It was a long night and I couldn't help but wake up feeling stiff... my head hurt and I could feel some drool on my pillow and what was this...? My nose was running... symptoms of a cold... great, just great...
Conan came up to my room to try and wake me but he noticed I was already awake and not looking too good. He then went to get Ran. She came into my room and felt my forehead,
"Wow, sweetie! You're really burning up!"
"Hmm...?" I mumbled,
"You shouldn't go to school today... you should stay here and sleep!"
"Huh...?" I was so out of it that her words seemed so distant and everything was all bouncy in my head. No doubt, I was sick... and my head was just throbbing. Ran turned her head and noticed Conan peaking into the room with general concern,
"Conan, you go ahead and get to school! Stay away from Maureen for now. We don't need you getting sick!"
"Aww! Ok! See you later, Maureen!!" he shouted in that kiddie voice I hated so much before heading off to school.
"You can stay here until you're better, ok?"
"Uh... sure... thanks... I think..."
"And I'll get your homework from school so you don't fall behind!"
"Great..." I really wished I could sound more excited... but wow, I felt like crap.
They all left for school and came back that night and there I was still at home, dealing with Ran's father who was just annoyed. However, unlike with Conan and his daughter, he tried to avoid talking to me whenever possible it seemed.
By the time they got back, I already felt somewhat better and was able to leave the room. Ran decided that since I was home all day and probably bored that we'd do homework together and possibly talk a little bit.
"Conan looked happy to see you!" she stated, curled up on the floor looking into a rather thick textbook,
"Well, obviously... he hasn't seen me for quite a while... thanks for looking after the kid!"
Man, it was hard to lie on an empty stomach and a seemingly empty head... where were all my brain cells hiding? They all died when I caught that chill yesterday... thanks Haibara! I curled up a little bit on my bed eyeballing the notes that Ran had taken in class and taking notes of my own.
"How long have you known him? You two seem like good friends!"
I couldn't help but think 'we do?' but I didn't say so, I just forced a smile and stated,
"Uh! Since he was born! He's my kid brother!"
Ow, that hurt! Ran looked rather startled by that remark, she simply looked at me from her textbook in jaw drop,
"He's your brother?!"
I nodded slightly. I noted already that on the walk home with Conan yesterday that his only family ever mentioned were his mother and Agasa who was a distant relative.
I was ready to state however that the mother had gotten injured in an accident along with our father and that's why I came out to see him. I snapped to realizing that she was staring at me. I grinned sheepishly and hoped that she would blame my cold,
"Oh! Yeah! He's my little brother and... you never did ask me my last name,"
"So, you're Edogawa Maureen?"
"Yes!" Ow, these lies hurt!
"Well, why didn't you come out to see Conan sooner and how come Conan never calls you? Also... are you here to take him back?"
"Take it easy! He's not going anywhere yet! I've called Conan up a few times through Professor Agasa but he can't call me because I'm a spy,"
"A spy?! Isn't that almost the same as Detective?"
"Not even close. Detectives solve cases while spies simply get information and sneak around giving information to others... on the odd occasion however, spies do help detectives,"
"Are you here to spy on us then?"
"Not even close or I wouldn't have told you in the first place! Anyways, I actually came out to see Conan on some... very sad circumstances..."
"Really?"
"Yes... I've been here three days but I feel so bad... I haven't been able to break the news yet,"
"What news?"
I hung my head speaking quiet and low... trying to block all emotion from entering my voice...
"Our parents..."
"What about them?"
"They... they got into another accident... but they both..."
Being a spy, I was able to do things more or less on demand... it took me a few seconds but I managed to fake tears. Ran looked on, feeling terrible and I started to cry... it wasn't hard to cry over this issue since I had lost my own parents... so all I had to do was think of them and I was already automatically sad.
I felt bad however for dragging this onto Ran... even if it wasn't real, I could imagine that she believed me and that she just felt awful. She came over and hugged me, trying to comfort me.
"I haven't been able to tell him yet!"
"Shh... Shh... I understand. It's never easy to lose your parents. And if you don't want to tell Conan yet... then you can wait a while... try to calm down yourself before telling him... it will make it easier to comfort him too if you can be strong,"
"Th-They didn't die... b-but still!"
"You've still lost them temporarily..." she said, hugging me tighter, "just be strong!"
"... Thanks Ran..." I said, returning her hug. Conan would owe me for this.
Conan was eavesdropping in. He was upset over the fact that I was making Ran sad but he was happy over the fact that I was able to make this so believable! He just snuck a thumbs up then before he was going to leave, he let out with a sneeze, big enough to make him lose his balance and land flat on his face.
Oh crap, he must've caught my cold! Ran gazed towards the door, worried that Conan had heard all of that. She got up and went to see him. Conan was still on the floor, faking a sneezing fit now... afraid that she'd start questioning him. He finally calmed and looked at Ran with a weak smile.
