Let's Get Along!
The narrow staircase leading to Detective Mouri's agency smelt of alcohol and tobacco. It was also dark, with just a very thin stream of orange light illuminating from the gap of the agency's door and the floor.
It's Aoko's first time to be there, but something tells her that it wasn't usually like that. There was a soft touch of vacant loneliness coloring the air, and it sends a shiver down her spine. Without any commotion and clatter, the hall feels empty.
She walked up to the door, fists clenched and held firmly by the door, and hesitated for a moment upon hearing murmurs from the other side. Murmurs from a man and a woman; judging by the tone, the conversation must be serious. Beside her, Kaito stays silent, leaning lazily against the wall and staring down at the staircase with calculating eyes.
She didn't want to interrupt the people in the room, but she knew that she needed to do this. Gathering a breath, her fist collided with the door and made three firm knocks. The murmurings stopped.
About a beat of silence passed before she heard the thumps of heavy footsteps – loud and tired, just like her dad's. Another beat and the lock of the door clicked before creaking a hairline wide. Half of the face of a middle-aged man peeked through the gap.
"Yes? Waddaya want? We're –" He froze, and Aoko saw his eyes quickly travel to her face.
Then, the door swung wide open. "Ran!"
The woman sitting on the couch straightened up and snapped her gaze towards them. "Ran?"
"Ah, I – I'm not –" Aoko stammered, stepping back and waving both hands in front of her frantically. The man understood. After prolonging his gaze, he knew that the giddy relief had been for naught. He paused, lips freezing, an unsaid screech of joy hanging in dead air. Then he turned to the woman, now standing, before shrugging tiredly. "False alarm."
The woman sighed, an involuntary whine leaving her lips, before sinking back into the couch and staring blankly at the half-closed windows.
There was no doubt in Aoko's mind that these people are the parents of Ran Mouri. However, she still needed to confirm it. "Are you Kogoro Mouri?"
"Yes, I am," replied the man, voice gruff possibly from continuous smoking. "But I can't take on any case right now."
"You'll want to take on this one," she said, trying very hard to keep her voice strong. "My father's job right now would be so much easier with your help, I'm sure. And his job right now might have something to do with Ran Mouri."
She didn't see their reactions because towards the end of her sentence, her gaze fell to her fingers. She heard it, though, with the sharp intake of breaths. Looking up, she saw that Kogoro Mouri didn't look like he was capable of reacting properly. The woman took action and stood from her place, before rushing towards the girl.
"How is she?" she asked, and Aoko bit her lip. How is she? The question itself has been bugging her several times, preventing her from having any decent sleeps. The idea of a complete stranger suffering in her place felt like having a lit match stabbed into the gut. She felt guilty and absolutely terrible for having to see a woman – who is most probably a mother – in pain.
"Hello!" Kaito suddenly said, saving her from the dilemma of having to answer the question by stepping in front of the woman in one swift motion. "My name is Kaito Kuroba, and this is Aoko Nakamori. What we have to say is quite long, so if you don't mind, may we come in?"
The woman and the detective stared oddly at Kaito for a few seconds, looking like they were trying to find something there and analysing his appearance. Then the man huffed a breath. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered before walking back to the office.
Rolling her eyes, the woman held a hand out. "My name is Eri Kisaki, a lawyer and his wife. You already know who he is. Please. Come in." Then she stepped aside and ushered them towards the couch.
The smell of tobacco was stronger inside the office. That was the first thing Aoko noticed when she craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the room. The second was that it was dimly-lit, the setting sun allowing little rays of its light to stream in through the windows. It touched the ground in soft, orange beams, revealing the gleam of something that is most probably made of tin scattered all over.
Eri flicked on a switch and everything burst with light, illuminating details that had been hidden by shadows. Aoko saw that the office table was stacked with large piles of papers. Pencil shavings and small office equipment were a messy constellation of dots across the table and the floor.
And there were beer cans – empty, spilled and full – everywhere.
Detective Mouri was already on the couch even when they were just entering the door. Eri didn't waste much time making petty conversation either. Right after the two teenagers were seated, she immediately sat beside her husband – her posture poised and lips pursed tight.
