A/N: Hello, I'm back with new chapter. I hope you like this one. It was quite fun to write and plot Shugo's involvement.
The sixth file: Conan Arc
Subfile four: Yet another crow emerges
One of the perks of being a computer afficionado and gaining steady reputation (getting a rudimentary website had helped as had his clientele expanding), was invitations to various events in the hopes of companies gaining another avid professional devoted to their products. Mantendo was a bit of an unusual choice, being a gaming company, but Shugo didn't care. For one, he liked computer games even though the ones right now were a bit clunky and pixel-y. For two, this was part of a canon case.
Mantendo's new product presentation was mainly targeted for actual gaming nerds, stores and advertisers, as well as for other parties to sponsor. Shugo technically belonged to this latter group but decided he'd rather be like any other game enthusiast. Especially the Mouri Mystery Mansion sounded interesting as Shugo was very into crime solving and puzzle games.
He left his bag and coat to the cloakroom, and got a number tag in exchange. Number 119, meaning that Conan's group and the case characters had already arrived. Good to know. He headed then to the presentation panel about the Mouri Mystery Mansion where the game was about to be introduced. Basic premise, plot, gameplay, sneakpeek on collectables and extra content. Very interesting in Shugo's opinion. He'd probably buy the game when it'd be released. First he'd need to get Mantendo console though. Maybe there'd be some on sale on reduced price. Shugo was planning on getting a motorbike and thus saving money for it. And as he was here on invite… Mantendo people probably were eager to get things sold to him.
Anyways, the presentation panel was pretty good. Nakajima (the guy who'd made a deal with Tequila) from Mantendo was clear and informative with the current ideas and setting for the game. Kogorou in the other hand… was deeply hangover.
In the past months Shugo had been in contact with various people he knew about events that been going on… Mostly in relation to canon cases.
Ran had told him that apparently the school reunion murder case had happened some weeks after the Night Baron Tour. Yamato had been instantly dispatched to go be emotional support for Kogorou. While Yamato was not the most emotive or sympathetic person, he actually had similar experiences and could offer advise and listening ear, unlike Kogorou's other friends. (Which friends? No other people other than Megure and some random mahjong people were ever introduced as being friendly with Kogoro prior the start of the series.) And blond man also had began giving Kogorou some simple brain-exercises that'd help the man in the future pointing out holes in suspect testimonies and otherwise helping him to think logically and critically to reduce hasty conclusions and thus have more credibility when finally making final deductions. Time would tell how things would go with the detective.
Heiji had called to gush and complain about his competition and confrontation with Kudou. It was… a lot to unpack, especially with Kudou having been unintentionally cool and thus got Heiji even more hyped up and eager to meet the Great Detective of the East again. Shugo wondered if he could do something about that…
Tsubaki had also called and told about Hoshi's escapade in Shinkansen that was almost blown up by some suspicious suit men. Shugo could fill in the holes and just barely restrained sighing out loud in aggravation and exasperation. Of course Hoshi would get mixed in canon case even while not remembering the story or actually being Tsukiko yet. Considering how late the call had come, Shugo had thought no such thing had happened but apparently he had been wrong and things had delayed Tsubaki calling him. Or then the old woman had not thought that Shugo would be very interested to know about this event. Well, better late than never.
But back to present. Shugo had been idling around the stalls and game demos until getting hungry and heading to find some snack and drink. He'd managed to purchase a console and set a per-order for the Mystery Mansion. So basically, he'd done everything that he'd planned on doing. Now he only needed to wait for the explosion and police investigation… Or alternatively going to Daikoku building's bar and have a drink whilst eavesdropping people.
Nah, maybe not.
Shugo needed to eat though and with that in mind, he went to see the selection of the local vending machines in this Hotel Beika. And managed to spot both Tequila and Conan there. Tequila on the phone, Conan standing on a trash can and buying tomato juice. With no other machines nearby, and Shugo's stomach growling at increased pace and volume, the young man saw no choice but invade the narrow space as well. The selection wasn't great… probably meant to be just some snack for the hotel guests who'd then go to hotel's restaurant.
"Hey, kiddo." Shugo muttered while fishing for his wallet and studiously ignoring the black-dressed Kansai-ben speaking man of hulking height.
"Hi, niichan!" Conan chirped.
"Ah, it's me… Tequila…" And there the phone call began literally behind their backs.
"Huh?" The kid turned at the sound of the alcoholic name.
"Do you need help reaching the buttons?" Shugo asked.
