The Other side- Part 2

Heiji drummed his fingers on the desk, completely ignoring Old man Mouri's fuming expression, as he looked down his best friend. Shinichi Kudo was currently being interrogated by one Hattori Heiji at the Mouri Detective Agency under Kogoro's scrutiny because the old man had no job today (or none since the past few months- He's been losing it since Conan left- Oh-what-a-surprise!).

Ran had invited Kazuha over and so naturally Heiji tagged along to see Shinichi. Hence the two girls are now chitchatting in Ran's room, leaving the men to their mutual musing/angry/curious/tensed silences.

Shinichi would have rather meet at Poirot but the girls needed to catch up and had decided they'd all go together to karaoke later and the boys were to wait for them. With Kogoro being in the way. Joy, oh joy!

"So … A girlfriend?" Heiji suddenly asked casually.

Kogoro seemed to snap out of his grumbling and shot an interested curious look at Shinichi. Said Shinichi rolled his eyes and answered tiredly.

"Yes, I have a girlfriend! Why is everyone making a big deal of this!"

"Well why didn't you tell me sooner? I had to learn about it from Kazuha! I'm your best friend, you're supposed to tell me these things!"

"The brat has a girlfriend? You're not dating Ran again, are you?" Kogoro suddenly questioned with squinting eyes filled with suspicion.

"No, I'm not dating Ran! You can stop glaring at me, old man!" Shinichi felt like rolling his eyes again but he refrained (no need to piss of Kogoro even more).

"There's actually a girl who wants to date you?" The old man let out with a gobsmack expression and Shinichi was tempted to remind him that his own daughter had waited on his whole Conan-episode to date him! Instead, Shinichi opted for diplomacy and carefully deviated the conversation.

"Her name is Tsukiko and we're not that serious."

"Tsukiko? You've never mentioned her before. What's her full name? Where and when did you meet her?" Heiji began questioning, soon joined by Kogoro.

"Is she cute?"

"Is she a detective?"

"Did you blackmail her?"

"How old is she?"

"She's older than you?"

"Is that her real name?"

"Is she a psychopathic serial killer?"

Shinichi felt himself quickly run out of patience and his voice sounded like a growl when he interrupted the other two men.

"Tsukiko Okami. She's just a couple of years younger than me and she's from Tokyo, Ekoda. She's not a detective or psychopathic killer. She's into magic tricks and plays the piano. She's also a KID fan. We met a few years back at a KID heist but never really got close until recently. AND NO, I AM NOT BLACKMAILING HER!"

The two men remained silent for a moment before Kogoro frowned and asked:

"You still haven't told me if she's cute or not!"

Shinichi cursed, lifting his arms up in exasperation.

"She's not cute! She's drop-dead gorgeous! Any other dumb question about MY private life?"

Kogoro considered this before looking at his newspaper, now much calmer as he spoke.

"Nope. I'm good."

Shinichi turned a glare onto Hattori who still seemed to have quite a number of questions left but just at that moment, the girls walked in the room, and they all left to go into town.

Kogoro waited until the kids were all out. He watched them walk off in the street, Ran and Kazuha taking the lead as they caught up with each other, Shinichi and Heiji following suite, with the Osakan attempting to worm information out of his friend about this Tsukiko Okami girl.

"So, the brat has a girlfriend." Kogoro muttered to himself before musing over Shinichi's words and reaction.

"Tsukiko … Okami … uh." He frowned at the odd name.

If he didn't know any better, Kogoro would have thought this name to be purposefully made up. But the Osakan boy hadn't reacted and that brat's writer father would likely have picked up on any suspicious aspect of his son's new girlfriend. Since nobody seemed to think anything wrong, then Kogoro must be overthinking things.

Weird though.

"It kind sounds like that thief What's-his-name … Didn't he get a weird nickname like that? Something Moonlight? But that'd be insane! It's like saying: I'm lying to your face and getting away with it! Nobody would be that reckless!"

The old man chuckled at his wild imagination. If the brat himself hadn't picked up on that, then Kogoro must be imagining things. Yep! Just a coincidence!

"Next I'll start thinking that boy's girlfriend is the blasted thief in disguise!" he joked and returned to his news article on his favourite idol, dismissing Tsukiko Okami from his mind completely.

"So Kudo, how come I've never heard of this Tsukiko Okami before?"

"Because it wasn't any of your business."

The two were back to their conversation while the girls enjoyed their singing at the karaoke. Considering Shinichi's skill (or lack of) in that department, he decided to stay seated and simply listen. Of course, Heiji would come and join him, torment him, and further interrogate him!

"No, that's not right! You would never go out with someone so random! You must know that girl quite well and if so, then I should have heard her name crop up in our conversations at one point or another. Since I don't remember this name, she's likely to be a new acquaintance and so she is suspicious as a girlfriend!"

"I told you I knew her from years back!"

"How many years?"

"Since before Conan, ok?!" Shinichi snapped angrily.

He's not lying. Technically.

Hakuba already established that Shinichi and Kaito had met during the Clock Tower heist so it's not really a lie. Right?