"So how is she?" she repeated her question.
Aoko scooted over to Kaito until their shoulders touched beneath the sleeves; it was more of a nervous habit than anything. "We haven't heard from her in awhile but –"
"In awhile?" Kogoro asked, leaning forward. "You heard from Ran?"
"Dear," Eri snapped, and it made the great detective sink back into the couch. Then, turning back to the two, she said, "Nakamori-san, please go on. Tell us everything you know.
There was a pause. Aoko wasn't sure where to start. Then, she felt Kaito lean towards her.
"Let them listen to the conversation," he whispered.
"What? I didn't bring the recording device with me."
"Yeah you did."
Aoko stuck her hand into her satchel, eager to prove her point, when her finger brushed against a smooth, plastic surface. Her brows furrowed. How did this get in here?
She placed the device on the table, glimpsed at the couple and regretted it. Eri Kisaki's perceptive, worried stare pierced right into her heart. Kogoro Mouri's anxious look caused her to cast her gaze down. "This will basically sum everything up," she whispered, pushing the device towards them.
There was a click as her numb finger depresses the button, and for awhile, a whirring sound circulates across the stale air. Then, a voice cuts through.
"Nakamori..."
The sound of a truck whoosh through the road just outside the window filled the silence as Kogoro and Eri sat crouched on the couch, allowing the new information to sink in.
This silence was broken by Kogoro's shaky, low voice. "Hey, kid, could you hand me another can of beer?"
Kaito's hands swiftly ran through the cans beneath the table until he found one that wasn't empty. He carefully handed it to the older man, apparently forgetting to turn on his poker face.
Aoko saw that his eyes were distant, and his brows were curled tight in unease. She knows that he is pained, and possibly even angry. Seeing a father look so troubled has obviously sliced through his heartstrings.
After all, he once had a father himself.
"Sunday, huh?" Comes Eri's soft voice. "And they want...Kid."
"What the hell is the inspector doing?" Kogoro bellowed, completely catching Aoko off-guard. "Didn't Kid pull off a heist last night? How could he let that mangy crook escape? With what's at stake, how could he slack off?"
"My dad isn't slacking off!" Aoko suddenly snapped, hands at the edge of the table as she looked at the man. Girl, remember your manners! screamed her mind. This is the Great Detective who has offered his help countless times to capture Kid!
Yeah, but he didn't have to say that, reasoned her heart, which seemed to be much closer to her nerves and vocal chords.
Seeing that no one was speaking, she continued. "Just so you know, he's putting his job and freedom at risk, even as we speak, by defying the authorities! Last night, he was going to tranquilize Kid and stuff him into a sack!"
Something seemed to catch in Kaito's throat. He was suddenly coughing and gawking hysterically, but she decided to ignore it.
"Also, dad hasn't failed us! Not yet! We still have four days to go, and we could still do so much!"
"Like what? Do you have any suggestions?" Kogoro wasn't being sarcastic. He was dead serious when he asked this. His wife had a similar look of determination as her gaze zeroed in on the young girl.
"Well for starters, you could talk things out with the inspector and Kid," Kaito shrugged.
"Kid?" asked Eri.
"Yes. We suspect that he's helping the inspector with the case."
Several expressions flashed across Eri and Kogoro's faces. Confusion, worry, and shock. With jobs seeing black and white and leaning heavily on justice and law, Aoko was pretty sure that they'd react as badly as her to the knowledge of actually working with an international thief.
However, as if rethinking the situation and seeing – really seeing – the fact that this is the Kaitou Kid helping them bring back their daughter, relief washed out all other emotions.
She knew, however, that interrogation would surely follow.
"Well then, I'm going to to set a very important appointment now, so if you'll excuse me," Eri stood up and dusted her pencil skirt.
Just before she could turn to her heels and walk to the table, however, the door creaked, and they heard the patter of footsteps dance around the doorway.
"Uncle, what's going on? It's so loud!"
"Conan!"
Kaito suddenly went very still – his muscles and ligaments all radiating palpable tension. Aoko looked over the couch and saw that the person standing by the doorway was a small little boy.