"The deal's completed… Yeah… No mistakes."
"Kid?"
"Ah, it's okay…" Geez, the boy was distracted.
"Heh, heh, heh… Don't worry, Vodka… I'll meet up with ya over there by the evening… Tell that to Gin, too…"
And Conan dropped his coins with resounding chiming clatter. Shugo let out a loud sigh.
"Damn, kid… Did you not wipe your fingers after eating?" He muttered aloud. "Sorry about the disruption." He nodded shortly in Tequila's direction before crouching down next to Conan and helping the kid to pick up the coins… while the little detective himself went and stuck a tracker under Tequila's shoe. In secret from Shugo.
"Oi! Chotto! Oji-san!" Came the high-pitched little kid voice from the boy. "Move your foot aside! I can't get my 10-yen coin!"
The thing was… in order to get out of this confrontation without any suspicions arising, Shugo should need to be calm and distant bystander who was not interested in Tequila in any manner. However, the phone receiver had been placed back in the cradle and thus Vodka wouldn't hear anything. And Tequila himself would get blown up in the next five minutes or so. And in the next minute it would be more suspicious if Shugo didn't react as he'd already made it known he was familiar with the kid.
"Take this kick, shitty brat!" The brute literally kicked Conan.
"Whoa!"
"Oi! Who d'ya think yer'a?" Shugo got up from his crouch, channeling his inner-Heiji and all little verbal tics he'd tried to minimize in the past two plus years.
"What's it to you, punk?"
"That kid is my otouto, that's what!" And Shugo went to punch the man, aiming for the nose when Tequila's own hands were occupied by the suitcase and pant's pocket. And on the last second, Shugo switched the punch for palm strike. More effective and carefully regulated to cause dizziness but no death as that was also possible with that hit. Yamato had been very good teacher.
"Ya punk!" The giant growled, one hand holding his nose.
"There's more where that came from." Shugo switched back to more standard Japanese (Tokyo-lingo or whatever that guy from the East vs. West case called it), posture ram-rod straight and hands with ready for the next punch. "But if I were you, I'd scram back to your buddies from the liquor cabinet. Honestly, those are such lame-ass names. What are you, twelve?"
Thankfully Tequila seemed to be reminded of his cargo and upcoming meeting and thus didn't try to aggravate the confrontation any further and just rudely pushed past Shugo.
"The nerve of some people…" The hacker muttered. "Are you okay, chibi?"
"Yeah…" Conan grimaced but hid a smirk. Shugo did not sigh again at the kid's antics.
"Do you need help finding Ran-chan and Mouri-tantei?" He asked instead.
"No, I'll be fine. You can go now Shugo-niichan!" The boy chirped, while fiddling with his glasses.
"Okay, if you say so…" Where did the ex-
Ka-BOOM!
Shugo threw his arms up to shield his face against the heat wave and debris. Just at the nick of time.
-plosion take place again?
There were scratches and mild burns along Shugo's forearms. He had not been protected by the turn of the corridor, like Conan had. The wounds stung… and probably in a manner of minutes they'd hurt even worse.
In his inattention though, Shugo missed Conan rushing into the ruined toilets. The three case character Mantendo workers followed the kid in worry. The wimpy-bomber, the guy targeted and the prototype Shiratori. Shugo instead was soon fussed by bystanders and directed towards paramedics who arrived promptly and before the young hacker even knew it, he had his arms bandaged and was giving his statement to Megure. And confirming Conan's description of the victim.
"Yeah, I punched the jerk after he kicked the kid." Shugo admitted. "Can confirm him being from Kansai, the accent was way thicker than my former Osakan classmates."
Afterwards Shugo pretty much shuffled himself to the audience as Conan ran back and forth and gathered clues and evidence. It was quite fun to see in person. Maybe a smidge boring as well, since Shugo knew the resolution to the case. Though, thanks to that he had some ample time to make preparations on his phone…
He remained safely out of sigh as he crept towards Kogorou. He didn't need to draw Ran's attention to himself just yet. Thing was… this deduction show would be very public. With Conan using Kogorou's voice and saying implications to the mere existence of an organization… That was like painting a target on Kogorou's back. It was one thing to use the man and his cases to see if there's possibility of running into something involving the organization… It was whole another thing using the man as a meat shield and mouthpiece in order to publicly interrogate bystanders about them.
