Guess what I dont own! Case Closed!
Naoko
Chapter Two: The Enemy
Shinichi woke up to rays of sunlight running across his face. He blinked and stretched. Absentmindedly shoving his glasses on his face, he stood up and headed out to the kitchen. Kogoro was at the kitchen table, beer can in hand, nagging Ran to hurry up with his breakfast.
"Good morning, Ran-neechan," Conan said cheerfully. She turned round and smiled brightly.
"Why hello there, sleepy head," she teased. She turned back to her cooking and mixed the waffle batter.
"Will you hurry up?" Kogoro grumped from the table. Shinichi shot him a disapproving look. He sat down across from Kogoro and waited. Ran made the best waffles.
After breakfast, Ran started the dishes. Shinichi got dressed and told Ran he was going to the park to meet his friends. She smiled at him.
"Okay then, Conan-kun. You have fun, now! I'm going out to the mall with Sonoko, so how about you meet us in the food court around three o'clock?" she suggested. Shinichi blanched.
'Sonoko Suzuki! How can she be friends with her?' Shinichi thought.
"Yeah, okay! That sounds great!" Conan said. He headed out the door. "Bye Ran-neechan! I'll meet you at the food court!" he hollered. She waved and went back to the sudsy foam in the sink. Conan shoved on his sneakers and ran out the door. On his way down the street, he stopped in front of Naoko's alley. It was empty. He studied the alley for a little while before running towards the park. Ayumi, Genta and Mitsuhiko were already there, waiting for him.
"What took you so long, Conan-chan?" Ayumi asked. He laughed slightly.
"Oh nothing really. I got a little sidetracked is all," he said. She accepted this answer immediately.
"Well what do you want to do you guys?" Mitsuhiko asked.
"Let's play a game!" Ayumi cried happily.
"No lets go down to the river and catch fish!" Genta said.
"Yeah!" Mitsuhiko agreed. Conan just shrugged. They headed off to the river with buckets and nets from Genta's house. Catching the little guppies was easy, but Shinichi was sweat-dropped when Mitsuhiko and Genta began fighting over them.
"I caught them, they should be mine!" Mitsuhiko yelled.
"I scared them all over to you I should get them!" Genta argued.
"Hey you guys, Conan caught most of them, so he should take them," Ayumi said. That started up a whole other argument. Shinichi rolled his eyes and flopped back on the grass tiredly. A little nap sounded nice. Especially after almost a whole day with seven year olds.
'This is so tiring. Don't little kids ever rest?' Shinichi thought. His eyes closed and he drifted off.
Ran was tired. Sonoko had dragged her all over the mall, avoiding video games shops and pet stores, looking at clothes and jewelry and perfumes she could never afford if it wasn't for her father. And she'd flirted with probably every guy there. Ran was tired.
"Like what's up with you, Ran? You're not acting like yourself," Sonoko said. Ran shrugged.
"I guess I just have some things on my mind," Ran sighed.
"Oh I get it," Sonoko said knowingly. "It's that Shinichi isn't it?"
"No! No of course not! Why would you think that?" Ran asked blushing.
"You know you're totally like in love with him," Sonoko said easily, picking a dress off one of the racks. She held it against herself and turned to the mirror. "Would this make me look fat?"
"I don't know. And I'm not in love with him!" Ran said hastily. Sonoko just smiled and headed for a dressing room, arms full of outfits. She closed the curtain and Ran sat out in front of the curtain to wait.
'I don't like him. He hasn't even called in almost a month!' she thought.
"So if you don't like him so much, then why aren't you trying to find someone new?" Sonoko asked. "Hey can you help me with this clasp?" she asked opening the curtain and turning around. Rachel started buttoning it up.
"I don't know. I guess I'm not really in the mood for a boyfriend." Ran said thoughtfully. Sonoko snorted.
"Yeah, sure. Does this make my butt look big?" Sonoko asked studying herself in the mirror.
"You could look good in anything, Sonoko," Ran said. She unbuttoned the dress again and stepped out, closing the curtain again.
"So you should like go meet someone. If Shinichi even cared about you, wouldn't he have told you? He wouldn't have left if he really liked you," Sonoko insisted.
"Maybe..." Ran said. He wouldn't...would he?
"There are plenty of other fish in the sea, Ran. You have to find someone new," Sonoko said zipping up a pair of jeans.
"I guess I should. I don't know though. What if he's like, the one?" Ran asked.
"Don't go all psychology on me, Ran." Sonoko pleaded. Ran rolled her eyes.
"Sorry," she said. Where was Shinichi now?
Conan awoke to water being dumped on his head. He scowled darkly as Genta and Mitsuhiko laughed loudly. Ayumi smiled and covered her mouth so Conan wouldn't see. He muttered menacingly to himself.
'Stupid kids! I'll get them back!' he thought furiously. He was dripping with freezing cold water. He shivered.
"What time is it?" he asked. He looked down at his watch and cringed. It was already three thirty. He stood up hastily and started off.
