A/N: Yahoo! Another update, yay me! ^_^
Oh, and just in time before my school life officially starts again... xD
Hope you like this one; it's the longest chapter for the record...
Ch9 Note #2
It was a little while after everyone finished cleaning up after breakfast that Heiji noticed Conan go inside one of the cabins housing two double-decker beds. Out of habit, he followed him inside.
"Oi, Kudou, what the hell is up with ya?" he asked as he noticed a look of uneasiness on his companion's face. "Did the shinin' circle o' fame made you blind once again 'bout our real intentions o' bein' here?" The Osakan said to his companion jokingly. From the inside, they can hear the students gathering around as they get ready to leave for the beach for their school trip team-building activities, leaving their supposed-to-be guests alone to watch over the campsite.
"Baka, the reason we're staying is because I'm quite suspicious about something… or rather someone." Conan looked at Heiji with thoughtful eyes. In those big, blue orbs of his, Heiji noticed, it is undeniable that they were sure they'll find themselves up for another challenge of investigation.
"Ah, so an odd familiarity kept us here, naa? It's about that Kuroba guy isn't it? Y'know, it freaks me out a li'l that you two have such sim'lar faces…" The dark-skinned detective shrugged with what he said.
"Yeah… His name sounds quite familiar too, I'm sure I even heard kaa-san talk about a certain Kuroba who helped her and Sharon Vineyard perfect their disguising skills…"
"Ah, y'must be talkin' 'bout Kuroba Toichi, that famous magician who died of a magic-related accident."
"Ee (another way of saying 'yes')," the other detective nodded.
"And…?"
"I'm thinking this has something to do with a certain someone… someone who I can't settle a real score with…" Conan gave the Kansai-ben another meaningful look.
Heiji thought about what Conan said for a while, putting the pieces together…
Kuroba, magic, disguise… disguise?
He then turned wide-eyed when he realized who Conan was talking about, "Ah, sou ka! Ne, d'you think tha' Hakuba guy already know 'bout this?"
"I think so, considering that he's been around him for quite an amount of time. But then, I could guess Kuroba's just denying the whole thing every time. Maybe, he's just waiting for concrete proof… and that's what we're gonna do as well…"
"Hahaaa! And here I thought Kuroba was nat'rally piss'd off with li'l kids," Heiji teased, as he shuffled the hair of his companion out of place. Conan gave him a glare as he desperately shoved Heiji's hand away from his head. "Oi, stop it! If you keep treating me like a little kid, I'll be the one who'll get pissed off."
"Ahahah, gomen. Can't help it, y'know, wit' ya lookin' just like one an' all..." he flashed him an annoying smirk.
"Tsk… anyway…" Conan said with a hint in his voice that joke time's over, "There's someone else…"
"Ayt, that Koizumi Akako. From tha very first moment my attention caught her, I already believed there's somethin' mysterious 'bout her."
"Anyway, I guess she doesn't relate to our speculations about him," Conan put a hand on his chin in thought. "Related or not, it doesn't matter. I'm soon gonna have a long interrogation session with that guy..."
Heiji nodded quietly in agreement.
"Oh, that r'minds me… I think this is kinda outta the topic, but d'you really think the guy we were trailin' earlier have connections with them?"
Conan's eyes twitched when Heiji put a greater emphasis on his last word, indicating that this has no relations to what they were talking about earlier. "By 'them', you mean that Organization, right?"
"Well, wha' else d'you think could I be referrin' to, aho? You're the one who took of, sayin' tha' he's kinda suspicious, and followed the guy before anyone ever had the chance to protest!"
Conan sighed heftily, massaging his temples, trying to get the idea out of his head, but to no avail, it seems that it's going to keep him paranoid for the rest of the day. "Kuso! I totally forgot about that sonofabitch…" another sigh, "In any case, I hope not… Not if I know some other innocent people's lives will be in danger… or worse…"
Heiji watched as Conan does this, and watched he did, when he thought he saw the little guy turn red in frustration as if he's going to explode in discomfort like a human time bomb of some sort.
"HEADS UP!" Hakuba shouted to Kaito, who's only a few minutes away from being hit by a volley ball. However, due to his negligence, the magician hadn't had the chance to dodge that perfect hit on his face. This left him red-faced on the ground from the impact and was unable to get up quickly in recovery.