Heiji observed his face, seemingly trying to discern any lie from his friend. Eventually he relented but still seemed suspicious.

"And you've dated her since?"

"Less than a month."

Heiji squinted his eyes suspiciously.

"Are you lying?"

"No! I'm not! Ask her yourself! We even went on a date last week!"

Now that shut the Osakan up and he stared in disbelief at his Eastern counter-part. The look his was sending him made Shinichi feel quite offended. Now Hattori also believed he was incapable of social interactions?! That's rich coming from the Western Detective!

"Yes, I know what a date is! No, it was not by accident! Yes, she really showed up!" Shinichi snapped at his friend who lifted his arms in quiet surrender.

"I didn't say anything!" Heiji chuckled.

"You were thinking very loudly!" Shinichi muttered.

They both stayed silent a moment as the girls engaged in a new song.

"Are … you serious?" Heiji asked curiously.

"I kissed her if that means anything!" Shinichi muttered quietly and felt his neck and ears flush.

The mere memory of that kiss still made feel uncomfortable. Why had he kissed Kaito? It had been the spur of the moment but still … Maybe it was just the atmosphere at the time? Normally, he wouldn't be interested in guys, right? Well, Kaito is quite particular but still! He's not … interested … No! This was just a one off! Shinichi just felt caught up in the whole "date" thing and acted on impulse! It's all because the thief was too cute for his own good! No! Stop it! Stop thinking like that! You're acting! It's all acting! Besides Tsukiko isn't even real! And it's not like he wants to kiss her again!

Does he want to kiss Tsukiko again?

"Do you want to kiss her again?" Heiji voiced his concern with a curious expression as he observed each of Shinichi's facial telling.

"NO!" Shinichi barked suddenly and Heiji lifted an eyebrow.

"No? You don't want to kiss your supposed girlfriend?"

"No! I mean yes! I … do?"

"You don't sound very sure!"

"WHAT DO YOU CARE?!" Shinichi yelled and caused Ran and Kazuha to look at him with wide confused eyes.

"Shinichi? Why are you yelling?" Ran asked and Shinichi ran a tired hand over his face.

"Sorry … it's nothing …" He mumbled.

"Heiji! What did you do?" Kazuha immediately growled at her boyfriend.

"Why are you assuming it's my fault?!"

"It's not?"

"… Well, yeah, kind of but you could try and not assume it straight away!" the Osakan argued weakly under his girlfriend's stern glare.

"What were you guys even talking about?"

"Nothing! Just Kudo's new girl! You know … guy stuff!"

Ran's expression twitched at the mention of "Kudo's new girl" but she and Kazuha quickly returned to their own conversation and karaoke. Shinichi was feeling like sinking into the earth and disappearing. He was tired of people meddling in his private life! If Hattori weren't pestering him right now, Shinichi would be texting Kaito right now! The thief is probably the most supportive ear he's had over the past weeks! Plus, he's really fun to talk to! Has a good sense of humour, very well-read, pretty witty and quick-thinking, and fuck is he clever!

"You're thinking of texting her." Heiji pointed out while he observed his friend's face. Shinichi shot him a glare.

"You're not going to let this go, are you?"

Heiji shrugged and looked away towards Kazuha. His expression significantly softened as he watched his girlfriend and Shinichi wondered if that's what all people in love look like. Does he look like that when he looks at Kaito? Probably not. But then again, he doesn't love him.

"Why?" Heiji suddenly asked, his eyes shifting back onto Shinichi.

"Why what?"

"Why did you go out with this … Okami-san." Heiji paused on the name, as if feeling he was missing some major clue right in front of him.

Shinichi let out a heavy sigh and mused for a moment. Eventually, he decided there's no point in lying to his friend. Knowing Hattori, he won't let this go unless he figures out the truth.

"Because my mum wanted me to date and I didn't want to get back together with Ran! So I asked Tsukiko and she agreed to date me for a while until my mother backs off!"

Distracted from the name, Heiji shot his friend wide surprised eyes.

"Seriously? Does Nee-chan know?"

"Of course not! I'm only telling you this because you'll never believe me otherwise. To everybody else, we're normally dating. But keep that to yourself."

"And she's fine with that? Being your … what? Temporary girlfriend?"

"Yeah. She's fine with it. I'm not really her type anyway."

"Why not?"

Shinichi chuckled as Kaito's words flashed in his mind.

"She's not really into detectives! Too critical, apparently!"

Preview:

Heiji observed his friend curiously.

There were noticeable changes in Kudo when they discussed the matter of "Kudo's girlfriend".

Whenever "Okami" is mentioned, Ran would glare at Shinichi and Shinichi would ignore her. Weird fact number one.

Kudo is showing the beginning of attraction and affection towards his pretend girlfriend. Weird fact number two.

She's a complete mystery and yet Kudo clearly knows her very well. Weird fact number three.

[...]

It's not every day the Osakan is this quiet and pensive. While Kudo went to speak with the inspector, Heiji left the café (crime scene) and stretched his legs outside. He wasn't paying attention and so did not see when a young man ran into him.

"I'm sorry! I'm in a rush! If some crazy woman with a mop comes running this way, just pretend you never saw me!"