The Darkness Inside

Chapter 2 This is our place now

To: Kaito, 2016.11.11, 18:02:22: Ne, Kaito. Don't forget you promised to meet me in an hour at the Mouri Tower. See you there, Aoko

To: Kaito, 2016.11.11, 19:00:28: Did you forget, Kaito? Where are you?

To: Kaito, 2016.11.11, 19:09:36: Kaito!

To: Kaito, 2016.11.11, 19:36:52: Honestly, if you forgot that's the worst! Why don't you at least cancel our plans?!

To: Kaito, 2016.11.11, 19:52:20: I'm honestly angry, Kaito. At least answer me!

To: Kaito, 2016.11.11, 20:02:42: I see.

To: Kaito, 2016.11.11, 20:39:47: FINE! I don't want to see you anymore! Don't you dare come now!

Aoko angrily stuffed her phone into her pocket, hardly suppressing the urge to throw it on the floor but she had quite the expensive phone and it wasn't like that inanimate object was at fault for her sour mood. It was once again all Kaito's fault.

He knew Kaitou Kid was striking today again so why didn't he just tell her no? And why wasn't he at least picking up his damn phone? She left at least 20 messages.

Sighing, Aoko deflated a little.

Today was supposed to be the night of the meteor shower. It was said that today people from Tokyo would be able to see it and by chance she had won tickets for the Mouri Tower where she could watch this from high up.

She had immediately invited Kaito to come with her because she really wanted to spend this special event together with him and he readily agreed. She did have the feeling that Kaito would once again bail out on her but she didn't think he'd really do it.

Well, he did.

Sighing again, Aoko wondered what she should do. She still had two valid tickets and it wasn't even nine in the evening. She still had about three hours to spend up there.

Pulling out her phone, silently hoping that maybe Kaito had messaged her, but of course he hadn't, she shuffled through her contacts.

Who could she ask instead of Kaito and who would come at such short notice? Roppongi Hills was in the center of Tokyo so it'd take Hakuba and Akako and Keiko some time to get here. They'll probably refuse, though she would have liked to have at least Akako or Keiko with her.

Deflating even more, Aoko scrolled further and stopped at a name which was quite new.

Mouri Ran

That's it! Aoko took a deep breath and touched the call button. The dreaded beeping tone started and Aoko waited anxiously for Ran to pick up. Deep down she dreaded a rejection because that meant that she would have to go up alone which, sadly, she was quite used to by now or go home, alone as well.

But on the fifth ring Ran finally picked up. "Hello, Aoko-chan."

Aoko's heart started beating hurriedly in anticipation. She was so glad that Ran didn't throw a Kaito on her and picked up. No matter the outcome, she at least deemed her worth enough to tell her no outright.

"Ah, Ran-chan, I'm glad you picked up. What are you doing?"

There was some rustling on Ran's end before she answered. "To be honest I was doing some researching right now. Are you calling because of that? I haven't gotten very far yet, I'm sorry."

She sounded genuine and Aoko smiled at that. "No, no, nothing like that. So, do you have time right now?"

"Uhm, well, yes, I guess. Why?" Ran answered flabbergasted.

"I know it's already quite late but you know tonight will be the meteor shower and I got some tickets for the Mouri Tower observation platform and I'd really like to go there but Kaito bailed out on me and didn't cancel it so that's why I'm calling just now. I'd love it if you could go up with me."

Aoko crossed her fingers behind her back, closing her eyes, praying for Ran to give her a positive answer.

"Well, I have nothing better to do actually, so sure. Let me get ready and then I'll meet you there, alright?"

"Yes! Thanks so much, Ran-chan! See you soon!"

Ran chuckled at the other end. "Of course. See you." She hung up and Aoko couldn't thank whatever God enough to have met such a wonderful girl.

Slightly jumping from one foot to the other, Aoko waited patiently with a smile on her face for Ran to come.

"Aoko-chan!"

Finding Ran standing behind said girl, Aoko's face lit up. "Ran-chan!" she exclaimed. "I'm so glad you could make it. You look great!"

Even though it was November already, the weather was quite pleasant. Ran wore a waist high black skirt and a bordeaux colored sweater.

