Authors Notes:
So here we have the first mystery…
I just can't make things simple for myself… the first mystery could have happened on the street… but nooo.
*quietly grumbles to self*
Warnings: Foul language… blood and violence. Animal mutilation… and murder… you know how it goes.
The Lycanthropy of a Shrunken Detective
Chapter Seven
"Three hours." Heiji groused. "Is this some sorta payback?"
Kudo just looked bored to his friend. "Idiot. That's only part of it. Besides after that kabuki theater… this is much more bearable."
Heiji cringed. He'd seen Kudo's face during the play while Heiji wasn't exactly a fan of kabuki theater he didn't mind it. It seemed Kudo's latest curse made it physically painful. The high notes and trilling instruments had the boy cringing and flinching constantly throughout the showing. Still, Kudo put on a smile for Ran and only covered his ears during the climax.
It did get a little hairy when at the end Kudo's fangs started showing and Heiji noticed it kinda looked like the boy was wearing a fur sweater under his shirt- but a quick run to the bathroom and they were back to normal- or close to anyway.
At the moment the two of them were leaning against the outside of some kind of an antique's store. Waiting on their girls. "I see your point." Heiji sighed at least here there was little that would cause Kudo more stress. Heiji bit his lip. It took a while but after their conversation in the woods Heiji had a secondary freak out. After the other's had gone to bed he'd snuck out and walked around the hotel a few dozen times trying to wrap his head around it all. Somehow he'd come to a sort of acceptance of it.
That was more than could be said for Kudo, he knew, and he really wanted to talk to the shrunken teen- but if he freaked out on the street it wouldn't be good for any of them. Not that he actually thought Kudo would hurt anyone more like others might hurt the little detective, not understanding. Not that he really understood it all himself, but still.
Looking to the miniature sleuth Heiji could tell his worry was effecting Kudo. "K-Conan when we get a chance we need ta talk."
Just like the night before when Heiji brushed off the subject Kudo's head tilted in confusion, it was sickeningly cute. Especially in his child form, and Heiji would get mad about it except it didn't seem like Kudo was doing it on purpose. "What about?" Kudo asked. Heiji sighed, clearly the tiny Sherlock enthusiast wasn't even consciously aware of the issue himself.
The door next to them opened just then as the girls exited the store laughing lightly. "Okay, now it's time for our last stop before the ride home." Kazuha announced happily.
"The train doesn't leave till 6 pm. I got the last train ride out- that's 4 hours from now." Heiji said. "What do ya have planned?" His voice did nothing to hide his apprehension.
Ran nodded. "We both decided we needed to do something low key and relaxing. So we're going to the outdoor bath. Then, after dinner, we'll go back to the hotel and pack."
Heiji smiled. "Really!? That's a great idea! Right, Kudo?" Laughing when he saw Kudo glaring at him for the name slip. "I- I mean kudos for the great idea! Ha ha ha!"
"Of course!" Kazuha preened at the praise then she kneeled down to Kudo brushing his hair back so she could see his face better and gave him a soft smile. "It'll be a great chance for ya ta just relax." She stood quickly before Kudo could respond and began to lead the way.
Ran smiled down at Kudo holding out a hand. "Come on Conan. This'll be fun."
Heiji followed after them stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Even Kazuha's worried about ya, brat." Heiji said. Kudo nodded staring at the ground. Ran glanced at him as his hand tightened around hers. Heiji could tell something was bothering the mini detective but with the girls here- and considering what had generally been bothering him lately- it was hard to think of a way to ask discreetly. Heiji felt a grim smile cross his face. It all came back to not being able to discuss what was really important. He couldn't really blame Kudo for his caution though. Even if he didn't understand it completely, he knew that Kudo kept the secrets he did to keep Ran safe.
It took them 45 minutes to walk to the bathhouse however they were left waiting as the hostess dealt with a difficult customer. While they waited Conan took in the space they were in. The lobby was wide and welcoming with pale and natural colors and large windows that let in natural light.
A clearly disinterested Hostess rested her hand on the desk phone chewing her bottom lip but her eyes were steady as she refused to look away from the one antagonizing her. Leaning against the cream colored counter a man ran a hand through his greased back hair and winked. "Hey, babe, I know you like it freaky, what's say you and I go get a drink."
Conan made a face. This guy was thin and tall but had scars on his face that suggested he had a severe case of acne not too long ago. So either he was acting older than he was, not very good with personal hygiene, or unlucky.
"Wow. This guy is rude." Kazuha said crossing her arms in irritation. Hattori nodded in agreement pressing his lips together, probably trying not to cause a scene.
