Disclaimer: Detective Conan doesn't belong to me, all characters belong to Gosho Aoyama. I do wish the cute guys belong to me.^^
Chapter 4: Home Sweet Home
"Ran, wait up for me!!!!"
Ran turned to glare at the teenager behind her. "It's not MY fault that someone woke up twenty minutes late!!"
"I know, I'm sorry, but please, don't walk away that quickly!" The black-haired teenager panted as he leaned against the pole next to him, trying to catch his breath.
"Fine, but I thought you played soccer, mister. You should be fit." Ran hid back a grin.
"I know, but I just got back and it's not like you could do any better after two years of being a shrimp."
"What?? You get back here, Shinichi!!!!" Ran ran after Shinichi who had taken off right after he finished his sentence. It's so great that he's back. I guess I should be thankful. Ran smiled. I'm so glad to you told me the truth. I know it was so hard to tell, but I'm still very happy to know the truth, even if it was sort of HARD to keep your butt covered. Ran grinned as she remember once when Conan started pouring out his date with Ran and Kogoro had stared him down until Ran finally came up with that she had planned to buy him ice cream, but then ran into Shinichi. Surprisingly, her father believed her. (That makes him REALLY stupid, but wait and see, I want to think of Kogoro as a REAL human being, so there's still something coming.^^)
Ran was still smiling at the memory when she bumped into a dark-skinned boy and landed on the pavement. "Oww..." Ran said as she rubbed her head.
"Sorry, you okay?" the boy said extending a hand out to help her up. "I didn't see you."
"Yeah, thanks....wait, you're HATTORI!!"
"Ehh? Ran-san!" Heiji laughed. "Long time no see, neesan."
"Yeah, same. By the way, do you want to talk to Shinichi? He says you two are the best of buds and you're always talking about him," Ran pointed to Shinichi who was trying to climb over the fence of their school since the gate was locked and they were late.
"Ah? He's big again? I mean, he's back??" Hattori whipped his head around to look at the teenager who had been missing for two years.
"Yeah, and don't worry. He told me everything so it doesn't matter." Ran smiled.
"WHAT??? HOW THE HECK DID THAT HAPPEN???"
"Whoa.....calm down, Hattori. It's not like its bad or anything," Shinichi said as he walked up to the two teenagers.
"Okay, I'm confused so tell me the WHOLE story."
"A year ago, I was transformed from Kudo Shinichi to Edogawa Conan. I had to live a lie to protect those around me and you found out on that case-"
"I KNOW THAT!!!! I asked for what happened after that!"
"Okay, okay. Chill, jeez man," Shinichi said as he held up his hands, "So, a year later, I got tired and I told Ran everything. Yes, I mean, EVERYTHING. I wasn't counting on her understanding my situation and accepting me, but she did." Shinichi grinned. "I told her I loved her and she told me the same, although I knew that already....Owww!!!"
Ran slapped Shinichi. "That was your fault!"
"Okay, okay, but anyways, she always covered for me and we worked out okay, much better than I had thought. About a month ago, my parents came back from their 'touring the world' trip and they said they would be staying for a while so they would help whenever they needed to. By then, Ojisan, being as stupid as he could get, OWW(another slap from Ran) okay, sorry, so with MY help he actually encountered a case that had to do with the Black Organization. I, still stuck being in a shrimp's body, went and did some snooping. I found out about some meetings and then told the police. It did take a while for them to get there, but they finally got there and the B.O. was completely taken by surprise. Many of them got away, but we did get a hold of some big officers. Since then, the police has been discovering and arresting new members of the organization. Most of them didn't know that I was still alive so we're in no danger. Even if we are, there's like twenty policemen watching us all the time."
"Oh, really? No wonder I had the feeling I was being watched," Heiji said sarcastically as he looked around, but didn't see any police officers in sight. "They must be getting better at hiding."
Shinichi snorted, then said, "It's very surprising that you didn't know about this, Hattori. I thought you knew every single detail about the news since your father is the head officer."
"Hey, I was on vacation with......"
"Toyama, ehh? Yeah, I know. My dad contacted your dad and we found out. I HAD expected that you would help me, but I didn't want destroy your lovely date with Toyama-san."
"Kudo!!!!!"
"So yeah, your dad and my dad are still finding those guys in black. Any questions?"
"Yes, one. How did you get the antidote for APTX4869?"