"Hi!"
"Conan, are you ok?"
"Sorry! I was going to the bathroom and I started sneezing!"
It was at this point that I rushed out to the hallway. He was my brother now. Better at least pretend to be worried! Ran lowered herself to look into Conan's eyes. They were thin, tired looking and watery. She felt his forehead and sighed,
"Looks like you caught Maureen's cold!"
"Oops!" I grinned sheepishly, "sorry Conan!"
He gave me a look that clearly said 'you will pay for this!' to which I could only grin with utter delight. I wondered how he would get his butt out of this one! Cold meant cough medicine and I already knew the effect that had on the poison Miyano originally created.
Ran picked Conan up and tried to take him to his room. But he played 'the toddler game' and threw a tantrum. She said that he could run around but he had to take medicine first. He broke out in a cold sweat and simply yelled,
"I'LL STAY IN MY ROOM BUT I DON'T WAAANT MEDICINE! IT'S YUCKY!!"
I tried not to laugh. This was too funny.
"Leave the kid alone... he doesn't want the icky medicine," I said, stepping in,
"No! He needs it if he's going to get better!"
Conan gave me a look that begged for mercy,
"Oh brother... Ran! Why don't... I take him to his room? I just got over my cold so I shouldn't pick it up again... I'll take him the medicine too!"
"YEAH! YEAH! LET HER DO IT!"
"I don't trust you two. I'm going to do it!"
"Well, damn," I mumbled. But I gave him a big grin and wave. I tried and he couldn't say I didn't! But damn, I just couldn't leave the brat alone! I walked to the room, peeking in.
"Oh! Everything's ok, Maureen! I just gave him the medicine! I'm just going to stay with him until he falls asleep!"
Conan mouthed the words 'help me...' and I could tell he was going to pass out any second.
"Uh... Ran, how about you go and I keep him company? I mean... you already gave him the medicine! And what could be better than having his own sister around? Especially... now?"
Boy, this hurt, it did but I wasn't going to let the little brat get found out. Damn conscience! You won again!
"Ok, fine. I'll be back in later though,"
Conan started breathing a bit heavier and also started sweating. I tried to talk over it so she wouldn't notice.
"Ok! But be sure not to wake him! He needs his rest if he's going to get better!"
Ran just nodded slightly, looking worried before leaving.
"Thank you..." Conan whispered weakly,
"You owe me, Detective,"
"Please... just... Conan... I don't want to have to get used to a third name..." he mumbled slightly, falling asleep,
"Whatever!" I stated though I was somewhat worried,
His words were becoming slurred and his eyes grew foggy. He seemed slightly intoxicated. I decided that I'd leave and try to keep Ran out of there until he became normal again.
I knew the effect would only last about three hours... at most... so I'd have to keep her occupied till then. Boy, did he ever owe me for this! I rushed back to my room where Ran was finishing her homework.
"Hey! Ran! Uh... could you please help me with my homework? I mean... I just transferred and even though it's only the beginning of the year... I'm mixed up with classes... you know..." I laughed slightly feeling nervous, I hoped it didn't seem obvious!
She just smiled and came to sit beside me... I played it stupid through ALL the homework and forced long-winded explanations out of her... that all took about an hour before I finally started some conversation... the conversation lasted about another hour... but damn! One more hour... what to do... what to do!
She went to go check on Conan... well, oh boy... time to take a fall for my team... literally! I threw myself down forcefully, doing a summersault and purposely injuring my legs. Talk about suffering for your art! I started to cry as loudly and obnoxiously as I could.
"What happened?!" Ran asked,
"I FELL!" I whined,
Ran sighed and came back, taking me to my room. She bandaged up my legs and stayed,
"You should be more careful!"
"Can you please stay with me for a little while?" I whined,
"Sure, sure! Do you want me to sleep in here tonight with you?"
"Yes please!"
She decided to set up in here and managed to but she insisted on checking on Conan before going to sleep. Oh no! Fifteen minutes still remained! He might not be back to normal yet!
Oh great, time to fall for the team again. I fell out of bed and bonked my head though not hard enough to bleed or anything; just enough to get a big bruise forming! I cried again, hoping that Ran would return once again. She did!
"What happened?"
"I'm such a klutz tonight! I'm sorry, Ran! I fell off my bed and bonked my head!"
She sighed, feeling slightly frustrated. I couldn't blame her but this was just acting. It would probably compromise her thoughts of me as a spy but nothing could be done. Conan's identity was in danger!
I managed to get to her to stay with me until I fell asleep... or rather... pretended to fall asleep. She then went to check on Conan. I snuck out of bed, despite my injuries and followed her, glancing into his room. He looked terrible.
He was sweaty and seemingly weak. He was back to normal but he was wearing a different pair of pyjamas. Oh well! Ran wouldn't notice, hopefully. I snuck back to the room and went to sleep, feeling good that I was able to successfully protect Conan's identity.
