Anyone ever write anything, start to go into the zone, then look back on what you wrote and say 'where did that come from?'. Well that happens to me a lot, and I usually just keep it cause it ends up being interesting. That happened a couple times in this chapter, tell me what you think of some of the plot twists. Oh, and thank you all who reviewed, commented, or favorited. Nothing starts off a good day like opening my email and finding a bunch of emails from fanfiction.
I probably won't be able to post anything next week because I'll be studying for finals, but should be back the Thursday after next, so June 7.
Yes Neyane you can translate it to French. You have no clue how exited I am that you want to, I think thats awesome!
Disclaimer: If there is ever any change in whether or not I own DC, I'll let you know
Takagi looked up as the subtle shaking of the bed quickened. Conan sat above him on the top bunk furiously kicking his legs, his eyes distant and lost in thought. As the man watched he could almost picture a soccer ball bouncing on the child's feet. The boy seemed to think best when his legs were busy. The few times he was not in the middle of an investigation one could often see him juggling a ball in a corner of the room, a look of intense concentration on his face. It really was incredible; the boy's skill with the ball was unmatched by people twice his age. Then again it was hardly the most impressive thing about the diminutive detective.
They would need all of the boy's massive brainpower to escape too. They'd searched the place top to bottom for a way to get out, but everything just seemed to make escape seem more impossible. Whoever had made the room was incredibly thorough, even the beds had security methods built in. They were welded to the floor and wall and the mattresses were sewn into the frames. The water cups were of no help either, made completely of metal they couldn't be broken or twisted into something useful. The only things they had were the ropes and the blankets from the beds. The only option Takagi could see at the moment was overpowering Itoumo and tying him up, but with the toilet, water, and small door for getting food, there was little reason for the kidnapper to ever enter the room. Perhaps if one of the two feigned injury, but there was no way to be sure he'd come in even then.
It felt like they'd been there for hours, though with no clocks or windows there was no way to tell the actual time. A low growling sounded and Takagi sighed. He was so hungry. He and Conan were planning to stop for lunch after talking with Itoumo, and he hadn't eaten since his small breakfast. Conan was probably just as hungry, though knowing Ran's cooking his breakfast had probably been bigger. Speaking of the boy, his movement had completely stopped, his eyes quickly darting from left to right.
"Did you hear that?" He whispered as though expecting a pack of wild dogs to attack at any moment. Takagi's face flushed red in embarrassment.
"Ah, sorry Conan-kun. That was me." For a moment Conan simply stared at him, chuckling slightly when he realized what the man was saying. The laughter only lasted a moment however, before a loud growl sounded from the child's stomach as well. Now it was Takagi's turn to laugh as the other blushed. Conan started chuckling with the man after a moment, both were happy to find something entertaining after the time of boredom and monotony that had come once they'd finished surveying the room.
The laughter was cut short when the door at the top of the stairs was suddenly opened, and the sound of two sets of footprints were heard. The two detectives turned to the noise, and saw Itoumo walking with a man neither had seen before, the former holding a tray in each of his hands. Takagi rose to his feet, instinctively standing in front of Conan as though to shield the child from the men. Turning slightly he picked the boy up and moved him from the top bunk to the bottom one, though he made sure to remain in front of the smaller detective.
The two criminals stopped when they reached the door. Itoumo knelt and began to unlock the smaller door while the other man simply stood staring at the captives inside the cage. Takagi bit back a shiver under the mans gaze. The stranger studied them critically, as though they were lab rats he was checking for impurities. Yet underlying that was a hunger and a manic drive. Takagi felt sure at that moment that their suspicion about the group replicating murderers was correct and he was looking at the ringleader. A glance at Conan's stone-like face showed that his thoughts were the same.
Finally Itoumo managed to unlock the small door, and he quickly slid the two trays in the small opening. Takagi lent forward to see what they were, and he felt small hands on his legs as Conan peered around him to look as well. They were store bought pre-made lunch boxes. Day old lunch boxes. Oh yum. Not that that really mattered at the moment to the two hungry captives. They weren't really eager to go closer to the door where food was though, not with the other man's penetrating gaze.
"Hurry up!" Itoumo snapped, "We don't have all day."
Spurred into action, Takagi stepped forward and grabbed both the trays, bringing them back to the bed where Conan still sat.
"I could have got my own." The small sleuth grumbled slightly.
"I know," Takagi mumbled back, " but I don't want you any closer to that guy than necessary. He creeps me out." Conan looked back towards the stranger, then nodded in agreement; he was creepy. The two wasted no time in devouring the food, but their minds never strayed from escape. As he ate Conan discretely slipped his fork under the blankets, and Takagi hid a knife in his sleeve. The two felons seemed not to notice. The food was gone in no time, and as the captives were eating their last bites, Itoumo's voice shout out commands from across the room.
