Disclaimer: This story was inspired by Dragon-sama's Chatty Punnies. I do not own Magical Kaito or Detective Conan!
Warnings: Gore and more exploding victims...it's actually starting to make me feel bad.
-(Chapter Start)-
Aquarium Switch
Chapter Five
Getting Closer
-(Kudou House; Evening)-
Shinichi and Kaito were sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Hattori to arrive and give them anymore information. They had finished dinner; which was just a simple sandwich and few chips. They weren't really hungry as they waited for the dark teenager; he had left Shinichi a text stating that he had a ton of things to tell them. Shinichi was starting to get impatient and started pacing in the kitchen. Kaito, who was sprawled half-way across the table, watched Shinichi as he walked from one end of the kitchen to the other. He felt a tense feeling entering the air as the door opened to more then one person bickering.
Kazuha entered the kitchen first, shaking her head as she sat at the table, and smiled sadly at Shinichi. "Sorry, they'll be in here, eventually. They've been arguing about who could be the murder since about 6 o'clock." Shinichi perked up and looked at the pony-tailed haired girl and smiled widely. "They have suspects?" Kaito almost laughed at how excited Shinichi sounded; all they had was some scratch marks and that told them nearly nothing.
"I say it's the doctor! He has medical experience and his father has a military background in the bomb squad." Kaito knew that voice, oh it sounded so much better when it wasn't accusing him of being Kaitou Kid! Shinichi sat back down next to Kaito and looked at him as the bickering continued in front of the door.
"I think it's the chick! The murder has a thing for Kudou and all she bloggs is Kudou this and Kudou that! Plus she has military background!"
"So they have two suspects?" Shinichi looked over at Kazuha.
"No, three. The third is a police officer in Division 1. He works with the bomb squad." She sighed. "They don't think he'd do it. This whole thing spells 'creepy' to me."
"The doctor also has a thing for Kudou; he's interested in his mind."
"It makes more sense that the chick is trying to get Kudou's attention the only way that seems possible!"
"That makes absolutely no sense, Hattori-san."
"Sure it does! Do ya know how many murders Kudou solves within a week alone? At least 10!"
"Someone want my Shin-chan?" Kaito hugged Shinichi closed to him as Shinichi started wondering what they were exactly talking about.
"They think I only get 10 a week?" Shinichi said, making Kaito shake in laughter. "I feel insulted."
"That's it, I'm getting you a charm."
"What are you talking about?"
Kazuha giggled at Kaito's antics, "I can give you one!"
"Don't help him!" Shinichi protested as Kaito held out his hand for a lucky charm. Kazuha rooted in her purse, and handed Kaito a purple character with the character warding away bad luck and death. "I carry this when ever I hang around Hattori and Kudou-kun"
"Does it work?"
"Sometimes!"
Shinichi looked up as the two other detectives entered the kitchen, looking kind of sheepish as Shinichi stared at them with raised eyebrows. "Look what you two started."
"Sorry, Kudou." They both said as they took their own seats.
"I've should have expected to see you, Hakuba-kun." Shinichi greeted the blonde teen.
"Kudou, you did realize that once you've told me anything about this case that I'd be participating."
"Kudou, how could ya do that to me!?" Hattori protested and the blonde detective shot him a glare. "I was stuck alone with this guy all day!"
"What am I? Chump change?" Kazuha grouched.
"Can't we all just get along?" Kaito said in an overly cheerful voice, and managed to get all the detectives to glare at him. "Or not. I miss Ran-chan…"
"Guess that makes you one of the girls, Kaito-chan!" Kazuha said happily.
"Yay! We can go shopping for dresses when we find Ran-chan!"
Shinichi let those to off on their own and turned back to the other two detectives. "So what did you exactly find out?"
Hattori glared at the blonde briefly before pulling out three folders from his inter jacket pocket. "The police found out that ya have a fan service site."
Shinichi stared at him for a second. "Seriously? I do?"
"Told ya, he didn't even know about it!"
"Shut up, Hattori-san. The police figured three people with the most potential of doing the crimes from a forum of the service site. Each have a weird obsession about you and some sort of bomb knowledge." Hakuba answered Shinichi's question as Shinichi flipped through the folders and looking on the information of the suspects.
"Hakuba's right, Hattori. The doctor is the most obvious suspect. He not only has enough knowledge about bombs, but he also has medical knowledge." Hattori grumbled as an answer to Shinichi's comment. Figures he'd agree with the British prat.
"But Shin-chan what about this guy?" Kaito said, he really didn't like this whole idea of some fan club lusting after his Shin-chan. He might have to go and do a little internet hacking after they've found Ran-chan. He'd get rid of the enemy as soon as possible; Fan clubs could lead to way to many stalking cases for his taste. That, and Shin-chan was his. Period. He nodded to himself as the others talked more about the suspects.
"So, all three are one surveillance?" Shinichi asked.
"Yes, according to the officers watching them, the only one to have left is Koroshi Kazuya-san, but it was due to work that he left." Hakuba answered before Hattori, making the darker boy glare at him.
"The other two have been in their homes all day. Seems kind of weird for Sunday behavior." Hattori added in.
"Have the police questioned them yet?"
"Ya, but ya know how that goes. None of them have decent alibis for yesterday or today."
"There was another victim?"
"Yes, a male from what was left of the remains, there were also more letters. I, M, I, N, S, and E."
"Shin-chan isn't his, he's mine!" Kaito protested, easily switching the words around and clinging onto Shinichi once more. Shinichi sighed, why the psychopaths? Couldn't he have a normal stalker?
"The police have a heavy surveillance on ya, Kudou. Seems Megure really wants to make sure nothing happ'ns to ya." Hattori said completely ignoring Kaito, this making Kaito pout.
