"Huh," said Richard Moore, reading through the latest paper.
"What is it, dad?" Rachel asked, leaning over his shoulder in an attempt to get a peek at the headlines.
Conan was laying on the couch kicking his legs slowly, bored.
"Says here there's been another missing girl case," Richard said, summarizing the story. "That's the third one this month."
"Do the police have a lead yet?" asked Rachel.
Conan sat upright, a little frown on his little face.
"Nothing solid. Some witnesses report seeing some sort of Imperial soldier reenactor hanging around. Still, it's an awfully odd coincidence. Though, what gets me is that they're also saying some scraps of black paper have also been found near the girls' homes," Richard said, cupping his chin in thought.
"That's it. Rachel: you're not to go anywhere alone anymore! I'm coming with you everywhere from here on out!" Richard exclaimed.
"Daaad! You can't possibly come with me everywhere! I've got school and karate club."
"Huh. Forgot about that. Right: you – you got your friend Serena, right? Well, you and Serena can walk with little Conan to school," he said, snorting to himself. "That'll also get the little snot-nosed brat out of my hair so I can do some proper detectiving."
"So, Conan, what do you think of that case in the paper today? Do you think Dad really has a right to be that worried? I mean, it's not like I can't look after myself," Rachel said lightheartedly, flexing her arm.
Maybe you can defend yourself, but I doubt Serena can, Jimmy thought to himself. Conan smiled up at her. "But now we get to walk with Serena!"
Rachel laughed. "That's very true, Conan. It's not that bad of an arrangement, anyhow," she said as they stop walking. "Oh, look at that. We're already here. Well Conan, I hope you have a fun day in all your classes!" she says, waving Conan goodbye.
As Conan entered the gates to the school, he turned to wave goodbye to Rachel, a dopey child-like smile on his face. "Have fun at yours , too, Rachel!" he says, using his entire arm to wave goodbye just like a little kid. Then he froze.
There.
Across the street.
Standing in the shade of an alley was a tall, thin man. Dark leather boots, and a khaki uniform shrouded in a khaki cloak, head capped with a peaked hat with a tiny star.
Staring right back at him.
Conan blinked, and the man was gone. A chill went up his spine. How odd. He cast one last look to the departing forms of Serena and Rachel. They'd be okay.
He hoped.
He turned and let himself be swept inside the school with Amy, Mitch, and George.
AN: I don't normally write Detective Conan fanfiction. I'm not really being too serious about this one, but we'll see where it goes. Should just be a short quick story. I just wanted to read something with Kato Yasunori.