It was just an hour after lunch was over when the teacher announced that finally, they will be able to get their well-deserved afternoon nap. After having breakfast that morning, the class set off from the mountains to the sea a few meters from where they are staying, giving the students another reason to whine and put their adviser in their "most unwanted list." When they protested, the adviser reasoned out that no matter what happens, they should remain abide by the schedule, and that morning would be dedicated to doing team building activities and fetching extra food for lunch. Instead of using their rest time to 'rest', however, Hakuba, a few of their guy classmates, and one of their guests, Heiji, decided to spend the time 'very wisely' and play volley ball instead while a few of the girls, Keiko and Aoko included, watch them do so on the sidelines. Since he has nothing to do, Kaito chose to lazily lie down on one of the big trees nearby to keep watch on his dear friend, fearing that if he doesn't then things might just go out of place.
Soon, Hakuba and Heiji approached him, both with a mocking grin on their faces.
"Oi, Kuroba, y'alright?" Heiji, who's right behind the other guy, asked.
In a struggle to keep himself in composure, Kaito sat up and gave them back their stray ball. "D-do I have to answer?" he then gave the ball a strong push, so it will collide heavily on Hakuba's torso.
"Oof!" Hakuba puffed out due to the incredibly strong impact the ball has caused on him, it's as if he'd be gaining himself a wound if it has a pointy edge. Luckily, though, round objects don't have edges, which Kaito was strongly wishing for right now…
"What's up with you?" Hakuba finally asked him, although it is quite clear to him that it was because of him that he's feeling all grouchy.
"I honestly don't know what you're talking about," the magician replied nonchalantly as he once again lied down on the ground, his back facing the blonde.
"Y'think it's 'bout that special vegetable tea y'were tellin' me about?" Heiji whispered to Hakuba.
"Mada mada…" Hakuba said to himself as he raised his shoulder and raced back to the court, as if that conversation never happened. Little did they know that, from the sidelines, the girls were watching intently at what just happened between the two boys, and Aoko couldn't help but feel she, in a way, was also responsible for her best friend's change of behavior. With a huff, she stood up and retreated to the cabin she shares with Keiko, Akako and their other classmate, Reika.
"Ne, Aoko, where are you going?" Keiko asked her out of concern. "Are you not going to finish watching the game?"
"No, sorry, Keiko-chan. I feel a bit tired. I'll just go take a little rest," she replied before she left the pig-tailed girl to watch the game alone.
Back in the girls' cabin, Aoko stood silent as she stared blankly out the window, completely bothered by a 'certain something'. A few minutes passed, she pursed her lips as she slowly drew out her handkerchief and unfolded it slowly, crease by crease, until she found a small piece of paper, folded carefully into a smaller piece. For a while, she just stared at it, as events of this morning, about how she found that paper, flowed into her mind.
...
"Come on guys, try harder! Let's move, move, move!"
The class was running along the forest, along that trail considered by many as a shortcut towards the beach. Everyone was trying desperately to get ahead of anyone, so much so that they were literally pushing each other out of the way. After all, the deal was, whoever comes out last in this challenge shall take the consequence of drinking sensei's special vegetable tea, mixed with raw eggs, broccoli, some stray mushrooms, garlic and other spices that made the drink have its blackish-greenish color.
Aoko, being the one leading the pack at the beginning, was kicking it off with a start, until someone informed him about Kaito's uncanny behavior. Everyone in class knows that these two would have no problem whatsoever about races, since their every day morning routine of chasing each other with a mop helped a lot with their agility, but people were greatly surprised about her best friend being one of the last people falling off behind.
Upon hearing this, Aoko slowed down, giving the people behind her a chance to catch up. This however earned her bruises all over because of being thrown around in different directions like a rag doll, until finally she slumped on the hard, rocky floor, twisting her wrist in the process.
"Aoko-chan, daijobu?" Aoko looked up and was stunned to find out it was Akako who willingly stopped to ask her that question. (A/N: daijobu? - 'are you okay?')
"Aoko-chan!" Keiko, who was just falling behind the other girl, shouted.
"Yeah… At least I guess so," she said in response to Akako's question as the plum-haired pulled Aoko on her feet again. Aoko twitched when she realized she hurt her wrist… real bad.
"Ne, what's wrong?" Hakuba, who was just passing by asked when he noticed the two who were off track. His question was answered, though, when he approached them and was wide-eyed when he saw Aoko's throbbing wrist. Hakuba stretched one hand to her and slowly pressed his thumb on the reddish area. The brown-haired girl jerked in pain as she attempted to pull her aching wrist away.
