I want my Kitty, I want my Jimmy

The footsteps seemed to echo through the hallway. Rachel lead Amber down the hall as the blond pondered the dilemma in her mind. What could have brought her to this world, this was supposed to be impossible, and yet here she was. The events of the day replayed in slow motion in her mind, yet the week seemed to follow the same routine as it always did- except, "The spell!" They had stopped speaking when the lightning struck and didn't finish. What if that was why the magic backfired, but if that was the case, where was Sindey? As they exited the building a shrill shriek pulled her away from her thoughts.

"NO! Let me go!" She stared at the young child; her short blond hair came past her shoulders and was pulled back with a thick blue headband. A woman pulled the girl's wrist attempting to drag her inside as the child continued to cry and screech, "NOOOOOOOO! NOOOOO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOO!" Amber stared at the girl as Rachel opened the door of the car. The child's hysterical sobs were muffled as the door shut. "I don't want to be here! I have to go find her! She's lost somewhere! My Kitty! My Jimmy! NOOOOOO!" Amber stared at the scene as the car began to move forward. The child and woman began to fade away as the vehicle moved down the street.

The images passed in blurred fragments as the car progressed down the highway. "Oh that poor girl-"

Conan rolled his eyes at Rachel's comment as Amber's eyes traced the scenery while pondering the scene in front of the hospital. Something didn't seem to sit right and the feeling lingered on the edge of her brain. My Kitty? Why address the cat with two individual names? But if that was Sindey- a memory tugged at the back of the blonde's mind.

"Amber, knock it off!"

"Amber, knock it off!" The older blonde stomped her foot to mimic the other's actions completely. Both were young, probably in the third grade, eight at the oldest. The younger, Sindey, brushed a golden ringlet behind her ear, the type that spiraled down like the springs of the bed and fell loosely on her shoulders.

"Look here copy cat, this isn't funny!"

"I think it's hilarious," Sindey turned to face the direction of the voice, while Amber continued to mimic her words and movements. The boy gave a wide grin to the girls as his raven black hair fell lightly across his face.

"Shut up Allan!"

"Hey look on the Brightside; she's not acting like a total idiot around you anymore," Sindey glared at her friends. The second blonde grinned widely and nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Yeah, remember yesterday, you thought I was a total moron, now look at us."

"And, that's a step up?" The boy nodded as he slung his arm around Sindey's shoulder.

"Come on, yesterday you couldn't even have a decent conversation with her. Now, she's actually mocking you, and in under a week, that's a new record for her. Well, except for me." Amber stomped her foot indignantly while placing her hands on her hips.

"You don't count Allan,"

"Why not?"

"'Cause I grew up with you,"

"So?" Allan shrugged as Amber rolled her eyes. Sindey made her way into the middle of the two companions before they started killing each other. She looked at Amber confused.

"So, we're friends now?" The older blond stared before beaming and nodding her head.

"Yeah, we're friends now," Sindey giggled.

"Fine, but since you played that little copy cat stunt, you've earned yourself a new nickname,"

"What?"

"From now on, you'll be Kitty Kat, with a 'K',"

"Why a 'K'," Allan shared a baffled expression with Amber before Sindey continued. As she did, her hand came down onto Amber's hair, ruffling it gently but being careful not to get too many tangles in the strands of gold.

"An unusual spelling for an unusual girl,"

"Kitty Kat? I like it." The boy nodded his approval toward his friend's new nickname.

She gazed blankly out the window while bringing herself back to present day. Was it possible that the child could be Sindey? She could have been using her nickname Kitty to address Amber, and she had a cat named Jimmy, so was it possible that the child outside the hospital could have been her friend? "Aren't we going to help her?"

"No, we don't solve cases for lost cats," Detective Moore responded. Amber scowled, crossing her arms in frustration. How was she supposed to find her friend if Detective Moron wasn't willing to meet her halfway, whether he knew it or not? The blonde exhaled slowly, weighing her options. She would have to convince him someway or another. So, how was she going to do that without blowing her cover? An idea struck her as an innocent smile crossed her face and her eyes brightened, as if she had found a new idol.

"But, you're a great detective aren't you; I bet you could find it in no time, right?"

