Naoko

Hiya folks! Thanks for the reviews so far! Now starts off the actual plot of the story. I don't care if this isn't how it worked or if this is impossible, so don't whine to me. This is how I want it! Ehehe... on with the story then!

Chapter Six: The Not-So-Norm

Ran set Conan down on the couch.

"Now you stay put and I'll go get you a blanket," she said. He laid his head on the armrest of the couch and sighed.

'I hate being on house arrest.' He thought scowling. Ran returned with a thick blue blanket and wrapped his in it tightly. She cradled him in his lap and leaned back, flicking the television on. He snuggled up against her, resting his head on her chest. He fell asleep.

After three days of confinement in the house, Ran allowed Conan to go back to school. She packed up his backpack for him and slid it onto his shoulders.

"I want you to promise to be careful, okay Conan-kun?" she said seriously. He nodded sullenly.

"Yes Ran-neechan. I promise," he said obediently.

"Good. Stay in close with your friends and don't wander off by yourself. I'll pick you up after school, wait for me there, don't leave without me," she instructed. He nodded again.

"I won't Ran-neechan," he said.

"Okay," she said finally. She hugged him.

"Bye Ran-neechan," he said, hugging her back.

"Bye Conan-kun. Have fun," she said giving him a gentle push towards the building. He stepped foreword then stopped, looking back. Ran had never seen him so nervous to go to school. He'd walked in easily all by himself on the first day, but now he didn't even want to step on the driveway.

"Ran..." he trailed off.

"Its okay, Conan-kun," she whispered. "No one can hurt you in there."

'I'm more worried for you Ran,' he thought.

"I don't want to go," he said obstinately.

"I know Conan-kun. But you have to go to school," she said. "There's only a week left, anyway. Just one week, then I'll spend the whole summer with you."

"Promise Ran-neechan?" he asked.

"I promise. I'll never leave you alone again. I'll always be by your side," she said hugging him. He hugged her back and laid his head on her shoulder.

"Well...okay," he said finally. He shifted his backpack slightly and turned around. Taking a deep breath, he nodded slightly to himself and started up the driveway. As he entered the building he met up with Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko. They greeted him hesitantly, almost afraid.

"Hi, Conan-kun," Ayumi said blushing slightly.

"Hi Ayumi-san! Hi guys," he added.

"So... what's going on?" Mitsuhiko asked.

"Nothing," Shinichi said slowly.

"Oh." He replied lightly.

"What?" Conan asked outright.

"What do you mean 'what'?" Genta asked quickly.

"Awkward," Conan muttered under his breath. They didn't say anything more.

---

After school, his friends were still acting strangely and didn't want to hang out in the park like they usually did. But Conan wasn't supposed to be alone, and Ran wasn't there to pick him up yet. So he waited, on the front steps of the simple school.

"Hey, kid," said a voice. He looked up. It was a local kid from his school, Kaito Kuroba. He gazed down innocently enough, but Conan was suspicious. As usual. He frowned.

"Hi," he said, fixing his eyes back on the ground.

"What's going on? Why would a little kid be at school when he was dismissed? Don't you kids like to go run around and make mischief in the park?" he asked with a smirk.

"I'm supposed to wait for my friend here, but she's late," Conan said.

"You mean Ran?" Kaito asked.

"Yeah," Shinichi said, tracing an invisible image on the steps with his finger. He sighed and looked up as Kaito sat next to him.

"I can take you home if you want," he offered. Conan looked up.

"No thanks. I promised," he answered.

"If you're sure. I'd better be off then," he said, getting to his feet. Conan just nodded. Kaito walked off, leaving Conan with his thoughts.

'That kid's weird. I don't know about him,' he thought. 'He looks like me. I mean the Shinichi me, not little me. And so does Kaitou Kid. It's odd, they're so similar. Wait a second!' he thought, eyes widening. He straitened up, looking in the direction Kaito had walked off in. 'No, it can't be!'

---

Ran was late. Half an hour late to be exact. Conan was anxious. Thirty one minutes late. Where was she? Did she get lost? Thirty two minutes. Where was she?

There was a crash from down the street. Screaming followed. He stood up quickly. Could Ran be there? A swooping figure in white landed in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere. It was Kaitou Kid. He backed up instinctively.

"Hey there," Kid said with a gleaming smile on his face. "What have you been up to Kudou?"

"Back off Kid. Just go!" he said nervously. "Go!"