Conan yawned, figuring things would sort themselves out- and if they didn't there was no stopping the people with him from stepping in.
Numbly he found himself watching as a female attendant emptied a nearby ashtray stand. He blinked in surprise when he saw her glare at the counter. Conan looked at the man wondering if he bothered all the female employees like this.
With bored eyes, the hostess promptly pointed out the group standing behind him. "I have guest to attend to. If you have nothing of importance to discuss please be on your way." The man frowned giving them an irritated look before he shrugged. "I can always ask again later." With that, he stalked away and the woman let out a relieved sigh before greeting them with a strained smile.
"Welcome."
"Do you get that a lot?" Kazuha asked.
The woman sighed. "Not usually. It's okay though, he's just flirting."
"That's some pretty rough vocabulary for just flirting." Hattori said glaring after the guy.
"Well…" The woman shrugged then shook her head as she pushed a lock of her brunet hair behind her ear smiling broadly. "Welcome to the Sunset Onsen. My name is Kobayashi, how can I help you today?"
The group shared a quiet glance but confirmed that it was just them and that they were using the public baths. After paying they headed further inside.
"That was strangely awkward…" Ran said.
"It was…" Kazuha said as the group began to head toward the separate locker rooms.
They passed a man dressed in a black suit who was whispering in a slightly angry manner to another. Conan, curious and cautious, as alway's, watched them closely as they passed them. "Of course I know it's a scandal Nobuyoshi." He heard one of them hiss as they glanced back at the hostess dabbing his forehead with a cloth.
"You know nothing Taiki." The other responded coldly.
'Heh… this place seems full of drama.' Conan thought dryly.
"Okay…" Ran said as she stopped in the hall just a few feet from the red and blue curtains leading to the locker rooms. Kneeling so she could look Conan in the eye she smiled. "Now you and Hattori have fun. We'll meet out here in an hour and then we'll go to dinner." Ran said then made a slight face that was partially worried and partially begging. "Though if you want you're more than welcome to join Kazuha and me."
"I want to go with Heiji!" Conan said instantly.
The girl let out a defeated breath and smiled. "You think you'll be okay?"
Conan nodded but before he could verbally answer there was a high pitched cry.
"Nooo!" The group turned to see a small child about four or five pulling at the skirts of a middle-aged woman. "I don't want too!"
"Yuki you have to." The woman said adjusting the strap of her bag. "Your older brother isn't here to take you to the other bath and your dad is running late."
"But I wanna go to the men's room. I'm a man mamma!"
The woman smiled kneeling down. "Yes you are, but you're still too young to go by yourself." The response she got was a massive pout.
"Aw, cute." Kazuha said softly.
Ran smiled giving Conan a knowing glance. 'Hey, hey.' Conan thought it was embarrassing to know she was probably thinking he was on a similar wavelength as the kid. Even if it was kinda true it had less to do with what was manly and more to do with common decency.
"Take care of him." Ran said to Heiji as she stood.
"Yes, Mam." Heiji gave a thumbs up and she and Kazuha giggled as they walked past the mother and child into the women's locker room.
"Come on ya brat." Heiji lifted Conan off the ground and carried him under his arm into the locker room.
"Hey! Hey!" Conan cried. "Put me down!"
Heiji sat down in the water and sighed. A light red scratch on his cheek throbbed slightly. "You're an ass." Conan grumbled sitting in the water next to him.
Heiji shrugged looking up and watching the cloud's float by slowly. "This was a good idea." He said.
Conan sighed. "I guess, it's a bit hot for my taste though… but its quiet at least and it looks like we're the only ones here for now."
Heiji blinked looking around, noting the emptiness of the bath. "Oh, this is perfect then." Heiji sat up straiter giving Conan a serious look.
"Uh…" Conan felt a wash of anxiety rush through him. "What?"
"About what's happened."
Conan's shoulders dropped and he let out a ragged sigh. "Hattori, I thought the point of this was to relax."
"It is, but I can't see ya truly relaxin' when yer lyin' ta yerself!"
"W-what?" Kudo looked genuinely confused.
"Just tell me one thing, Kudo. Have ya even thought it yet?" Conan was silent, but he refused to look away from the older teen's searching gaze. "Have ya actually acknowledged what's happened ta ya?"
The two stared at each other both equally stubborn before Conan ripped his gaze away glaring at the cloudy water.
Heiji sighed. "I thought not…"
"What does that matter?"
"It matters a lot!" Heiji said. "If ya can't say it at least think it- ya aren't gonna be able to function if ya keep ignorin' it!"
"Why don't you say it then?" Kudo snapped glaring up at the teen.
