Hey all! Thank you for the reviews...I love you all! Anyway, normally I would rant and rant about stuff in the chapters, but today I don't feel like it. Because I have about 8 zillion homework assignments I should be doing right now! Huzzah! Reviewers now!
YumeTakato: I'm glad you're enjoying it!
tively-split: Yeah, I was laughing when I wrote that, too. Can't you picture it perfectly?
Cricket-chan: Hakuba, definitely! He is not spoken for (I think?), plus he has a falcon (that is awesome)! Aoko would be out for your blood if you took Kaito.
mysteriousangelgirl: Um...I guess...(Observes Eri and Kogoro bickering loudly between chapters about how many egg rolls they ordered for lunch)...Yeah, they are perfect.
magicbulletgirl: Yay, I'm glad my story makes you feel happy! With all the incredibly heavy 'Shinichi dies, Ran never recovers' stuff floating around on this site, I wanted to do something original and funny. I hope it is!
So, um, here's the chapter.
When something goes wrong
I'm the first to admit it
I'm the first to admit it
And the last one to know
When something goes right
Well it's likely to lose me, mm
It's apt to confuse me
It's such an unusual sight
Oh, I can't, I can't get used to something so right
Something so right
-Paul Simon, "Something So Right"
"Class, I have an important announcement."
Another day, another pointless announcement. I wish Eri would stop acting so weird, though. I mean, she's been looking at me funny ever since yesterday and that whole 'yes-I-can-read' incident.
"Despite last year's fiasco with decorations-"
Blah blah blah. Do I care? No. Of course, Eri 'perfect' Kisaki is at rapt attention. Actually, it looks like most of the people in here are paying attention. I wonder if there's some strange sickness going around?
"-It is important to remember our school's attitudes about dating and be on our BEST-"
Hm, if there IS something going around, no one's told me about it. I'd better hold my breath, or I'll get the germ.
"-The music will be voted on by the students, you can submit-"
Oh, man, holding your breath for over ten seconds is hard. Is she done yet?
"-Of course, that being said-"
-The cafeteria will continue to serve bad food? Skirt lengths will not be shortened, despite male population's protests? Math remains mandatory? Come on, can't we have some announcement that's hard-hitting, fun, ATTENTION GRABBING?
"-I am pleased to announce that there will be a Valentine's Day Dance, previously unscheduled, do to the brilliant negotiating skills of our own class representative, Eri Kisaki."
...Oh. Everyone's cheering. Eri's standing up.
You've got my attention NOW.
"Geez, Eri, why didn't you tell me you were planning some dance?"
Eri sniffed and continued walking.
"If you paid attention in class for once, you might have heard Mikazawa-sensei announce it several times."
Kogoro stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Fine, Ms. Uptight. But you still could have told me that you were the one 'negotiating' for the dance."
She didn't answer.
He scratched his head, thinking.
"Come to think of it, you've never been much of a party animal. Why'd you push for this Valentine's Day thing anyway?"
"Well, you know...everyone wanted a dance, and I know I'm good at speaking and debate, so I just thought...well, I'll try and persuade them to go through with it, and it worked..."
Eri trailed off, distantly.
"You sure there's not some 'special guy' you want to give chocolate to, or something?" he asked, suspiciously.
Does he know-?
She blushed, but looked away, flustered and annoyed.
"Even if there WAS, why is it any of your business?" she snapped.
He pointed his finger at her, accusatorily.
"So there is someone! Tell me who it is!"
"First of all, who said there is anyone? Second of all, you think if there was someone I would tell you? The whole school would know the next day!" she turned to face him, yelling.
"Of course there's someone!" he yelled back, "Why else would you be blushing?!"
"Who says I'm not turning red because I'm ANGRY!?"
He opened his mouth to shout something back, but immediately closed it upon seeing her face.
"...Eri? What's wrong? Stop crying." he said, softly.
"I'm not crying." she answered, tears in her eyes.
"...Eri..." Kogoro reached out to touch Eri's arm, but she pulled away angrily.
"Why do you always have to make things so...so...so DIFFICULT?"
And with that, she stormed off, leaving one very emotionally confused Kogoro Mouri.
Whoever said that boys mature slower than girls was wrong. Because they don't mature. At all. I have yet to see the faintest sign that Kogoro has matured since the day I met him.
Grrrr...WHY DOES HE HAVE THIS AFFECT ON ME????
Oh, I know. Because he's a stupid, stubborn, oafish, rude, inconsiderate, lazy, annoying-
...Sweet, caring, fun, funny, brave...
Oh. My. God.
Am I...
Do I...
No.
Then why are you waiting by your phone for him to call?
No.
Then why does he always make you blush?
No.
The why do you always worry about him?
No!
Then why do your many male admirers never interest you at all?
NO!
Then why are you insanely jealous whenever he flirts with other girls?
NO! Nononononononono! I'm NOT jealous, evil little voice in my head! I've taken pity on the poor girls, that's all! It's Kogoro I'm angry with, NOT the girls! No!
Liar...
Shut up! We're friends, that's all! That's it!
Then why did you not tell him who it is that you like? Oh, that's right. It's him.
...WHO TOLD YOU THAT????
I'm the little voice inside your head. I know these things.
...Leave me alone...
Not until you admit it.
Admit what?
That you, one Eri Kisaki, are hopelessly in love with one, Kogoro Mouri.
No! I will never, ever admit it!
So, wait, you admit that it's true, then? Because you just said you 'will never admit it', but by saying that, you just admitted that you will never SAY it, but you never actually DENIED it-
Okay, fine! I love him, alright? I. Am. In. Love. With. My. Best. Friend.