"Thank you, but you look really lovely yourself, Aoko-chan. Was this supposed to be a date?"

Aoko blushed and bit her lip nervously. She was wearing knee high boots, a white dress and a black leather jacket with a floral scarf. She even wore light make-up. "Not really a date but I was waiting for Kaito – my best friend – who ditched me, again. It's been happening quite often lately. Never mind, you're much better company, anyway."

Ran smiled happily. "Thank you for inviting me, Aoko-chan."

Aoko nodded and led Ran inside. She exchanged the coupon for two tickets and together they took the elevator. There was an observatory platform inside and one which was 3 levels higher and outside.

After they left their things in a locker, since anything that could be blown away by the wind had to be locked inside, they left for the roof.

"Have you been here before, Ran-chan?"

"No, actually this is the first time. My best friend Sonoko always gets tickets for all the various things and usually we get invited as well, but I've not been here, yet."

Aoko smiled. "This is my first time, as well. Then, let's go."

Aoko trudged to her right and stopped at the handrail. The view was breathtaking and Aoko reveled in the feeling. Since it was already November it got dark pretty soon and since it was quite late anyway, the city was illuminated with thousands of bright lights. The Tokyo Tower was especially beautifully illuminated, coloring the red tower in beautiful opaque and golden hues.

Aoko pointed towards the tower. "Look Ran-chan, isn't the Tokyo Tower beautiful?"

Ran smiled fondly and nodded. "Indeed, it is. I love Tokyo's night sky. It always has something special to it."

Aoko nodded and walked along the handrail. "Look, there's the Skytree in the distance."

Ran followed the directions Aoko's hand was pointing in, lighting her face up once she found said Skytree.

The sky was as dark and clear as it could be, only a few clouds covering it. The moon was shining brightly on the horizon. At night, Tokyo was basically thousands upon thousands bright spots, illuminating the whole city. The streets were full of soft orange hues and the cars looked like thousands bright stars stuffed on one spot. In the distance, there was a Ferris Wheel though Aoko didn't quite know if it was the one in Odaiba or not. Probably not. Her orientation wasn't always the best.

There were a few black dots on the ground and Aoko never realized before how dark and menacing parks and forests could look, especially in the dark. They swallowed all the lights and left nothing but menacing darkness.

In the far distance, Mount Fuji could be seen, as softly as the darkness allowed anyway – mostly because the moon was shining brightly and illuminating it.

Aoko sighed and sat down on the bench provided on the platform. The view was unobstructed and Aoko wished, not for the first time, Kaito was here with her. It wasn't like Ran was bad company but this was supposed to be a little date she wouldn't tell him about and spend the time with him. She wanted him to see the same sky she saw. She had won those tickets with him in mind. And maybe it would have been perfect to tell him how much he meant to her. She didn't think she was courageous enough to tell him outright that she loved him (did she though?) but it would have been enough to let him know how happy she was that he was with her and that she never wanted to lose him, no matter what.

Ran sat down next to her and watched the skyline wistfully. As oblivious as Aoko usually was, this didn't escape her eyes. "You'd rather be here with someone else as well, right?"

Ran looked up in shock and shook her head. "No, no, of course not Aoko-chan! You're great company!"

Aoko laughed softly. "I'm glad to be here with you too, Ran-chan but there are people we'd like to have here with us, right?"

"I guess you're not wrong."

Both sighed and deflated slightly. "Well, but I guess since they're not here we should make this just about us."

Ran looked up again, curious what Aoko meant. "I mean we should stop thinking about them and enjoy it instead."

Ran nodded in agreement and looked up when she spotted something out of the corner of her eyes.

"Aoko-chan, watch, the meteor shower started!"

Suddenly, it looked like a thousand stars were falling out of the sky. Aoko stopped breathing, it was so stunning and breath taking. All around her people were squealing in delight and Aoko closed her eyes and made a wish.

When she opened them again she turned to Ran to see her doing the same – probably, but she had her eyes closed and the softest smile on her lips. She was probably thinking about some person she must really like or made a wish which would make someone really happy. Maybe it was a good thing, after all, that Kaito ditched her because if he were here with her, Ran would be in her room doing research, probably, and most likely missing out on this event.

