Some people think it is OOC for Conan to act like this. Mabey, but then again under extreme stress people have been known to revert to childish behavior.
Scenes Of Hope And Regret
After Tietan Elementry let out for the day, the detective boys decided to go to Conan's. He hadn't been at school that day and they debated why with each other the whole way. Genta thought that Conan was on some sort of detective mission. Mitsuhiko believed it might be a doctors or dentist appointment. And Ayumi said he was probably just sick.
Once there Genta rang the doorbell. They were answered by loud cursing, not unusual in the Mouri household. Kogoro answered the door, looking drunk and desheveled. This too was not unusual.
"What!" he snarled out.
Ayumi and Mitsuhiko jumped back, but Genta wasn't intimidated. They had seen Kogoro in a bad mood before.
"Can Conan come out and play?" he asked.
Kogoro's face fell. "Conan...isn't here."
"Where is he then?"
"I don't know. Ran took him away last night." He drank from the bottle in his hand.
The three children were shocked. Ran had taken Conan away? Ran had kidnapped Conan?
"Why?" the three asked in unison.
Kogoro turned away, shamefaced. "She just did alright. Now go away." He couldn't tell them the truth.
"But..." Ayumi began.
"I told you to leave! Get out of here!" he slammed the door closed. Damn kids.
Kogoro walked through the living room and laid on the couch. He drained the bottle, then threw it against the wall in disgust. It shattered, creating a rain of glass mixed with a few drops of alcohol.
It had cost him is marriage. He had lost his daughter, probably forever. And he had beaten a child nearly to death.
And he still couldn't stop drinking.
He was in hell.
Scene Change
Eri sat in her office, trying to concentrate on her latest client. But she had other concerns closer to her heart.
Conan had post-traumatic stress disorder. She was sure of it.
As a lawyer, she had to know more then a little about the human mind. And from what she had seen, Conan was traumatized.
Ran had left to get some take-out for breakfast early that morning. Conan had awoken, found himself alone, and started to cry. She did her best to comfort him, but it was no use. He wailed for his nee-chan and didn't stop until Ran returned.
Eri smiled in spite of herself. The memory of her daughter caring for Conan filled her heart with pride. Unfortunately, it also recalled to mind the image of Conan covered in welts and bruises from his thighs to his shoulders.
Eri had wanted to have Kogoro arrested after seeing the boy's horribly bruised body, but Ran told her no. She still loved her father and didn't want him to go to jail. Eri had complied with her wishes, not wanting to place Ran under any more stress.
Still, something had to be done. Kogoro had to pay for this.
Later that night...
Conan was back on Kogoro's desk. He couldn't move, his limbs held down by unseen chains.
He heard footsteps, coming closer and closer.
No. Not again.
He struggled with all his might, but the invisible chains held fast. He was utterly powerless, completely at the mercy of the source of those footsteps.
The footsteps stopped behind him. He heard the metalic clink of a belt buckle unfastening, followed by the slow hiss of leather against cloth.
No! Please! No!
But he knew. He knew that his words were meaningless. No won could help him now.
"Conan!"
He opened his eyes to find himself in Ran's arms. She rocked and reassured her little brother, telling him that it was okay, it was only a dream.
Logically it made no sense. He had been beaten, stabbed, and shot. But somehow what Kogoro had done felt so much more terrible. Whenever he thought back to last night he wanted to curl up in a fetal position, and possibly suck his thumb.
It was from someone he had trusted. It was worse then if it had been some random murderer, from who he could at least expect it.
Thank god he had Ran. If it weren't for her love, he was certain he would have lost his mind that horrible night.
Ran. He didn't deserve someone like her. Somehow she managed to be his best friend, girlfriend, big sister, and mother. She could be all at once, or only one, to suit the circumstances. And right now he needed a mother.
His tears slowly stopped, and Ran led him down stairs for some warm milk and mint chocolate-chip ice-cream.
To be continued?
Mint chocolate-chip ice-cream is one of my favorite comfort foods :).