"Hmm," The detective considered the statement. The girl's eyes were bright with admiration, his will power began to weaken as he succumbed to the trap, "alright then, I'll help her," Amber's eyes lit up. He had taken the bait hook, line, and sinker. In fact, it was almost too easy. Unfortunately, unknown to the girl, Conan was staring at her from the corner of his eye. Her small act of trickery had clued him in to her true intellect. With memory or without it, she was too crafty to be a normal child.

The car pulled back into the parking lot of the hospital. Amber gazed hopefully as they crossed the property and entered the air conditioned room. Her heart sank realizing that the child had left before they could reach her. Detective Moore walked toward the receptionist.

"Excuse me miss, but we're looking for a little blonde girl. She was here earlier throwing a fit, you know," his hand came up, showing an estimate of the girl's height, "about ye high, fat head, and hair." The detective's hands motioned to shoulder length, roughly, before pointing to the top of his head, "and a hair thingy." The receptionist stared for a moment, contemplating before shaking her head gently and shrugging.

"My shift started about thirty minutes ago. There were no screaming children here," A look of disappointment crossed the detective's face. "I'm terribly sorry."

The man grumbled under his breath obviously not content with the lack of information that the receptionist had given him, "Well, alright, thanks anyway."

Richard Moore glared at the young blonde as the group reentered the car. "What a waste of time! You little brat, if you hadn't opened your mouth I could have been home sleeping already."

"Dad, don't get mad at her!" His daughter reprimanded him furiously. Conan grinned understanding the detective's perspective. After all, Richard did know that the girl had gotten what she wanted, it was almost funny. Conan's gaze turned toward the child.

He watched as the girl shrunk back into the corner, tears forming in her bright eyes. She stuttered trying to form the words in her mouth, "B-but, w-what did I do?" The water seemed to flood into her eyes. Rachel cast a deadly glare at her father, who merely responded with an innocent and defensive whine.

"What, it's her fault,"

"Well, you didn't have to listen to her," the teenager retorted furiously. Her father pouted, perturbed with his daughter's lack of understanding.

"That's my point, she manipulated me."

"Oh yeah, Dad, I'm sure," Rachel rolled her eyes, annoyed. Honestly, that girl was a child, how could her father ever consider the possibility that an eight year old could outsmart a full grown adult?

The second car ride back seemed considerably longer than the first. The car dragged into the parking lot as they entered the apartment complex. Rachel gave a warm smile as the group exited the car for the second time that day. The teenager led the children and her father up the stairs and into the apartment dorm.

"Ah, finally," she exhaled and allowed the tension to drain from her body as she walked through the doorway. Rachel smiled before turning to Conan, "it's good to be home, don't you think, Conan?" The boy returned the smile, and Amber could swear that his cheeks had turned a little pinker than usual. He laughed nervously.

"Yeah, sure," he paused as if debating his next action before responding again, "I think I'm gonna head over to Dr. Agasa's for a little while though, I want to see if he knows anything about how my parents are doing, if that's okay with you of course."

"Okay, sure, I don't see why not," Detective Moore's daughter nodded in understanding and agreement, before turning and acknowledging the second child in the room, the blond. No one in the room knew much about the little girl they had found three days ago. It would be good for her to have a friend, or someone her age to relate to. Rachel's face lit up as an idea struck her. "Hey, why don't you take Amber with you?"

"Eh," both of the brunettes turned to the child that remained in the doorway, as if waiting to be invited in. Amber's green eyes looked up and shifted between the two, in response to hearing her name called. She could read their faces. Rachel's held pure innocence with pride behind her "genius" idea, Conan's, on the other hand, seemed nervous and hesitant; he was obviously less than thrilled at Rachel's suggestion. "I'd rather not."

"Oh, okay, I'll let you go then," Rachel's face fell; obviously "no" was not the response she was planning on. Conan turned back to Amber, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Maybe next time though, okay?"

"Kay," She nodded, returning his gaze, as if she were alright yet, she was resisting the urge to cling to his leg and beg not to be left alone. It was funny, because Amber had always enjoyed Jimmy's character in the show, but now she felt a deep disdain toward him. Of course, he was leaving her alone, with Rachel…and Richard. A guilty expression crossed Conan's face; well at least she was making him feel bad.

The blond watched the boy as he passed her, leaving the apartment complex. Green eyes followed him down the hallway as he walked away—leaving her—alone—with them.