A warm feeling spread inside Aoko's chest and she once again directed her gaze towards the firmament. She'd never seen so many stars falling from the sky before and she couldn't help but be glad to be here.

The weather couldn't be any more perfect, being clear, not too cold and there wasn't even a single brush of the wind which was quite surprising since it was never that still in Tokyo and they were quite high and usually, in higher places the wind was never amiss. But today everything was simply perfect for this spectacular event.

It wasn't even contrasting with Tokyo's blinking and shining skyline, quite contrary, the stars blended in perfectly.

"Ne, Aoko-chan. I've been thinking."

Ran got her back to the ground and Aoko looked up in surprise.

"What if it really is no joke and we have a serious issue on our hands. I'm not sure anymore what to do. We should let someone know, if not the police then at least someone who'll know what to do. I think I was overreacting when you were asking for Shinichi. Maybe it'd be for the best to let him know, after all."

Aoko turned her gaze towards the skyline again. "I disagree. To be honest, I've been thinking as well and I think we should stick to our original plan. I know a few people who are smart enough to help ua if we decide we, in fact, cannot stop it from happening. I'm sure even a little time will be enough for them."

"But-", Ran tried to protest.

"I know it's risky. I know it's selfish. And I can't quite explain why but I don't want to involve anyone else. You can still leave, Ran-chan. I'm not keeping you here, you are not required to stay, if you wish to go nothing's stopping you. I just – I don't want to let this slip away. I – I want to be honest with you, Ran-chan."

Aoko looked Ran deep in her eyes and Ran couldn't help but swallow in nervousness.

"I need a purpose in my life. I need a goal and this could be one." Aoko didn't quite know why she was telling her all this. Maybe it was the scenery, maybe it was her loneliness or all the pain she'd accumulated over the time. Maybe she needed a let out and this girl was there to listen. "Once I tell someone, be it Kaito or Otou-san or even Hakuba-kun, they'd take this case and leave me behind. They'd tell me you did well and then turn around and leave again."

Ran grasped Aoko's hand in sympathy. "Otou-san is mostly away chasing Kaitou Kid and Kaito is never around anymore, either. I hate the empty house, I hate the silence. I detest the darkness. That's why even if this will turn out to be true I want to be the one ahead of them. I want to solve this, to prevent this and if I cannot do that then at least stop it – save everyone and leave victoriously. It's probably easier said than done, I know and I may overexert myself with this but at least I did something meaningful."

"I understand", Ran whispered and squeezed Aoko's hand once before letting go again. "I understand your reason. It's resonating too much within myself but I don't know if we really should be so selfish and risk people's lives."

"Honestly, I don't want to risk anyone, Ran-chan, but I simply cannot let this slip. Just this once it's not about any of them. It's not even about me or you but about a case we could solve."

Ran felt like objecting.

"I don't want to feel this emptiness inside of me, anymore. Everyone's always leaving me because they have something to do which is so much more important than I could ever be and this is my chance to prove to them that I'm not worthless. I can solve cases and save people. Granted, I haven't done that before but how hard can it be?"

Aoko didn't know how many times she felt like choking when she got home and only emptiness greeted her. She grew to hate the silence, the emptiness. It was why she always had birthday parties, Christmas parties, always parties because she couldn't take the emptiness anymore. She was loud and obnoxious because she couldn't take the silence anymore.

She didn't feel like keeping up with Kaito and he never stopped to wait for her. Instead, he kept going and going until she didn't see him anymore and now he was too far away for her to catch him anymore. It hurt and left her feeling empty inside.

If this case was the key to making her feel whole again then she wouldn't let it slip no matter what. It was selfish, she knew that, it was stupid. But she'd cared so much about others and whoever cared about her? Besides, she wouldn't let them get hurt anyway. Not if she could prevent it all.

When she left the detective agency the last time she'd felt elated and excited beyond belief. She started making plans, thinking of possibilities, chances, worst and best case scenarios. When she got home that night she didn't feel empty or cold like choking like all the other nights. She had a clear goal inside her head and that goal pushed her forward.

Before she met Ran she had considered talking with a pro – that was why she went to the detective agency in the first place. But when she had talked things over with the girl, things had fallen into perspective for Aoko.