So Shugo let the deduction show begin and approached the pillar that was hiding the kid. The course of the incident was revealed and the bomber was escorted away. Very clearcut case on that side. Now though…
In the commotion of Takeshita-the-bomber being literally dragged away and Ueda-the Shiratori-prototype explaining the history and motive of the man… Shugo struck from the crowd and seized the bowtie from Conan, holding the boy tight against his chest and muffling the kid's startled protests.
"Well, Nakajima-san, you dodged that bullet. However, I think you should be thinking about the consequences of the death of your dealing partner. The deal was made and confirmed to be concluded and now their man is dead. You are the most likely culprit in their eyes. I advise you to tell the police who you were dealing with and where did you meet your contact and then submit to the police custody and protection."
"I-I don't really know anything! But the store where I met them was always the same… A bar named Cocktail that's on the top floor of the Beika Daikoku building!" Nakajima told them. Shugo loosened his hold on Conan.
"Thank you, Nakajima-san. Megure-keibu, I leave the rest to you to handle." Shugo concluded the charade and allowed Conan to snatch the bowtie from him and dash away, with a suspicious glance at his direction. Shugo pulled out his phone and remotely triggered fire alarm in Beika Daikoku building.
Ten minutes later, another explosion shook the block. The Bar Cocktail had been blown to smithereens… but it had been empty, thanks to Shugo.
The police wrapped up the case in Hotel Beika and then proceeded to investigate Beika Daikoku. Nakajima was escorted away and thus hopefully wouldn't be killed by the Organization. He deserved to stew in the knowledge that him dumping and thus driving his girlfriend to suicide had led to his friend and co-worker trying to kill him.
Shugo was exchanging greetings and going-ons with Ran when Conan came back, dejected that yet another lead had run dry before the little detective had properly grasped it.
"Ano nee, Ran-neechan?" The boy approached the karate master with a sweet smile on his lips. "Can I spend time with Shugo-niichan? Last time I barely saw him and he's much nicer than Sonoko-neechan!"
Ran was a bit sceptical though.
"I don't know. I'd prefer to go home together. It's been a long day and I should start with the dinner…"
"I can bring him to the detective agency in time." Shugo stepped in. There was no avoiding that 'Shin-Conan-kun' would talk with him about Shugo's apparent knowledge and Shugo just rather had that conversation out of the way. Moreover, Kogorou probably needed to stop by doctor's clinic to check for concussion. "Take your father to doctor's just in case though. You kick quite hard after all and Mouri-tantei's apparent hangover most likely wasn't helping much."
"Oh, you're right. We'll leave right away. Thank you for looking after Conan-kun, Shugo-kun." Ran began fussing around, digging her pocket for the locker tags. "Conan-kun, be good for Shugo-kun. We'll see soon at home then."
"Un!" The kid nodded enthusiastically and the looked up at Shugo – sugary sweet like nothing was wrong. "Shall we go now, Shugo-niichan?"
"…Sure."
The pair of them boarded a bus away from the hotel, towards Haido Park. The bus was near empty but the park would be better as it would have less people and open space. Neither spoke much though Conan kept vice-grip on Shugo's hand, like not daring to let go lest Shugo'd escape. Silly boy.
They walked through the park and sat on the edge of a fountain. The previous rain in the day had effectively chased away all the people from the park.
"So… what exactly did you want to talk about? I know Suzuki-san may be taxing in personality but I'm near stranger to you, chibi-tantei…" Eye-twitch at the nickname, good. "So what exactly do you want?"
"Why did you stop me from finishing the deduction and getting the information from Nakajima-san?" The boy glared, one hand covering his watch. Had he forgotten that he'd already used the only needle from the watch? Or had he successfully recovered it from the back pocket of Ran's denim shorts? Either case, was the kid expecting he'd need to use it on Shugo and then… have Agasa collect him to have him later properly interrogated? Hmm… That bore some thought…
"Because you are a kid and, in your haste to get answers, you would've worded things in a manner that would've implicated Mouri-tantei knowing far too much and thus painted a target on his back." Shugo replied. "As evidenced by the explosion in Beika Daikoku building, there were people from the organization following the police investigation and thus watching that deduction show of yours."
"What do you know about the Organization?" Conan demanded.
"Quite a lot actually." Not that Shugo would divulge any more than necessary to the kid. Shinichi had always been reckless even if he wasn't hotheaded like Heiji. And frankly, the size difference hadn't done much to curb that recklessness. "Most of it from Yamato but some stuff from other sources as well."
