Sky: I know this story hasn't gotten anywhere yet. Mostly. But I don't want it to slam it all in your face in just one chapter. I like doing things slowly, you know? But something's actually happening in this chapter. Yay me!

Disclaimer: And no, I do not own Detective Conan/Case Closed. But just in case you thought I did, I don't.

14 – Ran

"I'm home!" I heard a voice call from the entrance (I was in the kitchen making snacks).

"Hai, Ran-neechan!" came Conan's sweet, kid-like voice. "Haibara's with me. We'll be upstairs in my room if you need anything."

I hastily wiped my hands on a towel and stepped past the doorway leading to the kitchen. "Do you kids want any snacks? I'm in the middle of making some right now."

"Sure. Thanks, Ran-neechan!" Conan dropped his backpack by the door and dashed up the stairs two-at-atime.

Haibara followed at a much slower (and calmer) pace. She had her hands stuck in her pockets and was glancing around the room aimlessly.

"Is something the matter, Haibara?" I ventured. I had always thought the quiet girl to be quite….intriguing and somewhat hard to approach; only Ayumi's on a first-name basis with her.

Haibara looked up, startled, as if I had just interrupted her train of thought. "No, I'm fine. Gomen." And then she ducked her head, hiding her face from view by her brown hair, and moved steadily faster up the stairs.

I hurried back into the kitchen and finished making the food. I piled them all on a plate and went to bring them upstairs.

"Your food's ready," I announced as I pushed open Conan's door.

Conan was sitting on the edge of his bed with his knees drawn up to his chin. He looked deep in thought. Hiabra had adopted a more composed look; she was sitting on the rug with her legs crossed, her body turned so she was face-to-face with Conan. Her mouth was open, as if she was just about to speak.

"Er…I have your snacks," I said. It seemed that my presence in the room made everything feel quite awkward.

"Arigatou, Ran-neechan," Conan said distractedly. "Just put it on the table."

"You can stay over if you want, Haibara," I blurted out suddenly.

"Are you sure?" Haibara asked.

"Of course I'm –" I began, surprised that the girl would even ask such a thing.

"Positive," Conan said firmly.

Oh. So they're continuing that top-secret discussion they had before I interrupted them. I closed the door behind me and started to descend the stairs when I paused. I had finished all of my homework and there was nothing else for me to do (Dad had gone out early this morning because he "had something to check on"). Besides, what could some first-grader be talking about?

I pressed my ear to the door, careful not to make a sound.

"But it could just be a hoax," Haibara suggested. "I mean, do you have any proof that –"

"So you still think that?" Conan demanded. He sounded angry. "You still think that they were just joking around? When you know that they can commit murder – and have the intention to do just that? Get a grip, Haibara! You're more logical than that!"

"I'm just saying that –"

"Just because your family died at their hands doesn't mean mine needs to too!" Conan was practically screaming by then. I never knew that a little kid could become so angry, especially someone like Conan who always seemed so sweet and….innocent, I guess.

There was a sudden silence. Even I knew Conan had hit a nerve. What happened to Haibara's parents?

"It wasn't like I didn't try to save them," Haibara finally said, so softly that I could barely hear her through the door. "Good luck, meitantei."

The door swung open so suddenly that I only had time to move my face back enough so it didn't slam into me. Thankfully, Haibara seemed too distracted to question me.

"Is something wrong?" I asked. Again.

Haibara shook her head. "I'm fine. I just remembered that…ah, Dr. Agasa needed me home tonight. I can't stay. Gomen." And then she was gone.

I peered inside Conan's room. He had shifted his position so he was now lying on his back with his arms crossed behind his head.

"Life is such a crazy time, ne?" he whispered. I got the feeling that he wasn't exactly talking to me.

"Conan?" I asked tentatively.

Conan flipped around so he was propped up on his elbows. "Hai, Ran-neechan?"

When I said his name, I was more of trying to make my presence known than strike up a conversation, but now that I got his attention…. I had nothing to talk about. "Ano…do you miss your parents?"

"My parents?" For a second, I saw a look of confusion cross his face, but it was quickly covered by his sweet smile.

"Yeah. You haven't seen them for a while, right? Don't you miss them at all?"

To my surprise, he shrugged. "Not really." What? "I mean, they leave me alone a lot of times."

"They leave a seven-year-old boy home alone?" I demanded, my voice raising without my knowing.

"Not alone alone," Conan added quickly. "They leave with my family or friends while they're traveling. I haven't been to Dr. Agasa's for a while now because we have family members living closer, but they were on vacation so I got dropped off here."

I didn't like this one bit. "Do they leave you alone a lot?"

"I see them every year," Conan said defensively. "And it's not like they forget about me; they send me presents for holidays and stuff and souvenirs from the places they've visited, along with postcards and letters. Besides, I'm pretty used to it now."

"So they do dump you as soon as possible and take off."

"They're really busy, Ran-neechan. And besides, I think they're probably working for most of the time."

"Oh really?" Conan nodded vigorously. "What do they do then, Conan-kun?"

"Uh….I…don't know?" He shrugged for effect. "I'm only seven, Ran-neechan. I don't pay attention to these things; I like to play." Something tells me that he doesn't just play –if he plays at all – during his free time.

"Okay. Finish up your homework before dinner, alright?" I smiled sweetly at him and closed the door behind me as I left the room.

I then headed into my room on the second floor [A/N: There's three floors…right? Because in one of the movies, it said there were three floors…I think. Anyways, just pretend there's three and go along with it, kay?], where I sat down in front of my desk.

Who else do I know that doesn't see their parents often because they're overseas?

My eyes landed on the picture in the center of the desk.

Sky: Well? What do you think? RnR, please?

Conan: What does 'RnR' stand for?

Sky [jumps]: Where'd you come from?

Conan: What do you mean where did I come from?

Sky: Never mind.

Conan: Well?

Sky: Well what?

Conan: Well what does RnR stand for?

Sky: As if you don't know!

Conan: ….But I don't know.

Sky: You said it before!

Conan: That was before. This is now. So?

Sky: Please excuse us while I bang some sense into him. Thank you. Come back next time (if you don't see Conan, you'll know that he's 'okay'.)