"He's so cute," she mused, scanning the child and completely ignoring Kaito, who was softly spitting out a long stream of curses under his breath for some odd reason.
"Ah, sorry about that, Conan-kun. You don't have to worry. Go to the professor's if you'd like. We're going to be pretty busy," Eri said.
"Yeah! We finally found a lead to Ran and we don't want you ruining anything!"
"R-Ran-neechan?" the boy yelped, expressions shifting from giddy childlike innocence to serious, calculating shock. "Where did you hear this from? What are the leads?"
"It's none of your business! You're just a brat!"
"Dear!" Eri scolded from across the room, hand already tightly wrapped around the telephone. "He's just as worried about her as we are!" Then she turned to Conan, eyes softening a reasonable amount. "However, this is something that you can leave to us. Don't worry about it. That mustached old man and I will fix this."
"M-mustached old man?"
"Was Ran-neechan kidnpped?" Conan suddenly asked, tilting his head towards the two teenagers sitting on the couch. "Did they tell you that she was kidnapped?"
Eri pursed her lips and stared the boy. Despite his age, she knew that Conan was exceptionally bright. She also knew that hiding anything from him could really only lead to trouble.
Walking across the room, she ignored her husband's glares, knelt in front of the child and gripped his shoulders. "Conan-kun, listen. It is very important that you don't tell anyone about this."
"I won't," he quipped. Then he pointed childishly at the two teenagers. "So who are they?"
"I can't believe that they're letting him stay. This is a serious matter," Kaito smoothly muttered under his breath. Being one of the privileged few who knew him very well, however, Aoko was able to perceive a touch of nervousness coloring his tone. "Little kids shouldn't be snooping around. Aoko, you tell 'em. Make them kick him out. Please?"
"What? No!" she hissed back. "He really won't do much damage!"
"Unless he tells anyone, Ahoko! Kids are kids! He'll want to tell all his friends about something this juicy!"
"You're the kid! If you want him out so bad, you talk to them!"
"I'm going home."
Aoko stared, mouth hanging open. Then, "What?"
Kaito gave Conan a pointed look. "Let's go home, Aoko. We're done here, aren't we? Your dad will get worried if he doesn't find you at home."
"My dad doesn't come home before eleven."
"Still, haven't you ever thought about the dangers of walking around exposed when the kidnappers who are originally after you still out there?"
"No," she whispered. "If they come after me, I'll run."
Kaito stared blankly at her. "i-d-i-o-t""
Aoko scoffed, stared, leaned in and glared straight into his soul. "I am not an idiot!"
"Yes you are," he retorted mockingly. Like a child.
And like a child, his childhood friend was absolutely affected.
Aoko, just like her father, was not known for her patience. What little she had had worn off with the taunts. Pushed at the edge would be the signal of a mop chase. But seeing that there was no mop around, she resorted to her second instinct.
She snapped. "For Christ's sake, will you stop calling me a ****ing idiot you..." Curses began rolling off her tongue. She's very good at it. Creative too.
When she was done, the room was very silent. Even Kaito, wide-eyed and caught off-guard, didn't say anything.
Then they heard Eri clear her throat. "There's a child in here, you know?"
"Oh!" Aoko gasped, hastily turning to the small boy. "I am so sorry! Conan-kun, don't say any of that, okay?"
"No worries," replied the child, looking at her with a strange, distant look in his eyes. "Uncle's really no different."
Conan's eyes flickered from Aoko to Kaito, who had suddenly taken an interest in the blank, half-closed windows. She wasn't sure if it was just her but as he stood there, facing away from all of them, didn't he look a little robotically stiff?
"Niisan?" Conan hummed, craning his neck towards Kaito. The latter tilted his head towards them – slowly and barely revealing much of his face. Then Conan's face lit-up. "Ah! It's Shinichi-niisan!"
The teenager stiffened further, if that was even possible. Then, Kogoro stepped forward to bonk the child upside the head. "He's not that detective brat!" he groaned. "Stop assuming that there's two of them! Just one is enough!"
"But he is him," he whimpered, running a palm over his aching head. He allowed Eri to scold the man for him, and ran towards the two high-schoolers. Aoko was absolutely pleased to have him meet them. Kaito, however, although pleasantly calm on the outside, had his lips twisted grimly in absolute discomfort.