Hakuba let out a slow, silent sound of dismay. "Tsk, looks like it's hurt so badly…" he told her, as his fingers once again put pressure on her injury.
"Itte!" Aoko cried out.
"Ch-chotto, stop doing that!" Akako suddenly blurted out to Hakuba.
It was then that Kaito reached the place where they were huddling up. Seeing Hakuba, Kaito hurriedly went over to where he and the three girls were. "OI! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" he shouted.
"Kuroba-kun! It's Aoko-chan." Keiko shouted back.
"What?"
"No need to fuss over something this small, you know." Hakuba calmly told the fretting magician.
"Baka janai yo (are you stupid)? You call twisting someone's wrist 'something so small'? Out of the way!" Kaito spat crossly, pushing the blonde away in a violent manner. He then carefully touched Aoko by her left hand (in which, Aoko couldn't help but blush wildly at, even if she's greatly in pain) and examined it. Afterwards, he heaved a heavy sigh and told her without every intention to make eye contact, "Idiot. It's because you weren't careful that these things happen to you."
He then pulled out a white handkerchief from his pocket, folded it in a way that it would work like a bandage, and carefully wrapped it around Aoko's wrist. With what Kaito was doing, the inspector's daughter was once again reminded of her thoughts about the beach earlier that morning (A/N: See previous chapter, PT3: A Hidden Enemy). She continued to look at Kaito, hoping that he would do the same, but he didn't. When he finished treating her injury, he stood up and said, "Well, that'll hold it for a while…" then walked away in the direction they came from.
"Ne, Kuroba-kun," Akako called out after him, "Where are you going?"
"Who knows?" Kaito replied without bothering to look back or stopping on his tracks.
"Ano, Kaito," Aoko stood up and shouted at him, blushing madly. With the sound of her voice, Kaito was momentarily taken aback; he didn't even realize he stopped walking.
There was silence for a while, as Aoko tried sewing up together what she wanted to say. In the end, though, all she managed was a "thank you" before the magician left without saying another word.
"Well, then I guess my presence is no longer needed," Hakuba, assumed, standing upright and joining the race once again. "Tell me if there's anything you need, Aoko. See you on the finish line," he told her, as if Keiko and Akako weren't even there.
The three watched as Hakuba disappeared from their sight, and when he already is, Keiko spoke up, "Let's go together, Aoko-chan, all three of us."
Before Aoko can answer delightfully, Akako cut her off, "Keiko-chan, you can go ahead if you like. I'll just go tell her something." Aoko gave her a curious look, but agreed on the idea anyway. After all, another chat with a friend she can surely count on never hurts.
"Oh, okay, see ya!" Keiko said with a graceful face and ran off.
"Ne, Akako-chan, what is it you wanted to talk about?" the blue-eyed teen asked the sorceress, who was keeping this look of deep concern in her face, something that she has never seen Akako do before.
"Stop whatever you're doing, Aoko-san. It will hurt me if you hurt yourself even more…"
Aoko tilted her head in one direction. Thinking that Akako was talking about her injury, she naïvely replied, "Oh, don't worry about me. A simple injury such as this one will not affect me that seriously. I'll be careful next time…"
Akako sighed and sat beside her. "No, it's not that… I meant Kuroba-kun, you know…"
Aoko bit her lip upon hearing what Akako told her and looked away, not uttering a single word. She's too close to tears now…
"Look, it's not too late. You can tell Hakuba-kun to stop this nonsense and let you live your life again if you want to…"
"What are you talking about?"
"He's using you, Aoko, and you know that. You're just forcing yourself to believe that it isn't what it looks like."
"No I don't," Aoko denied. "Or perhaps you're only saying those things because you like him…"
"Maybe so, but the eyes don't lie, Aoko-chan…" Akako watched as Aoko swiftly turned at her and gave her a fixed, teary stare. Despite that, she didn't say anything. Akako smiled upon finding out that her silence means she's letting her continue, "Tell me, how many freaking times have you ever looked straight into those eyes of his?"
Aoko looked down and shook her head as tears started to fall down her face.
"Yappari…" Akako stood up in contentment that she finally said what she should have told her from the beginning.
"It's just a friendly reminder from yours truly. If it hurts you that much that you're slowly becoming farther away from Kuroba-kun, then do something about it…"
"Well then I guess I better get going, or would you rather that I wait for you."