"I tried and ya nearly bit my head off." Heiji said in a bored tone as he leaned back relaxing again. Kudo snorted at the exaggeration. "Plus it don't matter if I say it. Yer the one who needs ta face it."
"How will you know if I've acknowledged it if I don't say it out loud?" Kudo asked annoyed. "I could just say right now that, yes, I have thought it- what then?"
"No, ya haven't." Heiji's face filled with a soft kind of understanding. "If ya had you wouldn't still be actin' so shaken… ya would be more like yerself and be facing it." His eyes grew hard and he balled his fist. "Ya'd be talkin' ta me about findin' the bastard that bit ya- and not tryin' ta hide from the fact's like ya've been."
Conan could feel hot tear's fill his eye's and he turned his gaze to the water, half between staring at it in shock and half glaring at it in anger. He felt his mouth open and close, struggling to find a way to respond to that.
Just then the door leading into the baths opened, making both boy's jump, and the man who'd been flirting with the Hostess and an older gentleman walked in. Their conversation would have to be put on hold. Conan glanced at Hattori who was back to looking at the clouds as if the conversation they'd been having hadn't been life-altering.
For a long breath Conan focused on his breathing. He was not about to panic or rage. The other two occupants settled and a kind of quiet calm filled the air. Cudo found himself calming without too much trouble. At least compared to the frustrations of the last month.
Suddenly, Heiji was talking very softly. "Ya don't have ta think too much about what I said right now… I just wanted to point it out. It felt… like ya didn't even notice."
Conan swallowed. It was true enough… his mind was all over the place lately and, well, he'd never been too good at paying attention to himself much… "I know this hasn't been easy for you either." His voice was hoarse and he felt his limbs trembling.
"Hu?" Heiji looked at him surprised.
"You aren't normally this restrained… you've been thinking about this sense the forest right?"
Heiji shrugged. "Ya got it rough enough right now… I didn't want ta rile ya up."
"Well… th- thank's Hattori…" Conan said.
Heiji looked a bit taken aback but smiled as he ruffled Conan's hair. "No problem squirt."
"Hey-" Conan's protest came up short as he felt heat run through his chest. "Wha…?" He put his hand to his chest but the feeling was already gone.
Heiji gave him a serious look. "Ya okay?"
"Yeah… I think…"
Heiji didn't seem convinced but shrugged. "Well, we're here ta wash all our problems away. So, just relax. Okay?"
Conan nodded. Letting his head rest against the wall. feeling his cheek's heat up as he began to wonder how Ran was doing.
Authors Notes:
I'm really tired, so sorry if there are any glaring mistakes... I'll fix them if you point them out. Thanks...
Also, these notes are going to be a bit long…
First of all, I hadn't had it planned that Heiji would talk to Kudo about this- I actually hadn't had it planned that anyone would… at this stage I kinda expected him to tackle things himself and then when the time came have some helpful words from Ran or a stern talking too from Ai… but last chapter when I first tried to flesh it out Heiji was insistent on talking to Kudo about this- in fact, it almost started a friking fight. Kudo wasn't ready for that at the time- barely holding it together as it was… and I didn't want there to be that kind of tension between these two… at least not yet. I rationalized that Heiji could have known it was a bad idea to push it. So I considered how both characters were feeling/acting and apparently even though Heiji wanted to say something he thought better of it- but he was insistent that they talk… so the moment they had a free moment together this happened… (yes I let the characters run the show… maybe that's why I can't write short stories…)
Really, I can't wait to get back to Tokyo where more characters will come into play…
Now, let me take a moment here to clear somethings up.
I've never been good at naming characters… so naming characters from another country is… impossible… I honestly just used a random name generator and just put the first ones that came up to use. So if these character names (and the ones that appear in the future) are odd that may be why… I also have a bad memory for names… I actually have a list of all the characters and their association with each other open on my desktop when I write this… so I spell them right and don't mix up one person with another by accident…(though I haven't had to use it too much yet…) if there are names that have been used in the show as a previous victim or a minor character- or resemble actual people just remember that is purely coincidence…
Actually, there's a lot I don't know that makes this part of the story difficult… please forgive me for cultural miss understandings… I did all the research I could in such a short time but… yeah…
I originally wanted to use a real mountain village with an outdoor bath but decided the research would take too long for the purpose of this story (which is for fun and not to stress myself out over what is and isn't real) so I kind of took bits and pieces from all over the place and made up a location… like I said last chapter its about an hours train ride from Tokyo… still thinking about police officers… but I'm pretty sure I know who it'll be.
(Words used 2330. Original date posted 1-18-2018)