How I Feel
Chapter the seventh: Try Harder
A few weeks later, after Arthur had healed and they'd convinced Kogoro he could stay at their house, the two kids and the teenager walked home from the hospital. Arthur was muttering something about not wanting to impose, and Ran was hearing nothing of it.
"No, no," she chided, "You're not imposing! Of course not, we'd love to have you stay with us!" she said with a large smile upon her face. She held both one of their hands in each of hers as they walked down the sidewalk.
"It'll be so fun! You can share a room with Conan-kun!" Ran exclaimed. "It'll be like a really long sleepover!"
"Sounds amazingly exciting," Conan said with a large fake smile on his face. Arthur made a face at him. Conan stuck out his tongue in response. Ran smiled at their behavior.
When they reached the apartment, it was getting late, so Ran sent both Conan and Arthur to bed right away. An extra bed had been set up in Conan's room so they wouldn't have to share. They lay awake, both staring at the ceiling. After a while, Arthur spoke.
"This is all too weird," he said.
"I know. I've been a kid for almost three years now. Again," Conan replied.
"How do you handle it?" Arthur asked. Conan thought for a moment then answered with a single word.
"Hope."
---
Days passed by quickly in the Mouri household. Ran took Arthur everywhere, showing him around Tokyo. Conan tagged along, smirking at Arthur's embarrassment. Arthur was introduced to Kazuha about a week after he'd gotten out of the hospital. She'd stared at him suspiciously for a long time then smiled.
"It's nice to meet you," she said kindly. "You remind me of...one of my friends." Arthur gulped and nodded quickly.
"N-Nice to meet you too," he squeaked. Conan snickered.
"You know, you do look a lot like Heiji," she said.
"Heiji – Yeah, I know him," Arthur said quickly. Shinichi and Heiji had discussed everything that needed to be discussed just in case.
"You know him? How?" Kazuha asked.
"Cousins," he replied. "Yeah, we're cousins."
"Really? I didn't know Heiji had any cousins. Not that we can ask him about it now," Kazuha said. Ran scowled.
"Kazuha, I don't think that Arthur-kun wants to be reminded of that so close to the tragedy," she scolded sharply. Kazuha straightened her shoulders and muttered a low 'sorry' before exiting the room. Ran followed shortly after and they could be heard speaking in low voices from the next room. Arthur looked over at Arthur, who scratched the back of his head nervously. He sighed.
"They think you're dead," Conan said.
"I know," Arthur replied.
"Hey don't worry about it," Conan said, clapping his friend on the back, "They think I'm dead too."
"It's hard to do this," Arthur said quietly.
"Believe me, I know," Conan said. "But you've got to try at the very least."
---
"Time to wake up!" Ran hollered down the hall. "You're going to be late for school!" Conan immediately was up and getting ready, while Arthur watched, his heart full of dread.
"I don't wanna go," he whined.
"Suck it up," Conan said, tossing Jeans and a shirt to Arthur. "Come on, don't want to be late on your first day," he smirked. Arthur pouted.
"No fair," he grumbled, getting changed. They ate breakfast quickly and headed off for the school. When they arrived, Conan was greeted enthusiastically by the other detective boys and Ayumi. She immediately hugged Conan tightly and kissed his cheek, making him blush and Arthur grin. Genta and Mitsuhiko scowled at him.
"Hey Conan who's the new kid?" Genta asked rudely.
"This is Arthur, my cousin," Conan introduced. Arthur scratched his nose apprehensively. The boys surveyed him up and down while Ayumi smiled.
"Hi Arthur! My name is Ayumi!" she exclaimed proudly, holding out her hand. He shook it slowly. The bell for class rang.
"Well, better get going, don't want to be late!" Conan said, grabbing Arthur's hand and dragging him away.
"I hate kids," Arthur muttered under his breath. Conan laughed.
"Oh, come now Arthur!" he said, "You can't be serious!"
"No, seriously," he said in total sincerity, "I think I even hated myself when I was a kid!" Conan laughed.
"It isn't as bad as you make it out to be," he promised. "Just try to get through one day and everything will be fine."
---
Heiji banged his head on the table repeatedly as the bell rang for lunch. Conan leaned on the desk, watching with a giant smirk on his face.
"You'll never get through grade school if you get brain damage," he said amusedly. Heiji looked up at him, his forehead reddening and a scowl on his face.
"I hate children," he grumbled.
"Conan!" Ayumi called from the doorway, "Don't you and Arthur want to come for lunch?"
"We'll be there in a few minutes," he replied. She smiled and walked away. Heiji's eye twitched as he watched her leave.
"Kill me," he hissed, sounding incredibly evil. Conan blinked. he shook his head wearily.
"Come on," he said, grabbing Heiji's arm. "Or I'll get Genta to carry you out!" Heiji followed reluctantly.
