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Transparency

Chapter Six

Moon Kitty 2005

April 22nd, 2006

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"Hey, Ran!" Shinichi called, throwing his battered book bag haphazardly on the musty couch. "I need to talk to you!"

"What?" she asked, her head poking out from the kitchen, her indigo eyes round in curiosity.

Shinichi smiled before throwing himself down in a chair, wincing as a cloud of dust flew into the air. "You might have some visitors tonight."

"Who?"

"Well," he began, sneezing, "I told some friends from school that you were here, and now they want proof."

"Shinichi!" she yelled angrily, clenching her fists, and she could see him bite his lip nervously from across the dark room. "How could you? I'm not an exhibit in a display! How many people, exactly?"

"Only two!" he hastened to reassure her. "And they are some of my best friends in the world! Besides, don't you like having people to talk to?"

She stared at him and smiled softly. "Yes. I like having people to talk to."

He smiled back affectionately.

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"I d-don't understand why I h-had to go with," Kazuha whimpered as she clutched the back of Heiji's shirt.

A blush had crawled its way across his apprehensive face, but he tried his best to keep it hidden. "So let's go meet her," Heiji said, slightly uncomfortable.

Shinichi laughed silently, but decided not to say anything, considering how they were both on edge. He opened the front door of the house and motioned the other teens to follow, calling out, "Ran, we're here!"

Footsteps sounded from the staircase and Kazuha yelped when Ran stood in front of the three. "Hello, Shinichi. Wow, you didn't tell me he was so cute!"

Both Kazuha and Shinichi's eyes narrowed.

Heiji blushed and scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "Well, thanks."

Kazuha glared at Shinichi and approached Ran, all her fear dissipated. "I thought this girl was a ghost. She looks like a regular high school student to me!" She looked at him again. "What kind of half-ass trick is this?"

In the split second that Kazuha's attention was diverted, Shinichi saw Ran wink at him. His angered expression turned into a confused one. What is she up to? "No trick at all, Kazuha. It really is a ghost."

"Well, let's find out!" she yelled, leaping forward, fist outstretched. At the very last second, Ran disappeared.

"WHOA!" Heiji yelled, staring in fear at the spot Ran had just occupied. "Where the hell-"

Ran reappeared right beside Shinichi and giggled as she saw both of their scared and confused demeanors. "He told you."

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A few minutes and a long story later, the four sat in Ran's room, Kazuha with tears in her eyes. "That's so sad! You're not as bad as I made you out to be."

"What?"

Heiji chuckled and sent a slightly annoyed look at the crying girl. "Kazuha's always been afraid of ghosts. She may be an aikido master, but she's still a wuss."

"HEY!" Kazuha bellowed defensively.

"Why are you still here, anyways?"

Shinichi and Ran exchanged a secretive glance before she looked at the two and replied slowly, "I haven't... found what I'm looking for."

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Authoress Notes

Once again, a short chapter, but now Heiji and Kazuha have finally met Ran. And if anyone complains about this chapter being short, I dunno how many times I can say it. I'll just go bang my head into a wall, then I'll go unconscious, and then you'll be out of an author. So... your choice, hmm:laughs evilly: Later, guys!