I wanted to cry, laugh or get angry. Have you ever thought about dying and then get sent to darkness? After being in that darkness for so long, you were pushed out to consciousness, to reality and only to realize that you're freaking six years old again.

I blame whoever deity it was that has a grudge on me.

Memories of this life flooded my mind as soon as I realized I am not who I think I was. I wasn't Mei Lee anymore. I am named Kudo Shinobu now. I wasn't an only child anymore, I have a younger brother who's called Kudo Shinichi. I wasn't parentless anymore.

I have a mother who's called Kudo Yukiko and a father named Kudo Yusaku. And then, reality came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. I died. I freaking died. Haha. Okay, okay, let's back up... I DIED. What happened to my belief? I was supposed to be sent to nirvana where I was supposed to forget everything and live comfortably.

Why is it I have to live again? Couldn't I just stay dead? I know what you're thinking. "Aren't you lucky to have a second chance in life?" No, no I'm not. I would've preferred to stay dead, thank you very much. I would have preferred to forget everything than to remember it all and realize that I will never see my aunt again.

It hurts, badly. I'm a seventeen years old teen—turned into a six years old girl. Just when I thought I could see my parents, even though I wouldn't recognize them. So, I was born Japanese and in a fictional world for that matter. Kudo. I was born in the freaking Kudo Family.

Not just any Kudo family. The Kudo family in the DC: Case Closed series. Just when I thought my life was a bit rough, my life now revolves around cases— mostly murder ones. I mean, come on, Shinichi is a Murder Magnet. I'm his sister. I'm bound to be a Murder Magnet, too.

I watched it a long time ago, I already forgot everything except for Shinichi's main concern— the Black Organization. They were the true villains of this world. As I look at Shinichi's sleeping face— did I mention that it's night time and Shin and I share a bed? — the cold truth made me shiver.

I may have been an only child then but right now, I have a brother. This feeling of having a sibling is a bit overwhelming. Memories of this past seven years in this world made me realize something. Shinichi, Okaa-san and Otou-san means so much to me. They are my family but that doesn't mean that they're replacement for my old parents.

No. They merely made a new place in my heart.

Shinichi, as a child, doesn't really have any friends sans Ran and I. Mouri Ran is a very sweet girl if you ignore her violent tendencies when angered. I now realize why future-Shinichi loved this girl. She's patient, caring, sweet and over all has a great personality. She's really thoughtful. When Shin forgot to bring his lunch to daycare, Ran shared hers even though it wasn't much.

Then, my thought wandered off when Okaa-san and I met up with her teacher in the disguising department. Kuroba Toichi is a sweet man and Chikage is a subtle sadist inside. And then, there was the future Kaito Kid, Kuroba Kaitou. The kid is a gentleman in the making. He was starting to make older girls blush— most if not all was infatuated with the boy.

His peers are merely in the Puppy Love stage. Somehow, I felt unnerved by it. How could a five years old charm older girls with all his baby fats? Sure, he's quite cute but how could those girls be infatuated with a child? It was a disturbing thought and thing but meh, they'll grow out of it.

When Kaitou-chan and I conversed for the first time, his first action—not word— to me was to show off. He brought out a pink rose with a poof and a charming smile on his face. "Hello, I'm Kuroba Kaitou, what's yours, Onee-san?" My eyes were half opened and I knew I was making the boy uncomfortable with my staring.

He started fidgeting and I couldn't help but find this cute. "Kudo Shinobu. Nice to meet you, Kaitou-chan." His discomfort vanished and he beamed a smile at me. I knew, even without looking, that Okaa-san and Chikage-san are plotting something.

If the expression on his father's face was not enough proof, then the stares our mothers were drilling at the back of my head were. Before he could speak, however, a familiar voice yelled my name. "Shin-neeeeeeechaaaaan!" Shin drawled out and tackled me with a hug.

I stumbled but was able to remain standing. Shin snuggled and I noticed Kaitou-chan's jealous face. When the two met and spoke, it was the start of a rivalry with me in the middle of it all.

That day ended with a disaster, that I concluded before they even spoke to each other. My arms wrapped around Shin when I noticed his small shiver. Shin is my precious brother, Okaa-san and Otou-san are my precious parents. They are my precious family and Black Organization be damned, I'll protect Shinichi to the best of my abilities.

But first, I have to make sure I can somehow fight.

I skipped three grades much to my dislike. I'm in fourth grade even though I'm only six. Maybe it was because my senseis noticed how 'advanced' I was for my age or maybe I should have been more discreet while reading a novel written by the famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When they caught me reading it, they suddenly had doubts about my supposed 'average' grades.

They tested me on learning materials up to fourth grade because if I go any further, I'll surely be the target for bullying. I aced the damn test when I was supposed to fail it. However, under no circumstances that I wanted my sensei to call my parents about my 'supposed genius' intellect.

My parents knew I was smart and if they were called to school, I'm fairly certain they'll find it strange how a kid would hide her genius when kids are supposed to be flaunting it instead. And then, under their suspicious and analyzing stares, I'll definitely screw up and show how much I'm not a six years old kid.

A part of me regretted my choice but the logical side of me seems to disagree. Graduating early means that I can focus on my physical skills. And if I take up criminology, then I'm pretty certain that most— if not all— cases will be handled by the police; and if I am with the police, I'll always be there for Shinichi's— or Conan's— cases.