"Oh, right. Forgot about that, didn't I? Well, Haibara was pretty close to a breakthrough when we caught those guys. When the police did charge into there, the members ran away. That hideout happened to contain the ingredients of the drug so that's why she could find the antidote." Shinichi smiled. "Works pretty well, but everyone once in a while, I'll get a major headache, but besides that, everything is cool."
"I see."
"By the way, since we're locked out of the school and I really don't want to go anyways, let's go back to my house and do something."
"Sounds good to me."
Ran frowned but sighed. That's Shinichi and Hattori. Too smart for school, but it is the last week of school and our last year. Not much going on. Besides, I need a break too. "Hey, you guys, how about we go to the restaurant by my house?"
"Okay, but where's Toyama-san?"
"At home, unpacking."
"How come she's not tagging along behind you anymore?"
"We're engaged."
"WOWW!!! COOL MAN, WHEN'S THE WEDDING????"
"Shut up."
"Come on."
"I don't know yet."
"Tell me soon."
"......."
"Okay, let's go."
"Anytime."
* * * *
"Kaito!"
Kaito grinned. He was half asleep, but still awake enough to hear Aoko call his name. It was during school, last week, last year, and last period. Nobody can concentrate then. The teacher was blabbering about some history stuff.
"KAITO!" Aoko called for the sixth time.
Kaito's grin even wider. I love to hear her call my name, even when she's mad. I guess it's because I love her and the way it's her saying my name. Kaito finally jerked his head around and answered, "Yeah?"
"I've been calling you for the last 20 MINUTES!! What's up with you? Anyways, I was just asking if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight."
Kaito blinked. Is Aoko actually ASKING FOR A DATE??? "Ehh, sure, why do you ask?"
Aoko slapped Kaito on the back while laughing. "You baka, you told me you loved me about a month ago but we didn't do anything. Akako and Hakuba have been pestering me about going out with you. If I don't make a move, you're NEVER going to, so might as well." Aoko leaned over to his desk and planted her lips on his. After drawing back and smiling at Kaito's bewildered face, she said, "Tonight at seven at Heaven Restaurant, pick me up." Aoko got up as the bell rang and before she left, she winked at Kaito and whispered, "By the way, I stole your first kiss."
Kaito smiled. About five minutes later, he finally got up, packed his backpack, and left for home.
Hakuba and Akako had watched the whole scene, actually, the entire class had. They were still standing there in awe, when Akako said, "I wonder how Nakamori-san got so hyper today. Must be the chocolate bar I gave her at lunch." She shrugged and left the classroom.
Hakuba blinked. "Lucky man, Kid." He sighed and got up to leave too. As he left, he called back, "By the way, you may not want to hang around after school hours. Pretty freaky at night. Besides, you'll be seeing a lot more similar scenes happening, so get used to it."
The class finally had movement. People gathered up books and papers as if nothing happened. Soon, the classroom was empty, except for the teacher, who still in awe had put a 1000% on Kaito's paper. "I better get going now," he said before leaving.
* * * *
"So, Kudo, when are you and neechan getting married?"
"I never said we were!"
"Oh, but there's no way you wouldn't have not proposed yet, Kudo. I never beat you at this kind of stuff. Besides, Neechan has a ring on her right hand." Heiji observed as he sipped his soda.
Shinichi sighed. "You know me too well, man."
"Spill it."
"Two months, on my birthday."
"No kidding?"
Shinichi nodded as he and Ran blushed.
"Wow, cool man!"
"Ehh?"
"Kazuha and I are getting married soon too. Our parents say a few months, but we don't know when. How about we have a double wedding in Osaka on your birthday, Kudo?"
"That sounds pretty good to me. How about you, Ran?"
"If our parents approve, I think it'll be great, Shinichi."
"Awesome!!!" Heiji cried. "Let's call them NOW and get it all planned out."
"......" Shinichi stared as Heiji jumped up, ran to the nearby payphone, and dial like the buttons where on fire. "I wonder what he ate today."
"Chocolate, a cake, extra helpings of dessert?" Ran raised an eyebrow.
"Something big."
Heiji came racing back with his cell phone. "Good, parents approve, date set up, now all we have to do is the wedding clothes and the guests," he said as he counted on his fingers.
"Dude, Hattori, what are you high on today?"
"Ehh, well, I.....uhh......" Heiji scratched his head.
"He's nervous as he's never done this before. You know how he is, Kudo," a voice said behind Heiji.
The three teenagers turned to look at the boy at the next table. Surprisingly, it looked just like Shinichi, except the hair was more spiky and messy. Ran and Heiji stared with mouths hanging open, but Shinichi looked bored.
"What brings you here, Kaito?"
