Unexpected Side Effects

Sorry for the wait. Between exams, Christmas shopping, having my toenail removed and my job, I just haven't had the time.

We just got Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo! We also got a show called "Happy Tree Friends." In it, cute forest critters kill each other through accidents and stupidity. So funny!

That last chapter sucked, I know. I am just not used to writing in a third-person point of view.

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Shinko Kudo, formerly known as Conan Edogawa, whom in turn formerly known as Shinichi Kudo, was nervous. Make that very nervous. "Okay, I can do this. Just focus Kudo. If you can play a little kid for over two years, you can play a girl. You certainly have the body for it. Just pretend that this is the first time you have met Ran, and be nice, not sarcastic. That's Shiho's job."

Currently, Shinko, Shiho and Ran were sitting in the living room, with Yukiko in the kitchen, preparing tea. The air was tense. Shinko was at first nervous that Ran would conclude that this strange girl living in Shinichi's house was some girlfriend that she had never met. "Truly a scary though." Shinichi thought.

Ran broke the silence, "Is Shinichi here?"

"Uh, no, he is on some case somewhere," "Crap, I told her that I was coming home soon. I'm screwed."

"Something happened and the case took a whole new turn," Shiho continued, directing a knowing look at Shinko.

"Oh, I see," Ran said, looking like someone coughShinichicough had just kicked her heart into a soccer net, "So, Shinichi is your cousin?" Ran instantly brightened up, trying to act cheery.

"Umm, yeah," was Shinko's not so brilliant reply.

"And you are…?" Ran asked, pointing at Shiho.

"A friend of Kudo's," Shiho stated calmly.

"Nice reply Shiho. Now Ran is probably thinking your Shinichi's mystery girlfriend."

"…Oh, really?" Ran replied.

"I really do not like that look in Ran's eye". "Yeah, me and Shiho have been friends since we were kids. Heh heh," Shinko replied nervously, as if she would be brutally tortured if she said the wrong thing. Or, more specifically, Shinichi would be brutally tortured if his dear, loving cousin Shinko didn't cover for him.

"Yeah, seems like yesterday," Shiho replied.

"Stop doing that Shiho!" "Anyway, Auntie Yukiko, "Bleah, did I really just say that?" "Asked Shihoand I to look after the house while Shinichi is away."

"Yeah, can't let it get full of dust while he is away," Yukiko stated cheerfully as she entered the room, carrying a tray of tea for the three girls, "So Ran, are you going to show Shinko and Shiho around Teitan High? Maybe introduce them to some boys?" she asked with a sinister grin on her face.

"That's more Sonoko's department," Ran replied laughing, her earlier mood forgotten.

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Two days later, the Kudo mansion was clean, really clean. Cleaner than the day the Kudo's first moved in. Two exhausting days of non-stop cleaning (except for Shinko and Shiho's entrance exams), it was done.

"Shiho, I think it would be better if you lived her with me instead of at Agasa's," Shinko told her after cleaning out his attic.

At this, Shiho raised an eyebrow, "Really Kudo? Are you feeling brave or something?"

"Here we go." "No, it's not that. We told Ran that you and I were looking after the house while Shinichi was gone, right?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"Well, it would be kinda suspicious if you lived with Agasa instead. And the fact remains, she was almost found out I was Conan. If a girl who shows a resemblance to Ai Haibara shows up, living with the professor as Ai did, she might start it with her questions again." "I DO NOT want Ran o find out I'm a girl. Please say yes Shiho. I'm begging you."

Shiho thought this over for a minute. Kudo actually made some good points. "Could it be? Am I actually going to win a fight against her?" Shinko was having a hard time trying to hide her pleasure as Shiho let out a sigh of defeat.

"Ok Kudo, you win," "YES, I'VE DONE IT! HA HA HA!" "Besides, it's not like you have the "parts" anymore to do anything," Shiho finished, smiling at Shinko's expression as that last part registered in her mind.

"… Who just won here?"