doesn't make us do more clay modeling, I hate art" he turned and looked at her, waiting for a reply. Still she remained silent which drove Kogoro to his peak of patience "What is wrong w-"

"We're here"

"Huh?" Eri rolled her eyes and pointed at the entrance to Teitan Primary School. Kogoro huffed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Before he could speak again Eri had already gone. Kogoro swiveled his head around the area but had no luck finding her and resolved to wait for her in their homeroom. When he arrived he was shocked to see that Eri had already taken her seat and her countenance had not changed at all. He walked over and sat down beside her "Oi Eri are you-"

"Good morning students. Today we're going to start our class with popcorn reading" Kogoro rolled his eyes. He hated reading; in fact, he pretty much hated every part of school. But then again he was nine years old and few children his age actually enjoy school. Before he knew it however he was the only student still seated. Everyone had risen because it was proper in their class to stand when doing a reading exercise. As the first student started to read his section of the book Kogoro slowly leaned over toward Eri

"Oi, are you still all mad about earlier?" No answer. Eri continued to face forward, completely ignoring Kogoro existence which tended to offend young Kogoro. His face went cherry red and he spun his body around to face the girl beside him "Why aren't you talking to me!" he roared as ferociously as a child can.

"Well if it isn't Mouri Kogoro, disrupting class again" his teacher's voice was cross and sarcastic as she stared at Kogoro, whose face had gone white with fear and then returned to red with embarrassment

"Uh sensei I was just-"

"No 'buts', you will spend your lunch and one hour after school in detention" Kogoro frowned glumly but managed a compliant nod before he sunk back into his seat. Though he didn't notice, Eri sent him a sympathetic gaze out of the corner of her eye

That school day came and went and although detention was slow it eventually passed as well. Now a tired and frustrated Mouri Kogoro started on his lonely walk home, cursed to think only of the girl that wasn't there and why he even cared that she was absent. His mind was eased by an aluminum can he found on the ground which he proceeded to kick. As he went along, hopelessly amused by the simple one person game he was playing a small form impeded his forward progress

"Oi what are you doing!" he yelled, already realizing who the person in front of him was

"You are such a jerk!" Eri screamed, pressing each of her hands firmly on her hips "I came all the way here to find you and all you do is yell at me!" Kogoro grinned at the rage stricken face that he always enjoyed

"Thanks, I can always depend on you" he responded in an upbeat tone. Eri's expression melted into one of sheer disbelief at his kind words and her anger fizzled

"Uh hai" she was now blushing bright as Kogoro walked by her

"Come on you always walk so slow I'm surprised you even made it out of the school before I got out of detention" Eri shook herself out of the amorous stupor she was in and spun around to face her crush

"Kogoro…" she grumbled in a low tone that usually signaled impending danger

"Here you can kick this thing with me, we'll take turns" Eri huffed but complied and soon they were strolling down the sidewalk in steady rhythm, alternating their strikes at the aluminum canister.