Shinichi nodded, "I've noticed, they've been trailing Kaito and me since this morning. So Megure must have picked up on the hints rather fast. This criminal is rather bold. Sending messages out to me, calling me, and taking my best friend. If he wanted my attention, he has it." He was frowning again, and nodded to himself. "I want you all to stay the night. I'm not going to risk having him take another friend. There's more then enough room." The four nodded in agreement. Kaito, of course, was more then happy to stay. Hakuba was less then enthused, but figured it was better to keep an eye on Kudou this way. Well, for Hattori, he was gonna stay there anyways as well as Kazuha. After all, they practically had their own personal rooms at the Kudou Mansion.
-(Warehouse Basement; Ran)-
She had dozed somewhere between the elderly woman talking about how great Shinichi is and stories about her family. She wasn't sure what woke her up till she heard shouting and opened her eyes. It was now dark in the room and she couldn't make the details of the others that was with her. She had noticed that the elderly woman had stopped talking. She was pretty sure that the woman never stopped talking when she had a chance to talk. "Shigori-san? Bien-san?" She called out, hoping to get an answer from one of them. She tugged on her chains and noticed that she now had room to rest her arms, but was still chained to the wall.
"Shh, Mouri-san…" Bien answered her. "He's here, watching."
She nodded, then realized that he couldn't see her if she couldn't see him. Ran bit her bottom lip, she had always hated the dark as well as the supernatural. She rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes to block out her surroundings. Shinichi would be coming soon! She just knew it. After all, he always came for her! She wouldn't panic now. She started wishing she had took Kaito up on the offer of picking locks. The teen was right, it's nice to know something even if you don't use the skill. She could really use the skill right about now.
A voice broke the silence that had filled the room. "So Mouri-chan have you been enjoying your stay?"
"Don't say anything!" Bien hissed from the other side of the room. She noticed that Shigori-san hasn't said anything, not even giving away that she was there. Maybe she wasn't there anymore. Ran swallowed hard, distantly wishing for something to drink or eat. She didn't reply.
"My, my, So rude Mouri-chan! After all the trouble I went to bring you here! Oh well, not that it matters! Your just the bait I need!" The voice chuckled above them. "You see, the police won't let my Kudou-chan on the scenes to see what I do for him, so I thought I'd bring him here! What do you think, Mouri-chan?"
"I think your absolutely nuts!" Ran growled. "What makes you think that Shinichi will come in running!? He'll get you thrown away for life for this! I can't believe that you'd do something like this just to get Shinichi's attention!"
And the voice just laughed at her; leaving a sick feeling in the bottom of her empty stomach. She couldn't believe that someone would do this to random people just for Shinichi to chase after them. There was tons of other ways to murder someone, not that it was okay to murder someone for attention, but less harsh and horrible ways. She felt tears weld up in her eyes and blinked them away. She wouldn't give this freak the benefit of seeing her cry.
The freak that left that poor man in pieces outside of her home.
-(Local Bar, just a few blocks away from the Kudou home)-
Shigori Kekio was so close, just minutes away from the Kudou residence. That monster said if she could find the home that she'd be safe! He promised that the thing inside her wouldn't go off if she could make it through the gate to talk to Kudou Shinichi. Surely the boy would let her in! She was so tired but pressed on, she only had about 10 minutes left. She ran down the street towards the house. She was lucky that she had bothered to look up where Kudou Shinichi lived before this whole mess. She could get back to her children and grandchildren! She'd never again join a web fan service!
That monster had told her it was because of this that he had picked her! All she did was admire such a young man helping the police force! Not that the young man wasn't eye candy, don't get her wrong there, but he had a great mind to him. Now if only she could make it to his house without running into any policemen. She had made it to his street as a beeping noise went off in her ear.
"Very good, Shigori-san. Now go to his house and deliver the message. Remember no police or I'll set off the bomb."
"Please, don't!" She whimpered as she hurried along the road making it to the gate. She slowly opened the gate and walked through it. As soon as she did, she was ambushed by several men in uniforms.
"Don't move!" They yelled. Her eyes widened as she realized that they were officers.
"NO! Don't come closer!" She cried out and the beeping noise went off in her ear again. That horrible voice almost laughed in her ear. "Sorry, Shigori-san, you were so close too! Closer then the others!"
There was almost no sound as a flash of gore and blood flew at the officers. Many falling backwards from the explosion, covered in the blood and remains of the elderly woman. It was enough of a commotion that led the three detectives, thief, and young women out to be greeted by the site of what appeared to be a once elderly woman spattered along the front yard of the Kudou residence as well as covering the several officers that were watching Shinichi.
Shinichi stood frozen at the site of his front yard. He couldn't even hear the others around as they tried to get his attention. He felt sick as the smell of copper surrounded the air and started choking him. He swallowed down hard and backpedaled into his house. He slid down the wall of the hallway in front of the door and could feel Kaito wrap his arms around him.
A victim, right outside, and he didn't do anything! That could have been Ran! He felt the sting of tears on his eyes as he looked to Kaito. "We need to get this monster, Kaito."
"I know, Shinichi, I know." He said as the other boy buried his head in his shoulder. He was pissed. This meant war! He'd get this monster back for this! He just hoped that it wasn't to late for Ran-chan. He held Shinichi closer to his body as he other clung to him. He looked up at Hattori and Hakuba, who both nodded. They'd have to do this without Shinichi. It was to dangerous to have him involved. Way to dangerous.
-(Chapter End)-
Okay, that wasn't so bad! Well I feel bad for Shigori-san...Um...yeah. Hoped you enjoyed the chapter!
Review?