"Go ahead, I'll catch up."
Akako took a deep breath and said, "Come on, don't worry about Kuroba-kun. I'm sure he's doing all this because he doesn't want you to be the one taking the consequence…"
"By consequence, you mean…"
"Yeah… as 'heroic' as it sounds like, I DON'T wanna know how sensei's special drink tastes like…" Akako told her, crinkling her nose in disgust.
For a moment, Aoko stopped, wondering why in the world Kaito would want to do that. Shouldn't he act as if he doesn't care at all and live fate in the hands of 'some higher being'?
"Well, shall we go then?" Akako asked with a smile, hoping that Aoko would smile back.
Aoko finally managed a smile and nodded. She then decided it would be much better finishing this race with Akako, whom she now considers like a sister, much like how she sees Keiko. She reached for the handkerchief in her pocket, eager to wipe her tears away. When she did, though, she noticed a piece of paper stuck in between the folds of the lilac-colored cloth.
"Akako-chan?" she said with a questioning face, and asked as she showed the paper to her companion, "Is this yours?"
"No, where did you get it?"
Looking closely at the folded slightly brown-colored paper she noticed a symbol drawn with a green-colored pen: the symbol of the four-leafed clover. With hesitation, Aoko shook her head and said, "N-nevermind. I must've mistaken it for something I don't own..."
She put the note back in between the folds of her handkerchief, placed it back in her pocket and went with Akako to their destination.
...
In desperation for answers, Aoko opened the paper and reread it again, for the fifth time since she got it, looking for any sign about who 'gave' this to her without her even noticing…
*-.-.-.-.-*
To my precious Blue Diamond,
I've been watching you for quite some time now,
and I understand how life isn't becoming fair in your part.
Tonight, without breaking the silence of the calm seas of the west,
just before the clock strikes twenty four, I shall come
and save you from your sorrows…
Just beginner's luck,
-signed, Eisu-
(-The usual trump card drawing-)
*-.-.-.-.-*
(A/N: yes, the note is written like that, shaped like a diamond, with the little dots and dashes… Although written in Japanese, of course. :D)
Suddenly, it struck her. Maybe she got this during that time she tumbled down to be run over by a pack of 'desperate' students. Maybe someone who isn't really part of her class pretended to be part of the race and stuck the paper there without her noticing it. With trembling hands, she held the note as she kept in mind what Akako said.
"If it hurts you that much that you're slowly becoming farther away from Kuroba-kun, then do something about it."
Yes, I am absolutely hurt about how things are right now, but if I don't do this, nothing's ever bound to happen… Aoko thought. Of course, she wouldn't just helplessly sulk in one corner and do nothing. She's going to do something about it; only, it's going to be something people wouldn't expect…
Out of nowhere, a curious little kid appeared and upon looking at the piece of paper in her hands, said innocently, "That sure is a suspicious-looking note, ne, Aoko-neechan?"
Aoko jumped in surprise, she automatically held the front of her shirt to keep her heart beating at normal pace. It is quite disturbing, too, that she never even noticed the child enter the cabin. "C-Conan-kun, you scared me," she bluntly told him as she hastily placed the note back in her pocket.
"Aheheh, gomen," Conan said sheepishly, twisting in place with his hands locked behind him. "Ne, Aoko-neechan, is that note a love letter?"
"Ah, no! There's no way—"
"Jaa, let me see the note again." The little boy tried to reach the folded note inside her skirt pocket, in which, Aoko hurriedly retrieved it and tried putting it out of Conan's reach.
"N-no, d-dame desu (no, you can't/I must not allow you)," Aoko replied as she stretched her hand high up, in the hope that the brat will give up when he can't get what he wants from her. Conan struggled to get a hold of the note, though, as the girl tried to get it out of his reach, letting out squeals every now and then just because the little boy kept pulling on her skirt or touching her ever silky thighs.
"Kora, you're so persistent, aren't you?" she finally snapped at him, her face emitting quite a bright shade of red.
"But I just wanna see it again."
"What do you wanna see again, Conan-kun?" someone suddenly said from the door with an unusual melancholy in his voice.
The two paused to see who it was and was startled to find out it was Hakuba.
"Hakuba-kun!" Aoko interjected, as she hurriedly hid the note from the newly-arrived detective.
"Well?" the blonde detective asked as he made his way towards Aoko and Conan's direction and rested his hands on his waist.