Amber's face turned as she felt a warm hand being placed on her shoulder. Rachel stood there, smiling as always. "So, you hungry, what'd you say we cook something up?" The blond suppressed a scoff. Of course, she had to be perky around kids. Amber nodded, following Rachel into the kitchen, during which she debated where she was safer, outside on the streets, or inside with these two nut jobs.

The soccer ball bounced off of the boy's head as he pondered the situation in his mind. He had been at the professor's house for a while now and had already enlightened Doctor Agasa of the blond, of Amber. After listening carefully to the Conan's explanation both of them began to question the integrity of the girl's story. And it wasn't just her story that confused Jimmy Kudo, but also the way she acted, spoke, and interacted with others.

"She's so-o weird, she's been more intellectual than a regular kid—well at least so far." The ball slid down Jimmy Kudo's back as he allowed it to bounce between his feet. The Doctor rubbed the gray whiskers on his chin thoughtfully, considering what the boy was telling him.

"She's sounding verrry intresting so far Jimmy, from vat you are telling me, it seems you are hoping she is more zan just a little girl vis a bump, ja?"

"Well yeah, I mean, what if she has something to do with those men in black and even if she isn't, she could be related to another case that the police haven't uncovered yet." His eyebrows creased as he thought, "I can't let her slip away until I find out, and what's worse is that she has amnesia."

"Hmm, vat? No, she is a liar, Jimmy. If all you tell me is true, she is such a very bad liar, but she fooled you, Jimmy Kudo, and Rachel, and Richard, too-though the last one is no surprise-she is still very good Jimmy, vatch out for her." a concerned expression crossed the doctor's face, the brunette met his gaze and considered Dr. Agasa's theory.

"No way, she's smart, but… I don't know," He sighed looking at the clock. It was getting late and Rachel would want him home soon, "Oh well, I should probably get going now, I don't want Rachel to start getting worried."

"Alright zen, Jimmy. I will see you later den?" Dr. Agasa watched as Conan opened the door.

"Yeah, I'll stop by again tomorrow, Bye!" The door shut behind him as he left the room.

The night air surrounded him. Leaves in the trees whispered in the breeze and seemed to speak to him. In an alleyway a voice echoed calling out to any life form that may be able to hear.

"Jimmy! JIIIIMMMMYYYY! Jiiimmyyy!" The boy stared into the depths of the alley at what seemed to be a girl. She continued to emerge from the darkness that surrounded her, running toward him until the distance closed entirely and they collided with each other. He grunted as he fell on his backside. The girl let out a short scream, almost like a yelp.

"Phew… I'm sorry, here let me help you up," The blond was surprisingly strong for her size. Conan looked at her in shock as the girl easily pulled the boy back up on his feet. "I'm sorry, have you seen my jimmy? I can't seem to find him." She began moving her hands around, "He's about this tall, this wide, and he—hey!" The girl stopped in mid thought staring at the boy before pressing her finger to his nose, "He looks just like you, with brown hair and blue eyes just like that."

Jimmy Kudo's expression shifted from shock to disbelief as he recognized that this girl was the same one as the girl from the hospital that afternoon. How did she get so far in such a short amount of time? And what did she mean by Jimmy? Conan's heart fell into his stomach as the panic spread in his mind. "Uh, eh, no, I—no I haven't seen anyone named Jimmy," He laughed nervously scratching the back of his head, "No way! Not here, not me! No sir!"

The girl stared at him confused. Before her mind seemed to register what he had just said. "OF COURSE NOT!" She giggled at the boy's response, "not someone, somecat, silly. He just looks like you," The detective stared at her in disbelief, and to think that he allowed his paranoia to control his deducing skills so easily. The girl smiled innocently as her greenish gray eyes bore down into his. "Well, thanks anyway,-…ehhh…"

"Conan,"

"Right! Conan! Well thanks anyway Conan. I guess I'm just gonna go keep looking for my Jimmy, I suppose… see you around, Cozak," The girl gave one final smile as she turned to leave. Her blond curls bounced behind her as her figure faded into the darkness of the night. Yet, all the brunette could do was stare and arch his eyebrows at what probably was the most peculiar girl he had ever laid eyes on.

He continued down the pathway, making his way toward home. Up the stairs and through the door, only to hear Moore's voice. Jimmy's blue eyes moved toward the table where Rachel's father appeared to be harassing the poor girl about her memory.