Aoko was sure to be smart enough to pull it off. She didn't have any experience in that field but with enough preparation things should work out fine. She would make them work.

When Aoko watched Ran she could clearly see argument inside Ran's head. It looked like there was an angel on the one shoulder and a demon on the other.

Aoko still didn't understand why she told her all that but it didn't matter anymore. "I'll do this alone, if I have to, Ran-chan."

Ran sighed. "I can't possibly have you carry the burden all on your own. Besides, it'll be easier with a second opinion."

Aoko beamed halfheartedly. "Sounds good, Ran-chan."

They spent the rest of the 2 hours in silence, watching the stars falling from the sky, only listening to the calm background squeals and light whispers of the people around them. And even though they didn't speak a single word, both of them stuck inside their own heads, Aoko felt warm and calm.

Whatever the reason, if it was Ran, this atmosphere or this place, from now on, Aoko felt the the best she has for a long time and declared this their place from now on.

"Nakamori-san, can I talk to you for a second?"

Aoko looked up from her math book, she totally forgot to do the math homework so she was hurriedly doing it now, when Akako called out to her.

As expected, Kaito didn't feel any guilt when she saw him at class next Monday. Usually, she'd yell and tell him what a crappy friend he was but this time she didn't feel like it. Too many times now had he disappointed her and she just didn't feel like she had any energy left to beat him up with. Kaito didn't apologize, barely even acknowledged her but this time Aoko was beyond that and left for her desk immediately. Half of the school day went eventless before Akako approached her and Aoko wondered if something happened. The girl usually never approached her – unless she wanted to tell her to leave Kaito alone.

"Sure", Aoko responded and got up before a hand shot in front of her.

"What do you want, Akako?" an agitated Kaito asked. Surprised, Aoko didn't fight him and wondered what got into him. Sure, sometimes Akako had some strange views but what was his deal anyway? She should feel anger for meddling in her affairs and there was a small part of her which was angry but the larger part felt strangely warm that Kaito stood up for her – for whatever reason that might be.

But Aoko had a reputation to uphold and there were already way too many suspicious looks thrown her way that Aoko had no choice but to gather the strength to blow up in Kaito's face like everyone expected her to.

"What the hell is your problem, Bakaito?!"

"Nevermind", he grumbled and sat back down on his seat. Aoko just shook her head at his weird behavior. What was his problem, anyway? With that Aoko took Akako's arm and dragged her outside. Once the two girls were on the rooftop where no one would simply listen in on their conversation, Akako faced the smaller girl.

"I want you to know that the path you started to take will lead to blood, Nakamori-san."

Aoko's heart started beating fast. What did Akako mean? She didn't know anything about those messages, right? How would she even know? It was impossible! There was no way she could know about her meetings with Ran, either, so what was the Redhead talking about?

Aoko forced a smile on her face. "I don't know what you're talking about, Akako-chan."

"I am fairly certain you do, Nakamori-san. Usually, I would not care about that but I see a lot of blood and pain. I see death, Nakamori-san. For the sake of your loved ones I am warning you. Rethink your path again, Nakamori-san, before it's too late."

With that the witch turned around and left the rooftop.

Well, it didn't matter how Akako knew. She still remembered how Akako knew a thing or two which weren't supposed to be possible to know and yet – she did.

Blood? Death?

Absentmindedly, Aoko turned around and watched the students roam around the school grounds.

It was a bummer to hear this from Akako. Aoko had just two days ago stopped wavering. Was it the right thing she was doing or was it disastrous? She didn't know and decided not to care but death? She didn't want any blood on her hands. She didn't care much if it was her own blood but she didn't think she could live with someone else's blood.

Sighing, Aoko deflated visibly.

She could still go back, she could still let Kudo know and things would be safe, right? But the thought alone was enough to summon all the demons who were haunting her all the time, like her shadow, always watching, always waiting, always there.

She couldn't. No, there was no way back, not anymore. She simply wouldn't let it come to death and blood. If it was her blood, her death – who cares about her anyway.

She'd just have to make sure no one else got hurt.

Next chapter we'll have Shinichi grilling Ran for answers :D stay tuned