"Yamato…" Ah, the kid needed to pretend he didn't know who Shugo was talking about. That sounded quite fine. Shugo had no intention being included into that 'I-know-your-secret' circle.
"Ishikawa-san has been basically raising me since I was a kid. About ten years ago we moved away from Tokyo… That was because Ishikawa-san cut ties with the Organization and killed a codenamed member that had been responsible for the deaths of his parents and dragging him and his brother to the Organization."
Conan was now thinking hard, his arms crossed on his chest and eyes narrowed behind his ludicrously big glasses.
Then came the question.
"Who's Ishikawa-san's brother? Is he still in the Organization?"
"Yes. He is codenamed Gin."
"Gin?!" Shugo could basically read the turmoil in the boy's face. Understandable reaction considering that Yamato had talked with Shinichi and Ran mere moments before the Big Shrink. Shinichi did remember their resemblance when Yamato had given a false name for them to use.
"Yes. They haven't been in contact since as Yamato has been more focused on protecting me and other underage kids in the periphery. Well, frankly I think Yamato wants nothing to do with Gin."
"… And how did you know I was after the Organization? Otherwise you would not have been able to get the questions right for Nakajima-san."
"Aside from your obvious reaction to the codenames?" Shugo chuckled. "My sister was in that Shinkansen to Kyoto where you prevented it being bombed. She watched you the entire time and then told grandmother who in turn told me."
"You have a sister?" That was Shinichi shining through. But Shugo just hummed.
"Yeah, she started high school recently. Maybe you'll meet her properly someday. But that's pretty unlikely, she lives in Kyoto after all."
Thankfully Conan couldn't think of other questions to ask. At least not ones he could ask without being outed as Kudou Shinichi to someone who properly knew him. And so Shugo took Conan back to Beika and then headed home in Ekoda. Yet another day and adventure was at its end.
Though not quite.
Shugo was setting up his game system when doorbell rang. Curious as to who was there at this time of the evening, he abandoned his task and went to open the door instead of letting Yamato do it even though the blonde man was closer to the door. But the sad fact was that Yamato had no friends who'd visit (and would ring the doorbell). All the meetings with Fujioka were elsewhere as to not to compromise their home, Akemi/Saya had her own keys to the apartment and where-ever Yamato happened to work at the time, he did not get close enough with his colleagues that he'd feel the need to invite them to spend the night at their apartment. Thus only couriers, neighbors and Shugo's friends used the doorbell and thus it was Shugo's job to open the door when the doorbell was used.
It was Hakuba.
"Hakuba-…san? This is a surprise." Shugo blinked. "What brings you here at this time?"
The half-British detective held up an envelope with rueful smile. "I got an urgent call to London and I don't know when I am to return. I managed to book a spot on a… fan meeting happening on the next weekend and it would be a shame to cancel it. However, I know you got wide and varied interests so I thought maybe you'd like to go in my stead."
"A fan meeting? What sort of fandom would it be?" Considering this was Hakuba, there really wasn't much options.
"Sherlock Holmes. You're about the only person in our class that can appreciate the books in their original language."
Yes, they'd had some conversations about them last spring, didn't they? And the English education in Japan being what it was… Well, Shugo was easily on top of the class.
"True." Shugo nodded. "And you also know that I prefer Christie's works to Doyle's."
Poirot and Marple were very brilliant series. Especially the tv adaptations with David Suchet and Geraldine McEwan.
"Anyhow…" Hakuba offered the envelope to Shugo. "Here are the details of the trip if you are interested in attending. I've already called to the organizer and told him of my unfortunate personal cancellation so they know to expect someone else in my stead."
"Thank you. I'll consider it. Are you in hurry now or would you like to come in for some tea?"
"Unfortunately, I must decline. I've got early flight in the morning and baaya is waiting in her car for me to continue packing."
"Ah, have a safe trip then."
"Thank you."
Hakuba left and Shugo closed the door. He flipped open the envelope and took a look at the papers inside. Holmes Fanatic Meet-up, huh? Could be interesting.
A/N: Once more I urge the people who read this fic here and used to read the previous fic to move to AO3. I'd love to see you all there as currently this fic has... four comments, two of which are my replies on the comment thread.
Replies to Reviews:
-claravidya96:
Yup, I'm back. Very sporadic updates... which look even more sparse as all my new fics are in AO3. I mean... There are four updates I've done there since the previous updating of this fic but as they are all new fics... yeah. Thank you for still reading and reviewing this story!
-Zeladious:
Welcome to AO3 and dA!