Naoko

Chapter One: The Mysterious Girl, Naoko

Conan Edogawa walked swiftly down the street, headed home after another rather boring day at school. He was eager to get home and see Ran, the girl he had his eye on. Conan had the appearance of just a seven year old child, but he was actually seventeen year old Detective Shinichi Kudou. He was transformed into a child after being force-fed a poison. Ran Mouri was his best friend in high school, but now he lived with her and her father, Private Detective Kogoro Mouri.

Kogoro Mouri was a lazy, drinking slob. Shinichi was surprised he could even be called a private investigator. He mostly relied on Ran to do everything for him, and Conan thought that a grown man should be able to take care of himself. As he walked into the apartment, he took off his shoes and called out to Ran. He got no answer, so he headed down the hall. He found Kogoro asleep on the couch, five o'clock shadow on his face and an empty beer can in his loose grip.

Conan scrunched up his nose and set his backpack down on the floor. He stepped quietly over to where Kogoro slept, avoiding stepping on old newspapers and empty cans, and took the beer can out of his hand. He tossed it into the garbage in the kitchen and paused as he saw a glimpse of white on the table. Cursing his small frame, he climbed up onto the table and read the note.

Conan-kun,

I headed off to the grocery store. I should be home at about five o'clock. You were late, so I hope you made it back okay. If dad wakes up (which I doubt he will), Tell him to go back to sleep. If Shinichi calls make sure to write down the message, okay? Thanks so much! See you later!

Love,

Ran

Conan scowled. He wasn't that late, he could've gone too! He shoved his hands into his pockets and sat on the floor dejectedly. He stared at the tiles for a while before locking his fingers behind his head and lying on his back to stare at the ceiling. His eyes drifted closed and he fell into a light slumber.

"Conan-kun, wake up," Ran said two hours later, prodding him awake. He stirred and blinked drowsily. She smiled brightly down at him. "Silly Conan-kun, why did you fall asleep on the kitchen floor?" she asked.

"Sorry Ran-neechan. I guess I was just more tired than I thought," he giggled. Inwardly, Shinichi rolled his eyes. It wasn't like he meant to take a nap on the kitchen floor! It's a killer on your back, seven or seventeen.

"Well get up, your little school friends are here waiting for you. Dad's slept through the doorbell again, heaven only knows how long they've been out there waiting!" she exclaimed. Conan frowned. He was usually a light sleeper, how could he miss that monstrous doorbell ringing over and over as three anxious seven year olds waited outside? He got up shrugging slightly.

He made his way out to the living room. Kogoro snore loudly, making him jump slightly. Ayumi laughed. Genta and Mitsuhiko guffawed loudly. Richard snorted in his sleep and rolled over, knocking three cans off the couch.

"Come on, Conan! Yaiba is at the mall again! 'Member what happened last time? We could have another adventure!" Ayumi said happily. Shinichi had to admit, she had a good attitude.

"Yeah, okay, I'll come along!" he said in fake cheerfulness. He laughed nervously as they jumped up into the air in childish triumph. Genta grabbed his arm and started pulling him out.

"Well what are you waiting for? I'm hungry!" he said loudly, pulling him along to keep up.

"Genta-chan, calm down! You can eat any old time!" Mitsuhiko said smartly. He took a quick glance at Ayumi, who wasn't paying the least amount of attention to him. She wasn't even looking at Conan. Conan followed her gaze. Her eyes were focused on a girl across the street in an alley. The girl was in a ratty, dirty dress, and her hair was stringy and grubby. She had deep brown eyes that seemed to stare into your very soul. There was dirt and grime on her face and other exposed skin. Her bare feet were cut and her legs and arms were bruised. She was looking at them innocently, with a glint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Hey, who is that?" Conan asked Ayumi in a hushed voice. She looked over at him with a sad look on her face.

"Her name is Naoko. She's seven like us. But she doesn't have a house or parents. She lives in that alley all by herself," Ayumi explained sadly.

"Then how do you know her name?" Conan asked curiously.

"Don't you know, Conan? She's a little trouble maker, she's always stealing stuff!" Genta said loudly. Shinichi looked over at the girl. Her lower lip trembled as she heard Genta's words and she turned and disappeared down the dark alley.

"Genta! How could you say that? You don't even know her!" Ayumi cried disapprovingly.

"Sorry Ayumi, but I don't like the looks of her! My parents say that she should be kicked out of Japan," Genta said.

