Lost in the Shadows
AN: Sorry it took so long to write this chapter. I had writer's block for the longest time. I do know where this is going, so don't worry about that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan or Magic Kaitou. (Yet. Till trying to, though)
Chapter 1 – Cornered
"You sure that this is the place?" Aoko asked her friend.
"Yep. This is where the newspaper said he lived," Akako responded.
Aoko sighed and walked up to the door. She rang the doorbell and stepped back. When it opened, there was a young woman that looked a lot like her.
"Hello, how can I help you?" She asked.
"Is this where Mouri Kogoro lives?" Aoko asked, a little nervous.
"Yes, but he's not here right now. Do you want to come in?"
Aoko nodded, and so Akako and her followed the girl inside. When they were inside, she was greeted to the sight of a young boy, who looked a lot like Kaito when he was 8 years old.
"Ran-neechan? Who are they?" the boy asked, sounding confused.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Mouri Ran and this is Edogawa Conan," the girl told them, bowing to them.
"I'm Nakamori Aoko and this is Koizumi Akako," Aoko told them, bowing back.
Ran smiled. "So what brought you here to request the services of my dad?"
"My best friend, Kuroba Kaito, is missing. He's not been seen for three days," Aoko told her, holding up the latest picture of Kaito she had. "He disappeared after the last Kid heist."
Ah, Kaito-kun. Something happened that night, didn't it, Conan thought to himself. I don't think that the Kaitou the next night was you. He acted close enough that most were fooled, but he wasn't you. I know. Where are you? You always talked about how you would always come back to Nakamori-san, so why did you disappear?
"Let me see, Ran-neechan," Conan complained, acting like a little kid while jumping up and down to have a look.
"Wow! Kuroba-san looks a lot like Shinichi does. He just as baggier hair," Ran commented, looking at the photo. Ran finished and gave it to Conan. "I don't know much about detective work, but maybe Conan-kun can help you. He helps my dad a lot." Ran flashed Conan a smile, who returned it with one of his own grins.
Aoko nodded. "That's fine."
"Where was the last you saw Kuroba-san?" Conan asked, his face changing to deep thought.
"Well, last time I saw him was at school. I'm sure, though, that he did attend the heist that night. He is always at them," Aoko answered, a little startled that the small boy would ask such a direct question. Apparently, this was the usual, for Ran made no comment about it.
"I see. Who was the last one who saw Kuroba-san before the actual heist?"
"Um, I really don't know. His mom, I guess."
"Wait a moment," Ran interjected. "Wasn't that the night that Kaitou Kid was shot? And the next night he retired?"
"Yes," Aoko said, tears starting to form in her eyes. "Kaito didn't come to school the next day, and so afterwards, I went to his house. I found his mother in tears. She told me he hadn't returned from the heist the previous night."
"Hmm..." Conan pondered this information. "Do you know any place he might have gone?"
Aoko shook her head, her tears starting to lightly come down. "No one knows any place that we haven't already checked. He's just...just gone!" Her tears soon become a river and Akako walked over to her, hugging her.
Ran could feel her own tears starting to well up from Aoko's pain. "I don't know if this will help, but I know how you feel. Shinichi just disappeared one day and didn't let me know for a long time. I still don't know where he is and it hurts."
Why do I always seem to make her cry? Conan silently cursed himself as he watched Ran. No matter what I do, she always cries.
The three girls had a make shift crying session in Ran's living room that lasted a few moments. Soon, the tears were dry and they proceeded with the discussions.
"Aoko-neechan, is there anything else we need to know about Kuroba-niichan?" Conan asked, looking her in the eye.
For a moment, Aoko felt like he could see right into her soul. Fortunately for her, the feeling passed quickly and she shook her head.
"Well then," Ran said standing up. "I guess that's all we can do. I'll let my father know and if we get any more information, we'll let you know."
Aoko and Akako smiled and walked with Ran to the front door, saying their good-byes. Once they had left, Ran turned to Conan, only to find him putting on his shoes.
"Conan-kun? Where are you going?" she asked. It was eight o'clock at night, too late for a nine year old to be running around.
"I just remembered that I left some of my homework at Agasa-hagasi's. I'll be back in a little bit." He put a big smile on, hoping to fool Ran enough to let him go.
"Okay, but don't take to long."
Conan smiled and ran out the door. Instead of heading over to Agasa's, though, he headed to a nearby phone booth that he knew very well. After depositing the required coins, he quickly dialed a number that he knew very well.
Ring...Ring...Ring...Ran walked over and picked up the phone. "Hello, Mouri Detective Ag..."
"Ran, it's me."
"Shinichi? What're you calling so late before?"
"I'm sorry. I just need for you to do me a favor."
"What?" This wasn't the usual Shinichi behavior. He hardly every liked it when he needed someone to do him a favor.
"Don't tell your dad about Kuroba Kaito."
That shocked her really bad. How did he know about Kuroba-san? "Shinichi, how do you know about that?"
"Conan-kun is over at the professor's. He rambled on about the case to Agasa-san and when Agasa-san realized what had happened, he immediately called me. I'm asking you not to let your father in one this case."
"Why? Are you afraid that he'll solve it when you can't?" she teased.
"No." The response was quick and direct, surprising her. Shinichi almost never acted like this. "This is one case he won't be able to solve. I've been working on a similar one for the past year and a half. If you dad gets mixed up in this case, he or you could be injured or killed. I don't want that to happen." Shinichi sounded almost desperate, which was also unusual for him. "Please, don't tell him."
"Alright, but under one condition: You tell me what is really going on."
"What do you mean by that?" Conan could feel his fear starting to rise. She couldn't know that he was him, could she?
"There is no way that Conan-kun could have gotten over there, told the professor who then called you and then you called me in under five minutes. JUST WHERE ARE YOU SHINICHI?" She shouted the last part, hoping that that might get his attention.
Oh SHOOT!!! Conan swore in his mind. I knew I forgot something! So stupid of me! Why now?
"Um...um...I can't tell you, Ran," he rambled, hoping to come up with something to explain his mistake. Ran didn't give him enough time.
"Shinichi, I'll give you three minutes to get over here, or I'll never speak to you again. I've had enough of the lies."
She isn't serious, is she? She can't be! Conan thought wildly. Please let her not be serious.
"And if you think I'm kidding, try me. Though I must warn you, you won't like the consequences."
"R...Ran, please don't make me do this."
"You have three minutes, Shinichi. See you then."
Click...bzzz...bzzzRan felt her heart leap into her throat. If this worked to make him return back to her, then it was worth it. Even if it was killing her on the inside, it would be worth the pain. She didn't like leading him on this way, but there was no other way to make him tell her what was going on. She just hoped he'd forgive her afterwards.
Oh, great. Now what am I supposed to do? Conan wondered as he too hung up the phone and walked out of the booth. I don't think that the phone call was such a great idea now.
AN: What will happen now? Will Ran get Shinichi to tell her his secret? Please, review so that I know how you like it. Thanks a lot for everyone's support. Remember to hit the button down in the bottom left hand corner...yes that one...the one that says 'go' with 'submit review' beside it...press it...good!
