me: Read and review! Read and review! Read and review!

Haibara: If you keep saying that, you'll just make them annoyed.

me: Read and review! Read and review! Read and review!

Haibara: Okay, now you're just annoying me. *walks away*

me: Wait! If you're not here, I can't put you in the story! Wait a minute...*pulls out Haibara clone* I can just use your clone!

Haibara: My WHAT?

Haibara clone: Hi, Ai-chan!

Haibara: *faints and falls to floor*

me: Help! Call 911, someone! Mouri-occhan, can you call 911 for me?

Kogoro: I don't know...I can't find the 11 button.

Anyway...no ownie! Enjoy the next chappie!

oOo

On the road to school, 6:30 AM

"Ne, Ran, why don't you just give up on Shinichi-kun already?" Sonoko asked for the umpteenth time. "Besides, Araide-sensei is a perfectly capable guy. Much more stable and reliable than your current husband."

"He's not my husband! And besides, I'm too young to be thinking about complicated relationships, much less be in one," Ran retorted sharply.

"Oh, really? You've BEEN in a relationship with Shinichi-kun since you first met."

"Sonoko! Jeez..."

"Hey, where's that brat with the glasses? He normally walks with you..."

"Oh, Conan-kun?" Ran lowered her voice to a whisper. "He said he'd walk alone today. The truth is, he's been acting stranger and stranger. Not like a 7-year-old kid."

"Stranger and stranger?"

Ran nodded. "He never smiles unless I look at him and asks what's wrong. And he doesn't get enough sleep! 2 days ago, I heard him muttering something about gin in his sleep. You know, the alcohol?"

Sonoko stopped walking. "That IS strange," she agreed.

But Ran wasn't done yet. "And Shinichi...he hasn't called for a while. When he does, his voice sounds cheerful, but it's strained. Like how Conan-kun only smiles when I look at him."

"And your point is?"

"You know how I had some time alone at the Kid heist?"

Sonoko nodded, for once not turning into a helpless, squealing fangirl at the sound of the name "Kid."

"I was thinking what Kazuha-chan said about Hattori-kun calling Conan-kun 'Kudo.' You remember; I told you, right?" Ran said quickly, not really stopping long enough to give Sonoko time to answer. "Don't you think it's weird? That whenever Shinichi's sad, Conan-kun is too?"

"That could be a coincidence," Sonoko protested.

Ran shook her head. "Last time when Conan-kun had a cold, Shinichi did too."

"How would you know?"

"He called me, remember? But then again, if Conan-kun IS Shinichi, he should have some way to speak in his normal voice..."

Sonoko frowned. "How do you know it isn't someone else? A voice actor, maybe?"

"I KNOW when it's Shinichi speaking. I just know."

Before this important conversation could come to an end, Teitan High School towered over the two girls. "We're finally here!" Ran threw her arms up into the air. "Well, I have to get going. See you, Sonoko!"

"See you, Ran!"

oOo

Teitan Elementary School, Lunchtime

Brrrring! Brrrring! Brrring! Conan's 'Conan' phone rang in his pocket, if that makes any sense. "Moshi moshi?"

"It's me, Cool Kid," a woman's voice answered. "Listen...Kir called me."

"She did?"

Jodie-sensei (for that's who the mystery caller was) continued, "She doesn't have any new information on Bourbon, but she does know of a new member: Chardonnay."

"Chardonnay?"

"It's a type of white wine. Haven't heard of it? Oh well. Apparently this Chardonnay person is a woman, who is quite advanced in science and chemicals. Our main suspect is-"

"You have a suspect already?" Conan was almost jumping up and down with joy. Almost. Anything that could lead him closer to bringing down the Black Organization-and going back to Kudou Shinichi-was worth rejoicing over.

"Sugiyama Haruka."

"Sugiyama Haruka...isn't she the head of that new makeup line? Sparkly Shadows or something?" Conan said, remembering something that Ran had told him about a few days ago.

"Summer Shadows, actually. We suspect her because-"

Before Jodie-sensei could finish, she was interrupted by Ayumi. "Conan-kun? Who're ya talkin' to?"

"Um," Conan gulped. Just then the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Saved by the bell, I guess. He said a quick goodbye to Jodie-sensei when Ayumi looked away. "Guess I'll have to call her back later," he muttered to himself.

"Call who?"

Conan nearly jumped out of his skin as he was surprised by a female for the second time in 5 minutes. "Ha-haibara!"

Haibara stood next to him, tapping her foot impatiently. "Nani? Is there something you've been hiding from me?"

"No...ha ha. Ran just told me to call her." He quickly walked away.

Haibara stared at Conan's back. She wasn't convinced; not at all.

oOo

Hattori residence, 6:30 P.M.

"Now, Heiji, I need you to run down to the store and get these things for me. Remember, Mr. and Mrs. Watanabe are coming over." Shizuka handed her son a list of grocery items. "You do remember where the vegetable aisle is, right? And the meat section? And-"

She was interrupted by her impatient son. "MOM! Yes, I know where they are. I'll go get them already, 'kay?"

"Be careful, Heiji!" As soon as she finished her sentence, Heiji made a mad dash for the door that would have put Kudo to shame.

He got onto his motorcycle, put on his helmet, and sped away. When he arrived at the front door of the supermarket, his phone rang. Note to self: Change ringtone, he thought mournfully as outdated music blasted from the tiny appliance.

"Kudo?" he wondered out loud. He put his phone up to his ear. "Yep, what's up? What depressing news do you have this time?"

"Hattori..."

"'Kay, 'kay! So, what'd you want to talk to me about?"

Conan quickly related the contents of Jodie-sensei's phone call to him. "I called her back, but she said that was all the information she had," he finished.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye out for her. Bye then." Heiji hung up and walked into the supermarket. When was the last time I was here? Seems like such a long time ago...

He passed a poster of a model with only her eyes showing. "Summer Shadows: Not just about eyeshadow," he read. Isn't that the company Kudo told me about? Heiji's eyes focused on the model's emerald green eyes. "Where have I seen those eyes before?"

Those eyes seemed to dominate his thoughts as he absentmindedly picked up items from his mother's list. Got all the meat...check. All the fruit...check. All the drinks...check. All the vegetables...check. He walked to the cashier and paid for the groceries.

Another poster of the same model was posted near the exit. When he passed it this time, something clicked inside.

Those haunting eyes...they were Kazuha's.

oOo

AN: Yay! Another chapter is finished! Whew.

Shinichi: Pssh...nobody's even reading this.

me: Oh, be quiet. You're just mad 'cause Ran's gonna make you jealous in the next chap-ah, nothing! *mutters quietly* Note to self-stop posting spoilers in the Author's Notes section.

Haibara: So please review!

Mitsuhiko: Haibara-san, you're back!

Haibara: Indeed I am. Though I WAS in critical condition thanks to SOMEONE...*glares*

me: *hides Haibara clone behind back* Ah ha ha...wonder who that could be?

So that is it for this chapter! Thanks for reading and please review! I know, I know, I've said that, like, 5 times?

Haibara: Six.

me: Oh well. Give me a break!