"I-It's nothing…" Aoko lied, trying desperately not to make eye contact. She knew that if she did, Hakuba would see right through it and insist even more that she should tell him.
Suddenly, amidst Hakuba's heavy glare, Conan spoke up in defense, "Ano, I'm just playing a little game with Aoko-neechan, it's called the 'I-just-wanna-see-it-again' game. Aoko-neechan's really good at it. Wanna join?" He once again sported his trademark 'naïve' looking beam.
It took a while before Hakuba's features softened up to look at the little boy and smiled casually. "Ah, gomen, I'm not really in the mood right now. And here I thought you guys were hiding something.
"Conan-kun," Hakuba turned to speak to the elementary kid just like how an annoyed child hater would do, "Why don't you go outside and play with the others? Aoko-neechan and I are just gonna talk about something."
Oi, oi, oi. Why would you want to force something out of someone if she doesn't even want you to know about it? Geez, this Hakuba, so full of himself. I guess Hattori's quite right about him… "Aww? Well, okay then. I guess I'll just go ask Kaito-niichan to perform magic tricks again… Ja ne!" he told them in a carefree manner.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself? You know you're not very good at lying…" Hakuba crossed his arms in front of him, demanding for an explanation.
"Why would you care?"
For a split second, Aoko swore she saw Hakuba's eyebrows met upon her denial. This somewhat gave her a sense of accomplishment. Hakuba forced a smile between his lips and said "Come on, I'm your boyfriend after all…"
Quite conscious about proximity, Hakuba went near her as possible, as one hand slowly made its way up her arm, giving Aoko an excuse to shiver. The wide-eyed girl simply pushed him away.
"Only because you promised you would help me clear up our misunderstanding," the inspector's daughter said in retaliation, backing slowly away.
"That can wait, can't it? Now tell me what's wrong. Ever since we got back to camp, you seem like you're totally dazed," he said, slowly walking towards Aoko. Every step he took made her back away, until finally, she found the nerve to stand up to him.
"For goodness' sake, stop acting like you care!" Aoko said, tears forming in her eyes again. "You're just like everyone else, using me for their own purposes."
Impatiently, the British teen scratched his head. "Geez, we're on this page again, aren't we?"
"Stop acting dumb! Akako-chan told me… And I can't believe I trusted you again…" A miserable sob escaped her lips. She then attempted to dash off the cabin, but before she did so, Hakuba caught her by her left wrist, the one which she injured a while back.
"Let go of me, jerk! You're hurting me!" Aoko shouted.
Instead of giving off to her demands, Hakuba gave her a violent yank which sent her face to face with the guy she now wished isn't her boyfriend. "Just tell me one thing I have to do to make you believe me…"
She gave him a teary look before saying, "Don't count on it… If I could wish for one thing, I would want to be as far away as possible from you and from every other jerk like you on the planet!"
"Oh and how are you planning to do just that, may I ask?" Hakuba dared ask.
"I have my own ways… more ways than one…" she replied abruptly, pushed him away, gave her injured wrist a shake to get herself free from Hakuba's grip and finally ran off, leaving the desperate blonde to watch her do so.
Unknown to them, though, the cunning Conan had his back on the wall just outside the cabin, and, upon the girl's walking out, he instantly followed her, thinking that if he did, then maybe he can force out whatever it is she knows about "The Lucky Ace."
The sun had just started to set and everyone's preparing for dinner. Everyone, except for Hattori and Conan who seemed to have disappeared all of a sudden, and someone whom anyone never expects to go missing…
"Ne, has anyone seen Aoko-chan?" Keiko called out to everyone.
"Isn't she in your cabin, like where she told you she would be?" Kaito, who's a few feet away from Keiko asked. The conversation on Aoko's whereabouts caught the attention of Akako, who right away suspects about Hakuba having taken part on the inspector's daughter's sudden disappearance.
Akako turned towards Hakuba and asked, "What did you do this time?"
"Oh, so I have something to do with it? Are you accusing me?" Hakuba asked, raising an eyebrow as he tried his best not to look to obvious.
"I would seriously beat you up if you don't tell us what you know…" Kaito spat. He then moved over to where the grinning detective is and quickly grabbed him by the collar. How dare you still act too cool in this situation!
Understanding the look on his rival's face, Hakuba quickly said, "Alright, alright… I simply asked about the note she and the little boy were arguing about."