"Ahh, I see you recognize me."
"Humph. I'm not that stupid. I once saw your face, Kid. I also know your voice when I met you as Conan more than four times."
"Pretty good."
"So, what brings you here?"
"Waiting for a date, she's using the restroom."
Ran made a 'timeout' gesture with her hands. "Wait, wait, wait. Shinichi, explain to me who this look-alike is and why do you know him."
Before Shinichi could begin, Kaito said, "Hello, Mouri-san. You don't seem to remember me. My name is Kuroba Kaito. Nice to meet you." He held out a hand. As Ran reached out to grasp it, a red rose appeared and Ran froze, shocked.
"Hey, don't be so surprised. I am a magician."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah," he answered, tucking the flower into Ran's hair and winking. Then he turned to Heiji and said, "Hey, Hattori. Don't look like you're clueless. Not good for your reputation, you know," he wagged a finger at the Osaka detective.
"Just who are you really?"
"He's the one and only Kaito Kid," Shinichi cut in.
"WHAT?"
"Chill, Hattori, it's not like everyone doesn't know yet," Kaito said as he frowned.
"But I would have thought you would be in jail or something......how could you......."
"I was going to, but Nakamori-keibu just let me go. I mean, who am I to complain? It's nice to be free when you know you shouldn't."
"Wait, but I still don't get-"
"Hattori, read the newspapers. His capture and release made every newspaper's front page. You can't miss it," Shinichi said as he tossed Heiji a newspaper.
Heiji shut up and started to read. That's when Aoko came back.
"Kaito, who are these people?"
"Well, they're sort of my friends or rivals, until I quit being Kaito Kid."
"You quit already?" Shinichi asked.
"Well, yeah. After the incident with Nakamori, I'm not sure he'll let me continue." He shrugged.
"Actually, Kaito, my father never knew about those organization people until you explained your story," Aoko said as she took a seat at the large table, which was made up the two separate table pushed together. "I asked you out today, first of all, because, well it's a date. Second of all, I need to talk to you about the Kid stuff. Ever since your arrest, you wouldn't talk about it, so I thought it may be a good time here." Aoko paused as she ordered a drink. "So, my father said that you told him after I left that those guys are dangerous and would stop at nothing for that gem, am I correct?"
Kaito nodded and frowned once again.
"So, my father thought it would kind of okay, if well, he let you continue to search for that gem since he knows you're on our side. He'll chase like he always did, he might actually outsmart you." Kaito snorted. "Okay, and that may bring those 'murderers' to light. Who knows? You always return your stolen goods so it wouldn't do much harm to try, would it?"
"Well, I guess, but is your father really sure about this?"
Suddenly, Aoko's cell phone rang. She picked it up.
"Hello?" She paused as she listened. "Oh, hi dad." She nodded. "Yeah, I told him......no, he just doesn't believe me, yeah....wait, you wanna talk to him? Okay, hold on." Aoko held out the phone. "Here."
Kaito slowly took the phone and held it to his ear. "Hello, Nakamori-san?"
"YOU BETTER CONTINUE THE BUSINESS OR ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!" Kaito whipped the phone from his ear before the loud, bellowing voice exploded his eardrums. He slowly held it up to his ear again and answered, "Why do you say this, keibu?"
"Well, first of all, the top officers had discussed your case and they think that finding that secret organization is very important and your heists play a major role in that. Besides, it's not your fault you inherited your father's job. Everyone does that. My father was a police officer too. He spent all his life trying to catch unbeatable criminals and he always failed. His dream was to be the first to catch an unbeatable thief. He didn't live long enough to fulfill his dream, though. I guess that lingered in me so I became a police officer and tried to catch you so badly. I wanted my father to be proud and I, well, wanted to fulfill his dream, too."
Kaito was at a lost of words. He had never heard Nakamori's story. He finally found his voice and asked, "Is that all true?"
He heard the officer snort. "I would say so, but if you would like to believe otherwise, that's your problem."
Kaito smiled. It's nice to think of Nakamori as a human being too. "Thanks, officer. I will do my duty. You just wait and see." He grinned.
Kaito heard Nakamori smirk. "Fine, take care of Aoko and tell her goodnight for me. Bye."
"Bye."
Aoko looked at Kaito with a 'how did it go' look. Kaito just grinned. "Everything's settled, so can we have dinner?"
The teenagers laughed and called over the waiter to order their dinner.