"'Kay. But you're coming with me," he said, scooping the boy into his arms. Conan squirmed and struggled, but he couldn't get away. And Kaitou Kid ran off before anyone could stop him.

---

Kid sat the boy in a chair and sat across from him. He touched together his fingertips and stared at the boy in front of him.

"Ran's not going to be happy with you! She'll break you in half like a toothpick!" Conan said warningly.

"What's the matter, Kudou? Need your girlfriend to save you?" Kid mocked. Shinichi started to stand up, but Kid reached over and forced him back down, binding his wrists to the arms of the chair.

"Damn it Kid! Let me go!" he snarled, struggling to unbind his wrists.

"Such naughty words for such a young child," Kid teased, grinning evilly.

"You haven't heard 'naughty words' yet, Kid," he ground out through clenched teeth. Kid just smirked.

"Look, Kudou, I don't want you here either, so lets get on with this, shall we?" he said. Shinichi growled.

"Just untie me! You'll regret it if you don't! I may be small, but I'll make you regret it!" he hissed.

"I can help you get your friend back," Kid interrupted. Shinichi froze.

"What do you know about it?" he asked finally.

"I see I've finally got your attention," Kid sounded satisfied. "They're planning on killing her. Then using her blood for some dark magic to do some sort of ritual, I don't know much about it, but it's bad. I assure you."

"What do we do?" Conan asked.

"Ah, ah, ah, little detective, if you think I'm going to help you out for nothing, you may have to think twice," Kid smiled.

"What?" Shinichi gaped.

"It won't be bad. Not really bad, anyway. You'll live through it. At least, I think you will," he said sinisterly.

"What is it?" Shinichi asked after a moment. Kid smiled widely.

"Help me pull off the heist of the century. Show me how to clean up my tracks when I'm doing it. Tell me how to do it without getting caught," he said.

"No way!" Conan yelped.

"Come on, Kudou. You want your little friend to die?" Kid asked. "It'll be easy. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Do we have a deal?"

"I – I –," Shinichi stuttered. His thoughts whirled around his head. He had no idea what to do.

"I'm going to break you in half, Kid!" a new female voice interrupted. He spun around to look and Conan let out a whoop of triumph and relief. Ran's eye was twitching, there was a pulse on her forehead, and she looked absolutely furious. Kid looked calm however.

"Think about what I said, Conan," Kid smirked. And then, he disappeared. Shinichi slumped in the chair. Could Kid really help him? If they killed Naoko, would something terrible happen, just as Kid warned him? Would it be worth the guilt if he did help?

"Oh, Conan-kun!" Ran cried. She untied his wrists quickly and hugged him close.

"I'm fine, Ran-neechan," Shinichi said blushing.

"I'm so sorry! If I wasn't late this wouldn't have happened. What did he say to you?" she demanded suddenly.

"N – Nothing! He didn't say anything!" he lied. Ran frowned.

"I heard him say 'Think about what I said, Conan.' But where does he know you from? Conan-kun," she said looking him strait in the eye, "It is very important you tell me."

"He didn't say anything! He's just a bully anyway. It doesn't matter," Shinichi said.

"Conan-kun, please tell me, I just want to help," she pleaded.

"None of my friends like me anymore," he changed the subject. And thankfully, she followed along with it.

"Why do you say that Conan-kun?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know. They don't want to talk to me," he fake sulked.

"They're probably just nervous. You were all over the news," Ran whispered shaking her head slightly.

"Will you stop being my friend too?" he asked innocently.

"Never, Conan-kun. Not ever in a million, billion, trillion years," she promised, pulling him into another hug.

"Thanks Ran-neechan," he whispered.

Kid's words were still echoing through his head later that night.

'I can help you find your friend...'

'You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours...'

'They're planning on killing her...'

'Help me pull off the heist of the century...'

He had to talk to Kid.

---

Conan opened the front door and shoved on his sneakers. He knew Ran would kill him for leaving, but this was important. This could either save or take away an innocent girl's life. So he crept out into the hall and ran towards the school.

Once there, he checked around. Perfect Kid, he hadn't left any clues. Conan scowled and parked himself on the steps, like he had earlier. After a few moments, Kid stepped out and stood in front of him.

"So. Are you going to help me?" he asked. Shinichi looked down at his hands.

"Y–Yes."

---

Reviewers!

PRIVATE - hehehehe....i love that word for some reason. wimpier. snicker

Firestorm2004 - hey! don't be cutting to conclusions now!

Wing Omega - That's the spirit!

kristanite - do you usually talk to yourself?