Knowing that Conan was involved, Kaito lets go of Hakuba and walked past him, bumping him by the shoulder in the process. He hates to admit it, but although he slightly despises the shrunken detective, he couldn't help but think 'Kudou' was doing his part of 'protecting' Aoko from his rival.
"Ah-le, what's this? Aoko-chan fretting over a piece of paper? That's totally unlike her, don't you think so?" the witch stared at Hakuba questionably.
"Unless this has something to do with that damn thief, Ace…" Hakuba said, glancing over his shoulder for any sign of Kaito acting a bit different than earlier, but he simply stopped in his tracks by the mention of Ace's name.
"Ttaku… That girl, always trying to get herself into trouble... When will that idiot ever learn?" Kaito shouted in irritation as he stomps away from the class and retreats to his cabin. "I'll be sleeping so DON'T bother me about whatever shit you guys will be doing…"
Meanwhile, in a far side of the mountain, Aoko watched as the last streaks of orange disappear from the sky. She was holding the note on one hand, as she leans on her other. Her big blue eyes, deep in thought, shows whoever is looking through them that she's thinking about her unknown admirer and what she should do for that night. Slowly, tears started falling down her reddish cheeks and she began to hold her head down to conceal them.
Not too far from where she sat, two meddling detectives were hiding just behind the thick, lush bushes, quietly arguing about why they were here at the first place.
"Oi, Kudou, are ya quite sure 'bout this?" Heiji whispered to his tiny companion. "The last thing I ever wanna hear is you gettin' someone pregnant at a very young age of seven."
The not-so-little boy's face turned red and whispered back furiously, "Shut up! I only want information out from her. I'm not as perverted as you are… Besides, it's not like a seventeen-year-old is going to allow herself from 'that kind of thing' with an elementary student!"
"And STOP treating me like a seven year old!" Conan quickly followed up.
Heiji pouted in disappointment. "Tsk, joudan'ya! You DO NOT have any sense o' humor at all, do ya?"
"That's the last thing I need right now. Come on, Hattori. Help me on this and be on a lookout for anyone suspicious!"
The Kansai-ben heaved, leaning with his chin on his palm and his elbow on his knee. "Pft, fine. Just go an' do your childish stuff an' go through wit' it. I'll be behind these bushes just in case."
Conan grinned widely and said, "Sankyuu (Conan trying desperately to say the word thank you in English)."
With that, Conan emerged from his hiding place, went to where Aoko is and started acting as innocent as ever.
Geez, Kudou's really good at puttin' an act an' stickin' to it, isn't he? Hattori huffed, causing his bangs to fall out of place. He watched as the little boy continuously chatted with Aoko. Every now and then he would frown at what the shrunken detective was doing. It pissed him off when the girl placed a hand on Conan and patted it.
Oi, oi, oi. What'ya doin' Kudou! What's takin ya so long?
After a while, that blissful look on the little boy's face disappeared. Heiji watched closely at what was happening. Too bad, though, since from where he is, he couldn't hear a single thing. With the way Aoko's mouth opens, he can barely make out the words "I'll be alright," and then a few seconds after, he was sure Aoko said "arigatou" to Conan, but aside from that, there's nothing more.
"This is getting really boring," Heiji told himself as he stretched his back and lie down the grass-covered ground for a while. His attention was taken momentarily by the little fireflies flying across his face. He watched the flying creatures tediously, waiting for Conan to come back.
"J-ja… I'll… go ahead, then…" He heard Conan shout. Upon hearing the little boy's footsteps coming towards him, Heiji collected himself, straightened up and went back to his sitting position.
"Finally," Heiji sighed. "I almost thought you're gonna bore me ta death!"
"I was buying time, baka!"
The dark-skinned boy ignored the other's explanation and asked with a curious face, "Well?" He was hoping of all hopes that they weren't just wasting their time.
"It seems she doesn't know who that Ace guy is either…" The Osakan let out a scowl with what Conan said. With that, the shrunken detective quickly added, "But I never actually asked her about it. It's more like, I can't ask her that question."
This, to Hattori, was quite a shocker. He has known Kudou as a very communicative guy, especially when it comes to solving cases, so why the sudden change of character? "EH? Why not?"
For some reasons, Conan narrowed his eyes at him, "Geez, the girl's been having more than enough problems than she can possibly handle. Let's leave it at that for now."
"Oh, really? So, why's that stupid grin on your face?" Hattori told him as he placed a deviant grin of his own.