---
"Heiji, you can regain consciousness now," Conan said, snapping him out of his daze. "School's over."
"YES!" Arthur cried in triumph. He bolted from the room, snatching his backpack on the way. Conan followed, grinning.
"I'm free!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Calm down," Conan said. "You look like a crazy person."
"Let's blow this popsicle stand!" Arthur exclaimed, ignoring him.
"Conan! Arthur!" Arthur stopped abruptly and Conan turned to look at who called out. He smiled as he saw Ran waving to them.
"Coming Ran-neechan," he called. He grasped Arthur's sleeve and dragged him towards her. She greeted both with a hug before taking their hands and walking them back home. She held a large smile on her face and seemed to be floating on air. Conan stared at her suspiciously.
"What are you so perky about?" he asked.
"I met a boy today, Conan-kun!" she exclaimed. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"W-What?" he stuttered.
"He asked me to out with him tonight. So lets get you two home," she said. He stood still.
"W-What?" he repeated.
"It's better this way, Conan-kun. If Shinichi is away so long, he obviously doesn't care about me," she stated.
"Yeah he does!" Conan objected, sounding absolutely mortified.
"Come on, Conan-kun. We're going home," she said, tugging him along. He followed silently. Arthur looked at him worriedly.
When they entered the Mouri household, Ran automatically released them and headed for the kitchen to make them dinner. Conan went the opposite direction and slammed the door of his bedroom at the exact moment Ran slammed the kitchen door. Kogoro looked up drowsily, a half empty can of beer in his hand. He looked at Arthur for a moment, as though trying to figure out who he was.
"What's their problem?" he asked.
"I don't know," Arthur lied, following after Conan. He entered the room silently and stared at Conan for a while.
"What do you want?" Conan asked irritably.
"Stop moping," Arthur frowned.
"Can't," Conan grunted.
"So Ran has a boyfriend. So what? All you have to do is chase him away. You can't tell me you haven't done it before," Heiji said.
"I haven't," he confessed.
"Then try it," Arthur said.
"No, I won't," Conan whispered.
"What? I thought you loved her!" Arthur said.
"I do but if she loves someone else, then I wish her happiness," he whispered miserably. His shoulders shook with sobs. Arthur quietly left the room and went to the kitchen. There, he sat down at the table and watched Ran cook.
"Oh, hello Arthur-kun," she said when she noticed him.
"Why are you dating that other guy?" he asked outright.
"Because," she started, "Because Shinichi hasn't come home yet. And I don't think he ever will. So I'm moving on with my life."
"But what if Shinichi comes back?" Arthur asked.
"He isn't coming back," Ran said curtly.
"But –," he started.
"Tell Conan-kun it's time for dinner," she cut in. he nodded and left the room with a scowl on his face. When he opened the bedroom door, Conan's voice floated through the hallway before he could speak.
"I'm not hungry!"
Arthur closed the door quickly at the tone of his voice. There was a knock on the front door.
"Well, I seem to be the messenger boy today," he shrugged, reaching up and pulling open the door. There stood a teenager, almost a man, with dark black hair and bright blue eyes. He carried a bouquet of flowers in his arms and a bright smile on his face. Arthur glared up at him hatefully. The guy scratched the back of his head nervously as he met the boy's glower.
"H-Hi little boy!" he started. Arthur's glare increased. "Um – Uh – is Ran here?" Arthur's glare deepened even more. Ran appeared in the room suddenly.
"Kentaro!" she exclaimed. "I'll just be a minute!" she said, running into her bedroom. Kentaro nodded slightly and shifted his weight, fidgety under Arthur's hateful stare.
"So, what's your name?" he asked awkwardly.
"Arthur," he answered curtly.
"Hi Arthur, I'm Kentaro," he introduced himself. Arthur just blinked. "Um – Is Ran your sister?"
"No."
"Oh," Kentaro said, scratching his neck. Ran reappeared in the living room wearing a short, midnight blue dress. He grinned at the site of her. She blushed slightly. Arthur made a face.
"Okay well we better go," Ran said. "Bye Arthur-kun. Bye dad." And they were gone. Arthur stood helplessly in the doorway. There was nothing to do around here with a moping Conan, a drunk Kogoro and Ran out on a date. But it was Friday! There had to be something to do. He would do anything at the moment.
And that something came way faster than Heiji would've liked.
---
Bum bum bum!!!!!!
Meitantei Mystery - Yeah! I did make up Martini and Rum! I figured I should come up with my own villians so nobody would be OOC
Sphinx - You're onto me! I am evil! But just a wittle bit
Firestorm2004 - You really think it's a great idea?!? ::fills with hope:: Yay!
Southpaw - The ending will be great.I have it all mapped out! ::pause:: Okay, no I don't. But it'll still be great!
PRIVATE - YES! Mini Heiji is extra cute!