Whose name is?
Kogoro Mouri! Eri Kisaki loves Kogoro Mouri, despite him being a baka! I ADMIT IT! Now, leave me alone you...you...say, what are you?
The incongruous little being that is the voice of reason in your brain. And I can't leave you alone; admittance is only the first step. So, now that we have admitted that we are in love with Kogoro, what are we going to do about it?
Who's 'we'?
Oh, forget it! So, are you going to tell Kogoro?
TELL him? Who said anything about TELLING him??
So what, you're never going to tell him?
...Um, well, I never said that, it's just...
What, you afraid of being rejected? For a 'super genius' you sure are thick sometimes.
What's THAT supposed to mean???
Come on, he OBVIOUSLY likes you. Why, just today he thought that you liked some other guy and got REALLY jealous. And what about all those things he said to Kakashi about you? He never denied it when Kakashi said all those things about the two of you going out!
That's true...
Besides, technically if he didn't like you, you wouldn't even exist because it's going to be Ran who takes Shinichi to Tropical Land and that's the reason that he becomes Conan and creates 'Detective Conan', so if you two didn't get together and have Ran then none of that would have ever happened-
...What are you talking about?
Um...nothing. Just forget I said ANY of that. I, um...have an appointment with Kagome of Inu-yasha, so I...er, gotta run! Just talk to Kogoro!
Um...okay?
The little 'voice' has left. I am in love and a schizophrenic. Just perfect.
I have never noticed how fun it is to moan in agony into one's pillow before today. It's relieving me of some of my stress, I think...or at least it's stifling the sound.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
Oh, great the phone's ringing. Probably someone who wants to sell us something...why can't they see they're calling the house of a love-sick girl?????
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
Wait a minute. That phone's ringing! I could be Kogoro!
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
Do I answer it?? Do I screen it?? Do I lie down and die???
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
Too late.
(BEEP) Hello, You've reached Eri Kisaki's phone! If you're listening to this, it probably means I'm out boxing my friend Kogoro's ears! Leave me a message and I'll get back to you when I'm done! (BEEP)
I've always loved that message. I've had it on my phone since 7th grade.
"I can't believe you still have that on your phone, Eri! It's NOT funny anymore!"
Damn. It is Kogoro.
"Um, anyway, I know you're there, cause I'm not being seriously hurt right now, so can you pick up? Please?"
I need a flower right now. 'I pick it up. I don't pick it up. I pick it up. I don't pick it up."
He's sighing over the phone...
"Okay, fine, don't pick up, but I know you're there. Look, about today...well, I'm sorry. If you like some guy, its, um...your business. I'm sure that whoever it is isn't good enough for you, though."
Isn't THAT the truth. Baka.
"Some, um, yeah...oh, and about tomorrow? Don't wait for me at my house; I've got...stuff to do at school, so I'm going early. Hope you don't mind walking by yourself."
Wait a minute...Kogoro Mouri, skipper extraordinaire, is going to school early? Oh, like that's not incredibly suspicious.
"I'm going to hang up the phone now..."
I can't take this anymore.
"Wait, Kogoro! Kogoro, are you still there? Kogoro??"
Damn it all. Dial tone.
Well, at least I know she was there and still didn't have to talk to her. She must have been sitting by that phone, cursing me under her breath.
She really gives out mixed signals.
It's driving me insane.
One minute she's yakking my ear off, probably talking about how the world would be better off without me (I say probably because I try not to pay attention anymore. I find if I do I start to agree with her), the next she's blushing and giving me this look.
That look.
Screw hormones. They're bad enough to deal with without the other feelings I have for Eri. The 'deeper' feelings...
I love her.
I mean, I've always liked her, even though we've fought non-stop since kindergarten I like her. She's smart, funny, I mean, EVERYONE likes her. And it's no wonder why. We all know that she's a great friend; she'll never hesitate to help someone who's struggling with his or her homework or something. She's always been quiet, nice and polite to everyone...
Except me.
Something about me sets her off. It doesn't matter what I do, because the fact is that I'M the one doing it. And if I'm doing it, it's wrong.
Eri gets angry. She yells, lectures, nags, scorns, accuses, ABUSES and otherwise bugs me. I bring out the lioness in the lamb. The otherwise 'docile' creature that is Eri Kisaki is lost to me.
I don't know what's cuter. Quiet, smiling, blushing Eri, or angry, glaring, blushing Eri.
Maybe equally cute, but for different reasons.
Eri and I have stuck together since childhood, for reasons that really allude me. I mean we're two COMPLETELY different people, but without her...
I would never feel whole.
It's either Ying and Yang, or...a match made in hell.
I haven't known that I love her for very long. I mean, only like, this year. I think it was after that disturbing video in health class...but that's a story for a different time.
The fact is, I can't tell her.
Not yet.
I mean, what if she doesn't feel the same for me?
Excuse me, stupid question.
Of course she doesn't.
...But then again, that look...
No, she can't! She told me she likes some guy...
...When I find out who he is, he'll wish he'd never been born...
I can't believe myself! I just got through telling Eri that she can like whoever she wants, and now I'm planning on murdering some guy who I don't even know the identity of...
...Heck, he might even be...
I need to stop dreaming. Of course it's not.
So, I've got to make it me.
Operation-'Win Eri's Heart' is officially underway.
Part One: Tomorrow morning.
Ooooooo...what will happen next? Do I even know? Of course I do! It took me FOREVER, but I did finish chapter 5. I've barely started chapter 6, though...
R&R please!