"That's cruel!" Ayumi cried furiously. They continued to argue. Shinichi looked back over to the alley again. This Naoko was very interesting. He turned to Mitsuhiko.

"Do you know anything about her?" he asked.

"All I know is that her parents died in a car crash along with her sister when she was two. They found her, but she ran away from the orphanage. She lives in that alley, like Ayumi-chan said. She doesn't seem all that bad, but Genta was right, she does steal sometimes. But she has to be hungry, right?" Mitsuhiko pondered. Shinichi frowned, thinking. He remembered something about a car crash killing a family a few years back. He didn't know that the little girl had gone missing.

After a small argument, they continued their way to the mall to see Yaiba. Ayumi, Genta and Mitsuhiko grew excited again and Conan followed them towards the mall.

After an hour long Yaiba show, in which Genta had four hotdogs and Mitsuhiko and Ayumi had screamed themselves hoarse, they headed back to the street. On the sidewalk, headed home by himself, Conan found himself across the street of Naoko's alleyway.

He studied the alley for a while from across the street, before crossing quickly and getting a closer look. It was dark, but he could make out some trash cans and rags. The rags were piled up next to the wall, as if it was a bed. The trash cans were tipped over, as though someone had dug through them vigorously. There was a clatter behind him. He spun around quickly. Naoko was behind him, staring into his eyes. Her mouth was open in a tiny 'o' of surprise. She blinked and bent down to gather up what she dropped. Conan fell to his knees to help. She'd gathered almost everything and stuffed the bruised fruit into a makeshift sack. He held out the last apple to her. She stared at it before looking up and meeting his eyes again.

She hesitantly reached out and held her hand a few inches away from the apple. She paused for about half a minute, staring deep into his eyes. Suddenly, she snatched it away quick as lightning and shoved it into the sack. He blinked in surprise. Naoko stood up and hastily passed him. He turned and watched her.

"Um, I was wondering if I could get your name?" he asked lamely. She slowly looked at him again. "Can you talk?" he asked nervously. She looked down at her unsophisticated bed of rags. She looked back at him and opened her mouth. Then she closed it again and licked her lips. She took a breath and opened her mouth, struggling to find words.

"A little," she said slowly, with obvious effort. Shinichi noticed how she seemed to struggle with words.

"And, umm, what was your name?" he asked trying to make conversation. She made a thoughtful face.

"Naoko," she said gradually. Then she nodded smiling slightly. "Yes! Naoko, Naoko!" she said excitedly. Shinichi grinned lopsidedly.

"Well, I'm Conan, it's nice to meet you," he said smiling. She looked a little hesitant.

"Do you want to be friends?" He asked. She looked at him in shock. She was staring at him again. Shinichi wondered if he'd said something wrong.

"Naoko," she started. "Naoko friend," she paused, thinking. It was obvious she hadn't spoken in a while. "Naoko, no had friend, before." She stated looking somewhat confused and a little pleased.

"Well, I'll be your friend, if you'll let me," Shinichi said. He felt a little bit foolish making friends with a homeless girl. She didn't answer him. It was getting dark. He knew Ran would be worried if he didn't get home, so he stood up slowly.

"I have to go. I'll come and talk to you sometime, okay?" he asked. She looked at him but didn't say anything. He shifted uncomfortably and said goodbye before leaving. He ran down the sidewalk and didn't stop until he reached the house.

"Ran-neechan! I'm home!" he called kicking off his sneakers. She appeared in the hall.

"Hi Conan-kun! How was the show?" she asked. He shrugged.

"It was good. What did you do while I was gone?" he asked curiously. She smiled slightly.

"I tried to convince dad to get off the couch. He's so stubborn. Do you know how I can get him up?" she asked hopefully. He smiled mischievously.

"Did you try dumping cold water on him?" he asked impishly. She shook her head, smiling widely.

"Oh Conan-kun, you're so silly," she laughed. "Just like Shinichi..." she trailed off. She shook her head.

"It's getting late Conan-kun, why don't you try to go to sleep?" she asked. He nodded and smiled, yawning.

"Okay Ran-neechan. Goodnight," he said.

"Sleep well," she called down the hall to him. He changed into his stripped pajamas and sank into his warm bed. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty as he thought about how fortunate he was to be in a bed at all.

He fell asleep and his dreams were filled of Naoko and her deep brown eyes.