"Put the empty boxes inside each other, and bring them over here." The two complied, putting the silverware in the bottom container to hide that some was missing. Takagi rose to follow the rest of the instructions, picking up the boxes as he did so. BANG! The two captives yelped as a shot rang out, the bullet slicing the area between them. They looked to the two men in shock, seeing the smoking form of a pistol in the strange man's hand.
"I think you should return the utensils you took, unless you want things to go badly." The man's voice was gravely and rough, sounding like a growl rather than a human voice. The two in the cell shivered slightly at its sound, but found themselves unable to do anything but obey what it asked. With the now fully stocked boxes in hand, Takagi once again rose to bring them to the men. BANG! BANG! This time the two let out short screams as the shots sounded, gripping their arms as the bullets skimmed them leaving shallow wounds.
"You didn't really think you get out of this without punishment did you? It's not much this time, just a small wound. Just consider it a warning. I promise you that next time it will be much worse."
Itoumo grumbled sulkily "I already gave the brat a warning."
The stranger looked at the battered child, "I can see that. But that was you own fault Tabby. You gave him too many opportunities, too much freedom. Had you knocked him out like you did the older one, he would have been unable to misbehave."
"B- but Lion I-"
The man, now known as Lion, help up one hand to silence him. "Later." He turned to the two captives, who were glaring at him as they gripped their wounds. "You're a cop, you should know how to dig up bullets. Get all of them and put them on the trays, then bring everything to me. No funny business. Remember, you're out of warnings."
Silently Takagi grabbed one of the plastic knives and began attempting to dig the bullets out of the concrete. From the corner of his eye he saw Conan pick up a knife as well to help, but a growl from the other side of the door stopped him.
"You stay put," came the gravelly voice of Lion. Itoumo, or Tabby, had gone silent in the presence of his superior. Conan grimaced slightly in anger at the patronizing attitude. Takagi's face twisted into a wry smile as well. Conan would probably do a better job at it than him, not that they would know.
He would make sure they didn't realize the child's brilliance. He didn't know why, but he felt that it held the utmost secrecy. It was as though it were a matter of life and death. He didn't know why he felt that way, perhaps it was a look in the boy's eyes. The fear when he messed up, the deadly serious gaze he sometimes had in cases, cases that were not nearly as serious as his manner displayed. Sometimes it was as if he knew something they didn't. As if there was an invisible hand in some cases only he could see. The officer had often suspected that the boy had a hidden agenda; that he was after something no one else would understand. Something he would never tell. A secret as well protected and as important as the one Takagi had actually asked in the elevator so many cases ago. Despite his watch, the detective often felt he was no closer to the truth behind the secrets than he was in the elevator.
He sighed silently as he dropped the bullets onto the trays, hearing the clank of the heavy metal against the thin plastic. These men were thorough, he'd give them that. Not even letting the used bullets remain in the cell with them. What could they have used them for? Once used the bullets would practically be useless. Which would mean he shouldn't be upset at having to return them, but his desperation was making things seem worse than they were. He lifted up the tray to bring it to the men, knowing he was now out of options, but froze when the rough voice stopped him.
"Stop. Not you, the child has to bring it to us. You stay where you are."
Takagi didn't like it, not one bit. He knew that intellectually Conan was beyond his years, but he was still a child. Looking at the boy's form Takagi was struck with how completely defenseless he was. The men wouldn't make him do it for no reason would they? Not when they'd been content with Takagi doing everything else. Conan took the trays from the other prisoner's hand, his face grim and thoughts obviously the same as Takagi's. Still neither could see a way out of it. Takagi gulped as he watched Conan slowly carry the trays. They were named after cats after all, and cats were notorious for playing with their prey. Perhaps this was to scare them, nothing more. He watched the child's small and unprotected form grow ever nearer to the monsters who'd kidnapped them and wished he could believe it.
The men both knelt to their knees as Conan neared the door, Itoumo holding the small gate open while Lion was waiting to retrieve the boxes. Conan paused for a moment, knowing something wasn't right. Earlier the man had done nothing to help his subordinate, letting Itoumo do all the work. Now he was on the floor waiting to take the trays. He was planning something, and the diminutive detective didn't want to find out what that something was. Not now when his gadgets were gone and the others were both armed. He continued his hesitation, but what could he do? They wouldn't let him weasel out of it... maybe if-
"Hurry up brat!" Itoumo snarled, "You're taking forever!" Lion glanced at the impatient man, but said nothing to contradict him, obviously losing patience himself. Conan's eyes hardened in resolution as he made the last few steps. He had no clue what the men had planned, but he couldn't avoid it, he'd just have to be ready.
Conan remained standing as he laid the boxes at the door of the gate. At a wordless gesture from Lion he gently pushed the trays through the opening. He tensed as the man reached out to pull the items all the way through, his eyes never leaving the fiend. Lion grabbed onto the edge of the trays and pulled it to him. Without warning Lion's hand shot out at lightning speed, latching on to the arm of the child in front of him. He pulled the child into the mesh just as he'd pulled the trays through it earlier.