"Listen, little boy. I'm not that Shinichi guy you're talking about. I don't even know who he is," Kaito drawled, bending down to meet Conan's gaze. A flash of irritation crossed the child's eyes, but it was gone that same second.
"Really? But you look so much like him!" He smiled brightly. "In fact, if you styled your hair a bit and paraded as Shinichi-niisan in, say, a theatre, an airship, a helicopter, or even in this very office, no one would notice!"
By then, Kaito was sweating. "You've got a pretty wild imagination, kid!"
"Really?" Conan cheered. "My teacher says that that's a good thing!"
"It isn't," Kogoro grumbled, taking another swig of his beer. "This brat's imagination has gotten him into more trouble than I can count. Kidnapping, homicide, murder, robberies, you name it."
Aoko's hands immediately flew up to her mouth as she stared at Conan, wondering how such a small, helpless child bear go through all that. Then she notices, for the first time seriously, that he actually looked familiar.
Her mind racked through various newspaper articles that she's seen. TV programs that she's watched. Was he a child star? Or did the heinous crimes he got caught in squeeze him into the media?
"I also attended Kaitou Kid's heists," Conan added to the list, and Aoko's eyes widened. How could she forget? Her father has mentioned a certain little boy getting caught up in his case whenever Jirokichi Suzuki is involved!
Little Conan, the 'Kid Killer!'
"Ah! I know you! So you hate Kaitou Kid too?" She beamed, facing the child with a proud look on her face. Conan, in response, smiled back.
"Yes!"
"My dad is actually the inspector! One day, we're going to put him behind bars. When you're older, you should join the Task Force and help him out!"
"I could! I could!" Conan jumped, causing Kogoro to roll his eyes and Eri to chuckle.
At least, Aoko thought, they're looking better.
"Make up your mind, kid! Did you want to be a detective or a member of the Interpol?" Kogoro snapped.
"I don't need to worry about it yet! I'm just a kid!"
Kaito snorted beside her, and this time, Aoko decided that she wasn't going to ignore it. She turned to him. "Kaito, what is wrong with you? You've been all stiff and quiet since Conan-kun came in."
"Have I?" he whispered back. "Maybe it's because I'm afraid your dad would beat me up if I take you home late."
"Oh, you know he wouldn't do that. He likes you!"
"Unless I take you home late."
"Oh, niisan, are you going to help me save Ran-neechan?" Conan suddenly asked, face resembling that of a kicked puppy's. "Won't you and neechan stay and give me the details?"
Kaito straightened up, and suddenly, it seemed like he was never anxious. "We'll do our best to help, but we can't stay after talking with them." He gestured to Kogoro and Eri. "Aoko's dad wouldn't want her getting home late!"
"Hn..." The child stared at them oddly. Calculatingly. Then, "Are you two dating?"
"WHAT?" they bellowed. Aoko fell to her knees and grabbed Conan's shoulders.
"Listen, Conan-kun! I would never date a wild, loco monkey like him!"
"As if I'd date a violent, tomboyish ape like you!"
Eri clapped her hands. "That's enough."
Through the sharp, normalcy in her voice, Aoko suspected that she's used to banters similar to theirs.
Whose banters, though? Her daughter, Ran Mouri, and someone else with a personality as crazy as Kaito's?
As if reading her thoughts, Conan said, "Auntie used to do that a lot with Ran-neechan and Shinichi-niichan."
"Shinichi? Who is he?"
Conan, to her surprise, didn't look up smiling like she'd expected him to. Instead, he cast his gaze down, drawing at the dust through the tip of his shoes. "He's her...childhood friend. Her best friend."
Before she could say anything else, he snapped her gaze at her, an air of childlike wonder radiating off him. "Anyway, you look so much like Ran-neechan! What's your name?"
"Aoko Nakamori," she replied.
"I'm Conan Edogawa!"
He smiled for a second before turning to Kaito, head lowering ever so slightly. "What is your name?"
"My name," the young magician drawled, friendly smile revealing nothing, "is Kaito Kuroba. Let's get along!"