Conan observed the blonde. She seemed to be concentrating, but her face was twisted and contorted as if in pain. The grip around her glass tightened with each question Moore asked until it cracked and sent a cascade of the glittering crystals falling upon the floor.

"Now look what you did!" The man shouted in his frustration and irritation as he attempted to crash his fist into Amber's skull. Instinctively, she ducked and ran behind Conan for some sort of protection. Detective Moore's fist collided with the chair she originally sat in, "Ow! Why you little…"

"Gaaaa! Don't hide behind me," Jimmy let out a short yelp as Amber screamed when Richard used his fist to try to connect with the children's heads once again. Luckily for them, both ducked, causing the man's hand to strike the wall, a forth of an inch above their heads.

Conan cried for Rachel as Amber shrieked, fearing for her life. Both children rushed behind the teenage brunette as she entered the room. She looked furious and sent a deadly expression toward her father, "Dad! I can't even make dinner without you causing trouble! Stop bothering Amber and just leave them alone!"

"BUT…" She ignored her father turning her attention toward the children speaking tenderly and smiling softly,

"Come on you two, let's go in the kitchen and you two can help me out with dinner, okay," Amber and Conan looked at each other before turning to Rachel, grinning and replying in unison.

"Okay Rachel," The blonde looked over her shoulder, her green eyes examining Detective Moore.

"Oh my God, that guy's scary." Amber's pace quickened, leaving a fuming man behind. She didn't like him in the show and now that she was experiencing his temper in first person, the character seemed even worse.

A sharp ache interrupted her thoughts. She looked down at her hands that were now shimmering from the broken shards of glass. "Uh Rachel,"

"Hmm?" Amber held her hands up so that the brunette could examine the glittering hands that shone with crimson blood, "AHH! OH NO!" Rachel led the girl to the table, rotating her hands and attempting to figure out what to do as she examined them. Detective Moore's daughter began to remove the larger pieces that were visible in Amber's fair skin, "Some of these cuts are pretty deep, we're gonna have to go down to the clinic," The response seemed to be accompanied with a groan and a sigh.

"Oww," Amber flinched as Rachel gently wrapped the bandages around her bleeding hands.

"Yeah, there's some glass in there too," She exhaled deeply realizing that the girl could become an even greater responsibility than Conan, "What on earth were you thinking?"

"That I was going to kill him," Amber silently thought, but Rachel need not know that. The brunette stood up, "Okay, Conan, get your shoes back on, let's go," Jimmy Kudo followed her instructions as she hollered toward her father, "Dad! Clean up that glass while we're gone. We'll be back in about an hour or so."

She remained in the back seat of the car, pouting. The bandages were died scarlet. Her hands ached and the drive to the hospital was not what anyone would describe as short. What made it worse was that the doctor had to dig under several layers of skin to remove the shards.

Now that the appointment was over, Amber sat in the back seat, messaging the sorest areas with her finger tips. Conan was beside her, staring out the smooth glass of the window. A girl paced in the middle of a field as if searching for something; her curls blowing in the gentle breeze.

"Wow, she's still looking," His whisper was barely audible, almost silent. The blonde moved closer. Her hair and skin brushed against the side of Conan's cheek as she leaned over his shoulder. He could feel the heat emanating from her flesh. Amber's voice was almost as soft as his, curious and innocent.

"Looking for what?"

"What's that you two?" Rachel asked as she peered at the children through the rear view mirror. Conan turned and spoke louder so that his guardian could hear.

"It's that girl, Rachel,"

"What?" She slammed on the brakes immediately. Amber, who was not wearing a seatbelt, toppled foreword as the momentum flowed from the car into her tiny body. Instinctively, she grabbed the seat in front of her as Jimmy seized the other arm, stabilizing the child. Rachel Moore turned to face the children, "From the hospital?"

"Yeah, see?" He pointed outside to where the girl originally was.

"Where? I don't see her," She had followed the direction of his finger, yet when she looked, the girl was nowhere to be found. Amber could see the shock in his eyes as he stared in disbelief.

"She disappeared,"

"Well, don't worry, I guess," Rachel hesitated, staring at the emptiness of the street before them, "I'm sure we'll see her again,"

They drove on. When they returned to the apartment Richard Moore was asleep at his desk, a case of alcohol beside him. Rachel showed Amber the room that she would reside in, and the blonde collapsed from exhaustion. It had been a long day, and, when she thought about it, the journey would be even longer.