"Conan-kun!" Takagi shouted in surprise from the bed, but Conan was already acting. His motions were quick and fluid, as if he'd been expecting this kind of attack. His free hand, still touching the tray, latched onto a fork. Stabbing the utensil into the arm that gripped him, the boy simultaneously leaned forward and sunk his teeth into the man's flesh. For a moment all was still, Conan biting and stabbing with all his might, Lion neither shaking the child off him nor releasing him.
Finally a snort of amusement broke the stillness. Conan slowly rose his eyes to see a smug smirk on his attackers face. The man slowly let go of the child's arm, making it clear that he was doing by his own choice, not because of anything the boy was doing. With no reason to keep his grip now that he was freed, Conan opened his mouth and released the the fork. He scrambled back a few feet, but instead of returning to the bed he simply stood out of reach of the gate and glared at the men. Lion's smirk grew.
"Interesting, Kitten. Very interesting." With that he turned and walked back up the stairs, leaving the trays and locking up to Itoumo.
With the man in charge gone Conan turned back to he beds, where Takagi was staring at the retreating figure of Lion in horror. The two remained silent until both men had left, though their thoughts were the same. As the door closed behind Tabby, the elder detective finally spoke, "Kitten. He called you Kitten."
They were cats, Lion and Tabby. They would be perfect codenames for those who mimicked the crimes of others, ideal for the copycats they were. They were cats, and they'd called Conan Kitten. For a moment he placed himself in the minds of their captors. They had just captured someone so intelligent, so deductive, so talented in legal matters that even at an extremely young age he'd been in the papers and knew nearly every detective in Japan by name. And they'd found him in the form of a child. A child was someone they could train. Someone they could control. Someone they could brainwash into becoming the monsters that they were. It wouldn't even go against their MO of copying past crimes. In view of the public it would just be a child kidnapping that was never solved where the child was never found. It happened all the time. Though, who's to say they even cared about that when they had someone like him, the perfect apprentice. He'd walked right into their laps.
At least, that's what they saw. Looking at the boy, his head bowed for he too had understood the implications of the name, Takagi knew they'd got it wrong. Conan would never stoop to the level of these murderers. The boy had a sense of justice that would rival any cop. They wouldn't find his so easy to brainwash either. Though young, Conan had a level of maturity to match most adults, and he had a stubborn streak a mile wide. His mind was set firmly in his sense of truth and justice. These copycats would never get the boy's alliance, never. Still, as Takagi glanced at the brilliant child the detective found he couldn't repress a shiver at the thought of being his enemy.
"Conan-kun," He called softly to the boy who hadn't moved since the men had left. Conan rose his head to meet the man's eyes. His eyes as deadly serious and grave as when he'd answered the question in the elevator.
"I'll never be their Kitten, Takagi-keiji. Never."
The cop brushed off that one fleeting second of doubt, and he looked earnestly into the child's eyes. "I know." That seemed to be what the child needed to hear, for a small smile flitted across his face. Then his face twisted into a look of irony.
"At least now we know they won't kill me before you." Takagi nodded. Sure they may take Conan away to train him or whatever it was they were going to do, but if that was their plan why didn't they separate them already? It made sense that they would stay together until Takagi's death in a week.
"So we have a week." The man responded. A week until they killed him. A week until they tried to train Conan. A week before their captivity ended and the nightmare began.
"More than enough time," Conan repeated his words from earlier, though they now lacked the confidence and power they possessed before.
Takagi shrugged slightly, wincing as the movements pulled at his wound. Now that the adrenalin was gone and they were, relatively, safe, the fire of the wound burned, insisting that it be taken care of. Conan suddenly clutched his arm as though seeing the detective's pain reminded him of his own. Takagi sighed and began to tear strips off of one of the blankets, Conan went over to the sink to fill one of the cups with the hottest water that he could get. Takagi gave him one of the strips and Conan gently dabbed at the wound with the cloth once he got it wet. Once the majority of the blood was wiped off, Takagi tied the cloth firmly to Conan's arm, realizing the boy couldn't do it himself because of its awkward position. After the makeshift bandage was secured, the cop began to clean his own wound, allowing Conan to tie his bandage.
The boy had just finished when the door at the top of the stairs opened once again and Itoumo leaned halfway into the room. His sneer was in his words as he called out to the captives.
"Sleep tight, you two. Sweet dreams." His hand hit the light switch and the two were immediately thrown into darkness. For a moment they simply sat silently as they adjusted to the abrupt lack of light, then Conan spoke. "I guess that means it's time for bed." Takagi nodded, not that either could see, and picked up the boy to put him on the top bunk he'd claimed earlier.
"Ne Takagi-keiji," Conan spoke once the two were each in their own bed. "Earlier when you talked about the security camera you said it had really good night vision, right?"
"Unfortunately yes. There's almost no difference between its night vision clarity and day vision clarity."
"Oh... darn."
"Yeah." The two rested into the silence of a sleepless, fear-filled night.