"Eh?" Conan looked at him dot-eyed. He didn't even realize he had that grin on his face. Finally after a while, he managed to say, "Ah, I just found out something reeeeeally interesting…"
Getting suspicious, the dark-skinned detective said, "Oi, oi, oi. You're not being biased or holdin' back just because she resembles Ran-chan, are ya?"
"Baka! Don't say such things! Of course not!" the little boy shouted hysterically, loud enough for Hattori's eardrums, but quiet enough for Aoko to not even hear. His arms were flying wildly in all directions; Heiji could've sworn it might pull off his body any time. He let out a resounding laugh.
"Ahahahah! I like it when I tick you off like that…"
Conan growled, setting both arms across each other, steam emitting from his head. "In any case, we should remain here a bit longer, at least until Nakamori-san decides to go back?"
"N-NANI?" Hattori shouted in protest, and suddenly froze to look if Aoko noticed their presence. Lucky for him, she didn't.
And so, they remained there, in close watch of her, in fear that if they don't, the unknown person they were trailing earlier might target her. It's better to be sure since they don't even know why that person's here at the first place; even more so, since they don't even know who they're dealing with.
Aoko's watch read 11:30pm, and with that, she decided to go back to camp. After all, she does feel hungry as well. Thirty minutes is enough time to get back to camp and pretend that everything's going to flow normally.
From behind the bushes nearby, the two cheered quietly for they can finally come out of their hiding place and get back to camp, thirty minutes before Ace's expected time to strike.
"Aoko-chan! Oh, thank goodness, we've been looking everywhere for you!" Keiko said upon noticing that her friend's back at last. She ran towards her and gave her a tight hug. Everyone followed, including their class adviser, who was just hanging out around the campfire.
"Y-you were? Ah, gomen. I just strolled into the forest and lost track of time."
"Well then, what matters is you're back. Who knows if there's an unknown enemy hiding in that forest?" Hakuba asked, flinging an arm around Aoko, who began feeling uncomfortable upon Hakuba's actions.
Tell me about it… Conan thought, narrowing his eyes at Hakuba. It was then that they noticed the two individuals who followed her out of the forest.
"Oh, so you were with these two after all," Akako indicated, stretching an arm to Heiji and Conan's direction. "See, Hakuba-kun, you worry too much…"
"Ah, y-yeah, they were looking all over for me," Aoko suddenly said, as she got out of Hakuba's 'strangling' arm. Although it's quite clear that she's equally surprised about them following her as well, she decided to just go with the flow and gave a false explanation about where the two had been. Conan and Heiji nodded their heads slightly to them in respect.
"Anyway, enough with that, what do you guys want to eat?" the adviser asked them.
"Anythin' will do just fine, naa, Ku-ku-Conan-kun?" Heiji shouted. "I'm starvin'!"
Conan gave the guy a menacing look. Talk to yourself, baka!
"Ah, Heiji-niichan, chotto ne…" the little detective pulled the Osakan away from the crowd with all the strength that his little body possesses.
"Oi, ch-chotto, what's ya problem?" Heiji protested. His partner-in-crime, however, refused to answer.
When he was sure they were out of earshot, Conan turned to look at him and said, "Look, there's no time for this. A few minutes from now and that Ace guy will come and get Aoko-san out of here."
"So, what's your point?" Hattori asked and raised an eyebrow at him in an I-do-not-really-care-much-about-it manner.
"SO," Conan shot at him, "It's our one chance to find out who that guy is and track them down!"
"You're over-reacting. We're not even sure if he's with the guys in black. He could just be an immature prankster for all we know."
"Yes, but it's better to make sure that no one gets hu—"
Just before Conan finishes his sentence, a deafening scream of a young woman cut him off. As quick as always, both detectives dashed off to where they came from and was dumbstruck when they realized that Nakamori Aoko was now being taken away by a 'flying' black thing—or rather, a person in black standing high up the nearest tree. Upon closer look, with his trusty glasses, using its magnifying feature, it surprised the shrunken detective that he somewhat dresses up like the Night Baron (with the cape, gloves and all), except that he's wearing this black mask, with a glass-like white object covering the part where his eyes should be. He was wearing a satisfied grin on his face on the direction of the stunned Hakuba Saguru, and declared, "Never again shall I trouble anyone else after tonight, for it is tonight that I shall make my leave with my beloved…"
"Minna, tasukete!" Aoko shouted. Everyone shouted in worry, not knowing that Aoko's words were just part of the plan she was weaving inside her head… Well, except for Edogawa Conan who knew that Aoko would allow this to happen without fail. From where Conan stood, he can make out of her worried face as she looks from one side of the campsite to the other, it seems as if she's looking for something… or rather, someone…
Kaito? she muttered under her breath… H-he's not here…
"Ace?" Hakuba mumbled in surprise. "You bastard! Give Aoko back!" Aoko heard Hakuba yell with anger amidst the demands of few students not to do anything that will harm their classmate.