"Conan where are you going?" Ayumi called as he ran.
"Sorry guys, I'm late! See you some other time!" he yelled over his shoulder. He ran as fast as his little legs would take him.
'Damn these tiny legs! How are those kids so fast?' Shinichi thought. He was already out of breath. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and crashed headfirst into someone. He went sprawling backward with a shout of surprise and looked up at who he'd bumped into.
"Oh, I'm sorry Inspector, I didn't see you there," He said rubbing the back of his head nervously. Inspector Megure smiled slightly and helped the kid up.
"Try to be more careful, Conan. You never know whose out on these streets. I'd better get going. Keep an eye out for suspicious characters," he advised before walking away. Conan headed off the other direction to the mall.
Sonoko tied up the back of the cerulean dress she'd made Ran try on. It went down to her knees and frilled out slightly. It was strapless and her hair covered her bare shoulders. She looked absolutely striking in it. It brought out her eyes perfectly.
"There! Perfect! Let's see that Shinichi try to run away after he sees you in this!" she said enthusiastically. Ran looked doubtfully at the mirror. She placed a hand on her stomach and straitened up as tall as she could, sucking in her stomach and sticking out her chest. She stopped and let her shoulders sag.
"I don't know, Sonoko. It doesn't really fit, I look huge in this!" she complained. Sonoko shook her head.
"Nuh-uh! You look great. I wouldn't le to you about this, Ran," she said seriously. Ran considered herself in the mirror then nodded.
"Okay then. I'll get it. Thanks, Sonoko," she said. Sonoko unzipped it and stepped out so Ran could change again.
When Ran appeared out of the dressing room again, she hung the dress over one arm and brought it up to the counter. It was a lot of money, but she had enough. Sonoko grabbed her arm.
"Now you need shoes!" she said zealously. Ran blinked.
"What time is it?" she asked her friend. Sonoko looked at her watch.
"It's almost four. Why?" she asked curiously.
"Oh no! I told Conan I'd meet him in the food court at three!" Ran panicked. She grabbed her bags and hurried out of the store. Sonoko rolled her eyes and followed her.
"Why do you always hang around with that little homeless kid anyway?" Sonoko asked. Ran scowled.
"He's not homeless. He's just staying with us until his parents get back from wherever they went," Ran explained for the millionth time. Sonoko sighed.
"Okay Ran. Whatever you say," she said rolling her eyes.
They searched the food court. He wasn't at the tables; he wasn't near one of the garbage cans. Ran was getting panicked.
'Where could he be?' Ran asked herself. They circled around the place again before Sonoko got agitated.
"Where is the little dork?" she asked. Ran scowled. There was a security guard near the information booth. She rushed over to him.
"Excuse me, sir," she said. He looked down at her.
"How van I help you, miss?" he asked in a deep voice.
"I was wondering; have you seen a little seven year old boy around here? He's got blue eyes and dark hair, about this tall," she said motioning near her waist with one hand. "And he's got big glasses. His name's Conan Edogawa and he might be with a little girl and two other boys."
"Yeah, he's a real nerd," Sonoko added. Ran elbowed her.
"Sorry miss, I haven't. I can call him over the intercom if you'd like," he offered. Ran nodded. He picked up the phone and spoke into it, his voice echoing through the store.
"Will a Conan Edogawa please meet his sister at the information booth? Conan Edogawa to the information booth please," he said. Ran opened her mouth.
"Oh, I'm not –" she started but Sonoko interrupted.
"Thanks," she said. He nodded and Sonoko dragged Ran away. "Don't Ran, as long as we find the little goofball, it doesn't matter."
Conan stretched his arms and locked his fingers behind his head. He walked along the street towards the mall. He stopped when he heard a noise behind him. He turned around slowly and walked back towards the alley he'd just passed, letting his arms fall to his sides.
It was Naoko's alley. She was there, cowering on the ground. A man stood over her, a knife in his hand and an evil glint in his eyes. She wasn't hurt, but she was scared, that much was obvious. The man was speaking.
"And don't you ever think about doing that again, you understand?" he asked. She nodded, terrified.
'What's this weirdo talking about?' Shinichi wondered. He was pulled out of his musings when Naoko screamed. He looked over quickly. The man had brought the knife over his head.
"Hey, stop!" he yelled. The man looked over at him. He froze.
'Stupid, stupid, stupid!' his mind raged. The man started for him. Shinichi cried out in shock and turned on his heel, running as fast as he could. But this guy was fast. He caught the back of Conan's neck and brought him up, looking him in the face. Conan struggled to get away but he was held strong.
"You little twerp, don't you know that you shouldn't meddle in other people's business?" he snarled. He peered into Conan's face and smirked.
"Let go of me!" Shinichi ordered. He squirmed as the man adjusted his grip to the front of his collar.
"I know who you are. You're that little detective kid that lives at Mouri's house. Well, I think you'll be coming with me," he sneered. Shinichi panicked. He was going to be kidnapped.
To my loyal reviewers, I thank you. ::bow::