Fandom: Detective Conan/Case Closed/Magic Kaitou

Disclaimer: They belong to Gosho Aoyama. I wish they were mine. o.o

Story Title: Collective Moments

Notes: This came to me while studying Latin. You'll see why.

Chapter Title: The Curse of Perpetual Murders

Chapter Summary: Everybody's noticed that dead bodies follow Shinichi. Akako and Hakuba figure out why, and they're surprised by the answer.

Chapter Quote: "I mean, people don't just choose to murder when they spot Kudo walking around."

Akako lifted her hand from Shinichi's head and shook her head, frowning slightly. "I'm sorry, but I don't seem to feel any particular curse from you."

Shinichi stared at the witch for a moment before sighing exasperatedly and leaning back in his chair. Ran, his wife, patted him consolingly on the head. "That's so weird. There's got to be some explanation for people dropping dead of murder all around me."

"Bad luck?" suggested Hakuba, gingerly taking a small sip of tea.

"Possibly," said Akako in a pensive tone, waving her hand dismissively. "I feel a dark aura in this room, but it doesn't seem to be a curse coming from you, Kudo-san."

Shinichi stood up and thanked Akako for her time. "Well, I'm best off now," he said, glancing at his watch. "Got yet another murder to investigate." He left Hakuba's house with a friendly wave, Ran following close behind him.

"There's got to be some explanation," mused Hakuba.

"Hmmm," said Akako.

"I mean, people don't just choose to murder when they spot Kudo walking around."

"Hmmm," said Akako.

"Gosho's all about the logic behind the murder, but I doubt he'd have little enough common sense to make dead people follow Kudo like that."

"Hmmm," said Akako. "Actually, I think I know the answer to this mysterious curse."

Hakuba sat upright in his chair, his cup of tea forgotten. "Yes?"

"Please. Think about the names of certain people. Shinichi, for instance. It can be, very loosely, translated as "intelligent one", which of course we all know is true."

"Yes. And Hattori Heiji. His surname comes from a historical head of a police force, and his given name comes from a detective."

"Precisely. Gosho has really good naming sense, if you look at all the other people and the associations of their names. Additionally," Akako pursed her lips, "Gosho has a good command of other languages. He combines these skills when he names people, to produce an account of who they are. Shinichi. Hattori Heiji."

"And?" said Hakuba expectantly.

Akako sighed. "Oh, Hakuba-san. What else follows Kudo-san besides death most of the time?" She set down her teacup. "I'll let you think. I need to make some more tea." She gave him a small bow and left the room.

What else followed Kudo-san? Well...Mori Kogoro, for one. And his daughter, Kudo Ran. Hakuba sighed and settled in his chair. There didn't seem to be much connection...

"Akako!" he called out. "Come out with it, I need to know!"

The witch poked her head through the doorjamb, looking fairly irritated. "Oh, come on. You're English! Surely you'd have an easier time with this than I would?"

Hakuba sniffed and self-righteously adjusted his tie. "We don't all think in circles like you."

"Okay, fine," said Akako, emerging with a new pot of tea. "It's Mori Ran. Her maiden name is of particular interest. Don't you think...?"

It only took this little comment for Hakuba to understand. His eyes went wide. "You don't think-?"

"Oh, but I do, Hakuba." Akako took a sip of tea. "Mori." Her eyes twinkled as she clarified, "Latin root, meaning..."to die"."

A/N: I do realize the correct spelling is "Mouri", but I see it translated so often to "Mori" that I decided to let this time slide XD Haha, it's really Ran with the curse! And the one-two-three times that Conan wasn't with her...eh. It was bound to happen anyway 8D

Also, I totally swear I'm working on the drabbles, but I'm not used to Satou/Takagi, and I don't remember the scene where Conan grabs Kid. Though, I have an excellent idea for both.