~At Mouri's Detective Agency~
Kogoro sighed. I'm so lonely. Now that Kudo is back, Ran's gone almost the entire day. How come Eri can't come back? I need her. I know I was mean and rude, but why can't she forgive now. It's been almost twelve years........I know that Eri's gets mad every time I go nuts when I see a pretty lady, but has she ever realized that those girls all look like her? Especially Yoko. When I first saw her, I saw Eri. I couldn't forget that happy smile Eri used to give me. Kogoro switched on the TV. He flipped through a few channels and suddenly sat upright when he saw Eri's picture show up on the screen. It was one of her recent cases. The news reporter was explaining how the queen of law has won another case. He smiled. I wish I could be as smart as Eri. I'll never be good enough for her, will I? Ever since Eri left, I've been trying to find someone to make up for the loneliness in my heart. Besides, Ran shouldn't have to go through my pain, especially since I caused it. Kogoro sighed again. Aloud, he said, looking up at the ceiling, "I miss you, Eri.........."
The shadow outside the door who was about to barge in froze. Kogoro whipped his head to the shadow outside his door. He narrowed his eyes as he walked to the door, cautiously. He jerked the door open and was about to scream at the person when he realized it was Eri. She had tears in her eyes but she was smiling.
"Eri! What are you doing here?" He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away her tears. "What's wrong, did someone make you sad? Tell me who and I'll go beat him up!"
"No, it's really nothing. I was just about to come and check on Ran, when I heard you talking.....to yourself...and I was.......moved and stopped....."
"You heard?"
Eri nodded and smiled. "But I was about to forgive you. I know that you didn't mean it, but I have improved my cooking so that it's edible now."
"Eri, you...."
"Don't worry, I'm coming back for real as she pointed to the suitcases beside her. "It's about time we forgave each other for one stupid argument and besides, Ran will need a woman to talk to about men, like you and Kudo-kun."
Kogoro smiled gratefully. Thank you, God, for answering my wish. "Allow me," he said, reaching for the bags. Eri looked surprised at first, but then smiled along with her husband.
"Thanks."
~after dinner, two couples and a dark-skinned boy were talking
"Too bad Toyama-san isn't here," Kaito said.
"Yeah, but she was very tired after traveling all around the US," Heiji replied.
"Hey, let's go out next time on a triple date!"
"Works with me," Ran replied, holding onto Shinichi by the arm.
"Same here," Shinichi answered, draping his arm on Ran's shoulder.
"Okay, I'll bring Kazuha next time, that is, if she will agree," Heiji said.
"Oh, I bet she will."
"That's really cool, I can't wait!" Aoko said, hugging Kaito.
"Here, this is my cell and home phone. Call me anytime," Kaito said, scribbling some numbers on a torn sheet of notebook paper, and handed it to Shinichi.
He took a look at the paper and then smiled, "Drawing in class too, ehh?"
"I get bored," Kaito replied with a grin.
The boys smiled and the girls giggled.
"It's been a great evening. I'll see you guys soon! Come on, Aoko, we have to catch the last bus before it leaves," he said as he shook hands with Heiji and Shinichi, grabbed Aoko's arm and ran off into the night.
"That was nice, wasn't it?"
"Yeah." Heiji glanced at his watch. "Whoa, it really is getting late. I better get going too. I'll see you next time, Kudo!" Heiji called as he ran off in the direction of the train station.
"Guess it's just us."
"Yeah, but now I get solo time with you, Shinichi!"
Shinichi smiled. "Then let's make it last."
Ran nodded and the two couple walked slowly, talking and smiling, into the moonlight, in the direction of home.
~back at the Agency~
"I can't say this tastes wonderful, but it tastes good, Eri," Kogoro said as he took a bite of his dinner.
"Humph, I practice, with help from some friends. You like it?"
"I'll get used to it," he replied with a grin and stuffed another clump of rice into his mouth.
"How dare you!"
Kogoro smiled as Eri glared at him for a brief second and then burst into laughter.
"Mom, you're back!!!"
"Ehh?" the parents turned to the door.
There stood Ran with a surprised and relieved look on her face. Next to her, Shinichi stood with a smile on his face, which sort of said, 'I knew it would work out sometime or later'.
Ran ran toward her mother and hugged her tightly. Kogoro smiled happier than he had in twelve years. Welcome home, Eri. Home sweet home.
~to be continued~
Well, the story's basically over, but I just wanted to add an epilogue. I may have some grammar and spelling errors so please point them out for me.^^ I hope you all liked it and thanks to those who reviewed. Keep supporting me and I'll finish the epilogue real soon. Thanks!
~mysteriousangelgirl~