That would be a marvelous idea. Though, that part of me that regretted my advancement seems to find disadvantages. If I graduate too early, then there are chances that I might be too busy to go to my brother's cases. Hmm, maybe I should tone it down a bit. I never really had any real childhood. My former parents and I were poor and they were always working to pay our budget and my school fees.

So, being rich in this life is kind of a huge change. Sleep knocked on my mind and I let darkness consume my sight.

Much to my surprise, Otou-san knows Aikido. I know, surprising, right? While he wasn't really obvious in training me, he does in a subtle way. Well, he does in a form of a game, which was fun.

The training is concentrated on physical fitness, conditioning, flexibility, endurance, mental strength, relaxation and confidence and of course, technique. The techniques used includes: throws, joint locks, some strikes (usually limitedto usingthe hands), grabs, multiple attack training and even weapons training.

Do you know the game Limbo Rock? Well, he uses it to train my flexibility. During morning, Otou-san says that I should mimic the video he shows me. This video is about exercising that makes me use my whole body. Sometimes, before school starts, we go to the park for a jog for about thirty minutes before having our break.

Then, he makes me play Twister with Okaa-san and let me tell you, playing Twister with her is hell. I never knew she's so flexible and having a six years old body makes it the more difficult. There were times when I was about to give up but then, Shin would show up with that adorable smile of his.

And when Shin's with Ran, he'll show up with all his tsundereness complaining about something. How could I give up?

I was in the middle of helping Okaa-san hang up the clothes when Shin and Ran came running in. Well, more like Ran chasing Shin around. "Shinichi! Come back here!" Her face is red from either exhaustion or anger while Shin's face held horror. "I told you that I didn't do it, Ran!"

I snatched up Shin by the collar, stopping him and getting Ran to stop in front of me. "What happened?" Shin crossed his arms with a pout adorning his lips while Ran exclaimed, "He hid the notebook my Kaa-san gave me!" If I remember correctly, that notebook she mentioned is like a diary, with the lock and all.

"And?" Ran fidgeted. "It's... It's important to me." I looked at Shin and when he realized I was staring at him, he held his hands up defensively. "I didn't do it, Shin-neechan! I swear!" I sighed. I put him down gently, finished the last of my chore and held their hands as we left the mansion. "Um, Onee-san, where are we going?" Ran asked.

I ignored her question and asked her one myself. "Where were you two when you lost it, Ran?" Her face beamed in realization and tugged on my arm. I didn't really want to go and look for it but the girl looked so miserable. I remember from my past life that Eri-san, Ran's mother and Kogorou-san, her father will soon live separately.

Though, not yet divorced.

We arrived at the park where Otou-san and I usually go to for our morning jog. I left Shin by the swings, letting him pout alone. I followed Ran towards the lone bench in this area. "Here! I last put it here, Onee-san!" I pondered on the 'case'. Hey, might as well make this my first case as a child.

There was nothing out of place— oh, wait, there is. I approached the bench and picked up that one little piece of fur off the seats. Feeling its texture, it's quite similar to humans and at the same time, it's not. Its length is also questionable. Observing its end, it's obvious that it hasn't been cut once. Hair similar to human. Hair that has limitations on its length.

It sounds like it belongs to a monkey— "Yūjin, stop!" A voice exclaimed. Before I could turn around, something hit me at the back of my head and made me tumble down as I lost my balance. I grabbed the weight off of my face and stared at the monkey in my hands.

In the animal's hands was Ran's diary. "Y-Yūjin! That was bad! You don't jump on people's head!" Not too far from me, a boy was hunched over in exhaustion. Is he this monkey's owner? "Shin-neechan!" I mentally groaned. Overprotective little brother-on.

"Hey, you! Get away from my Onee-sama!" I feel like because of my existence, Shin will grow up having to be dubbed that he has sister complex. The stranger ignored my brother, surprising me and approached my fallen form. "Are you alright? My friend didn't mean to jump on you."

For a child, he doesn't have any childish aura at all. From the corner of my eyes, Shin was fuming from being ignored. I always forget that my little brother will grow up as an arrogant and attention seeking teen. Huh, I have to fix that.

He held out his hand to help me up and I took the offer. The Pygmy Marmoset leaped to his shoulder. Looking at him, he looks to be three years older than I am. "It's not a problem. Can I have Ran's notebook back?" I asked. The boy blinked and smiled. "Yūjin, give it to her."

The monkey looked a bit hesitant but complied to his friend's wishes. The pygmy slowly held out Ran's notebook towards me and I grabbed it with a smile. It's not a surprise that this monkey can understand me. They are a bit more intelligent than most animals. "Thank you."

The boy's cheeks flushed red and he coughed to get my attention. "Er, I'm sorry again, about Yūjin's actions and I'm sorry about him taking your friend's notebook." I shook my head and dismissed his apologies. "There's nothing to be sorry about. Your friend must have found the notebook without its owner and thought to give it to you to return it back, if you know the owner."

The boy seemed surprise of my words. "I see." His sudden smile took me off guard. It was so innocent and friendly. "I'm Kobayashi Ouji, and this is my friend, Yūjin." If anything, his name suits him. With the long o and short i, his name means prince and his surname means small forest. "What's yours, Miss?"

"K-Kudo Shinobu and that boy you ignored earlier is my brother, Shinichi and this girl here is Mouri Ran." I sent the future Karate Champion a look and Ran took this sign to thank Kobayashi-san. "Um, thank you for bringing my notebook back, Onii-san!"

And that was the day I found my new friends and found out that Shinichi is an annoying overprotective little brother.