Kaito! Aoko tried shouting, but for some reasons, a certain force was preventing her do so… Was it the fear of her being taken away, or fear that her best friend really has forgotten about her?
Tears once again rolled down her cheeks as her abductor, 'riding' gracefully in the wind, takes her away.
You promised, you idiot! Even if you didn't answer me straight out that time, I knew you wouldn't let anyone take me away (A/N: See ch6)…
With the star-littered sky, Ace makes his departure, clutching the confused brown-haired girl around her waist. The kidnapped Aoko just couldn't stand it, and she let herself mourn with the idiotic mistake she has made…
Kaito, where are you now that I need you the most?
She learned the hard way: some things are never meant to stay the same forever…
Their once uninvited guests began their silent investigation about the suspicious guy they saw out in the forest. This, unexpectedly, led them to finding out about Kuroba Kaito being a perfect candidate for Kid's alter ego, and a certain character by the name Ace, whose goal is to 'steal' Aoko's heart. It intrigued our little Detective Conan that the girl doesn't seem to do much about it, until his conversation with her, where he left with a grin on his face (leaving Hattori a reason to wonder why this is so).
Meanwhile, Aoko was torn between doubting and believing when she finds out Hakuba was just using her, thanks to a certain Akako who's apparently growing fond of the guy. Her newfound friend told her it would be best to choose the path which will make her happy, until Ace's new note reached her. This helped her make up her mind, though, and once again tested herself by willingly going along Ace's plans. Where will this encounter take her? What about Kaito? What could be the reason why she did all this? Does this have something to do with the little boy's grin? What's Hakuba playing at? And what's Akako to gain if ever this all ends up? Find out in the next chapters!
(Spoiler alert! Find out what Conan and Aoko's conversation is about on the next chapter...)
Notes, notes, notes (just in case):
*Mada mada – "no good", think Echizen Ryoma… xD
*Ttaku -I believe this is the shortened version for the word mattaku, which roughly translates to "good grief" or "really," much like how "geez" is used...
*Kora – I hear Ran-chan saying this to Conan sometimes when she's scolding him. I guess this means "hey" or simply just a way to tell children off of their misbehaving.
*Yappari – as some of you might already know, means "I knew it" (you already do? Yappari ne… aheheh, joudan… xD)
*oh, and "joudan" – joke. In Heiji's statement, it means, "It's a joke." I apparently (and desperately) tried typing it in Kansai-ben. I hope I didn't make a mistake on it…
*Ace's note – yes, he did put the "-signed, Eisu-" part (unlike his earlier note)… Eisu being the Japanese pronunciation for 'Ace'
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And the beach thing will be cleared up in later chapters… :D
Oh, and I apologize for how Hakuba has been acting. You see, I gave him this pill, which will force him to do whatever I want him to do for this fic… xD aheheh… Keep in mind, though, that this is part of his 'act' of making Kaito realize Aoko's importance to him. But, in a way, Aoko and Akako are totally affected by it. Way to go, wise guy!
LOL, Conan... he never fails to amuse me... :3 HE'S TOTALLY CUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!~ And even more if he's arguing with HOTtori... hehe (sorry for the pun. I just can't help it...)
I wonder how sensei's special vegetable juice tastes (or smells) like.. O.o
Anyway, hope you like it (this chapter, I mean). OH, and please inform me if I'm using too much Japanese interjections and/or if you're not comfortable with it... ahahah... I'm just putting my Jap learnings to practice.
Special thanks to Aoyama Gosho for producing such fine characters... :3 WE LOOOOOVE YOU! *cyber hug!*
As always, comments and reviews are looooved. Please drop by if you have time.
And, yeah, I didn't mean to make Aoko cry too much. It's part of the consequence Kaito has to take for being a dense jerk (although I think he'll come after me one of these days to tell me off about it... paranoid much?). XD
See ya next chapter! *chu!*
Love lots,
-neonquincy1217-
:3