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Chapter 6 Hinamizawa and The Saiguden and the Shadow

Everyone stared, transfixed.

"So, Heiji, this is really....Hinamizawa?" Kazuha uttered, finally finding her voice.

Heiji heard her, and nodded. "Yes, Kazuha. This used to be a peaceful village."

Ran said, "I can't believe that this...this blight of a town used to be a nice town!"

Shinichi nodded his head also. "Yeah, and that's why we're here."

Ran stared at him. "You mean....you think there's more to this than meets the eye?"

Shinichi nodded, a thoughtful glance forming on his countenance. "Yeah, I don't think it was really a volcanic eruption that killed them. It might have been something totally different altogether. And...." he waved a hand in the village's direction "We're going to find out what really happened here."

Heiji seemed uneasy. "Kudo, I have this feeling.....like someone's watching us. Do you think we should head back?"

Shiho said, "We took down them. There's no way they could still be around, anyhow. Let's all split up, and check out different parts of the town."

Ran said, "I'm going with Shinichi."

Shiho said, "I'll go with you, too, Kudo."

Shinichi turned to Heiji and Kazuha, curious. "So, Hattori, you and Toyama are going to explore by yourselves?"

Heiji nodded. "Don't worry about me. I know kendo. I should be fine. Let's go climb down this railing, and then we can all explore Hinamizawa."

All five of the teenagers climbed carefully down the railing, and they were on the outskirts of the small, former village.

"Ran and Shiho and I are going to find the Saiguden. Are you guys going to look around town?" Shinichi questioned.

Heiji nodded, and flashed his famous detective smirk. "You betcha, Kudo! We're gonna be all right, na Kazuha!"

Kazuha was glancing around nervously, and turned. "What?"

Heiji glared at her. "Ahou. Pay attention! I just said that we're gonna be fine, as long as I have your omamori, right?"

Kazuha shrugged, and replied, "I guess."

"Okay, guys. Let's all meet at this tree here. If you need assistance, make a loud whistle. We'll hear you and come to help you. I doubt we'll need that, though. Ran, you ready?"

Ran grinned. "Yes, Shinichi, I'm ready."

Shiho also smiled.

Shinichi rummaged through his bag for a second and brought out five flashlights. He gave one to Ran and Heiji and Kazuha, and Shiho. "Let's go, everyone!"

Everyone cheered, and went in separate directions to begin the investigation.

All five were unaware of the figure who was currently watching them. A smirk made its way onto his face. "So, Tantei-san is here. Time to play some games, tantei-san." (A/N:I bet you can't guess who he is!)

The figure ran off, in pursuit of the five teenagers, but he wasn't alone, as well.

Another figure was watching all of them, and noticed everything. "Huh.... it seems we have some rather interesting characters here today. Let's see if these kids can withstand the fun I'm going to have with them. Of course, they'll probably be dead by then." An evil smile made its way onto its face. "Let the games begin!" The figure vanished.

Shinichi, Ran, and Shiho made their way carefully through the abandoned village, noting all the trash on the grounds.

"Odd, you'd think for an abandoned village, there wouldn't be any garbage. This just proves to me that we're not alone, as I suspected." Shinichi said, confirming his theory.

Ran shivered. "Then...you mean....someone else is here with us?"

Shiho nodded. "It's best that we watch out for any suspicious things."

As they walked on, they noticed a filthy river flowing along the path they were taking. They came upon an old, worn-out bridge, and Shinichi stopped for a second.

"It doesn't look like there are any other ways, so we should be extremely careful. Ran, hold on to my hand. Shiho, you should hold onto the edge."

Everyone nodded, and Ran obeyed, taking her hand into Shinichi's. They walked across the bridge slowly, and suddenly the wind picked up and the creaky bridge swayed.

Shinichi slipped a little, but regained his footing. "Be careful, guys."

Suddenly, as they were halfway across, Shinichi spotted a silhoutte come up to the other end of the bridge with something shiny and cut the ropes.

The bridge swung out, causing the three teens to cling for dear life onto the sides, hoping they wouldn't fall to their deaths.

"Who did that, Shinichi!" Ran said, shaking in fear.

Shinichi grimaced. "I don't know, but this seems like sabotage to me. Somebody intentionally wants to keep us out of Hinamizawa!"

Shiho said, "Kudo, let's inch our way across, slowly."

Shinichi grinned. "Yeah, they'll have to do more than that to scare the great detective Kudo Shinichi."

Ran rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, meitantei-san, now get us across. This is no time for your ego to swell."

Shinichi sighed. "Okay, Ran, hold on tight. Shiho, follow us. There's only one chance to do this. Okay, Ran, on the count of one.....two.....three....EVERYBODY JUMP!"

Everyone made a desperate leap to the other side, and Shinichi and Ran both leapt over to the cliffside and pulled themselves up, but Shiho missed, and was falling down, when a strange arm grabbed her.

"Need some help, Ojousan?" A smooth voice purred.

Shinichi's ears perked. He recognized that voice. "Who are you?"

The figure grinned, and pulled Shiho up, setting the frightened girl down, and he turned his attention to Ran and Shinichi. "Hello, meitantei-san. Been a while."

Shinichi's eyes widened at the sight of the white-clad thief. "Kaitou Kid?"

Kid grinned. "In the flesh."

Meanwhile, Satoshi, Shion, and Rena had finished their snacks and were talking.

Shion glanced worriedly at her watch, then gazed out the window. "They've sure been gone a long time. I hope they're okay."

Satoshi said, "They should have been back by now."

Rena said, "Maybe, just maybe, they went to Hinamizawa."

Everyone looked at her.

"What makes you think that?" Shion said.

"Kudo-kun may not have told you, but he and that Osakan boy are detectives." Rena said.

Shion gasped. "Detectives? What happens if they find out about your past? About your crimes? And Satoshi, what if they find out about your aunt?"

Satoshi trembled. "I don't want to be arrested."

Rena said, "I think we should just wait another hour, and if they don't show up, we go after them."

Shion nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me."

Satoshi also agreed.

The silence in the room stayed for the next hour.

Kid said, "So, Kudo, I heard you came to Hinamizawa. I thought I'd come help. I mean, you did help me destroy them."

Shinichi nodded. "We cleared your dad's name, Kuroba. It's a good thing you came to help, we could use a lock-picker."

Kid turned away. "Well, I am quite busy. I may not be able to..."

Ran said, "I have a large trout in my bag. Wanna see?"

Kid paled. "No, I'll gladly do the honor. This way, I know where the Saiguden is."

They walked a little ways and then they stopped in front of a large toolshed.

Kid reached in his pocket, and pulled out a lock-pick. He struggled for a few minutes, and said, "Voila! She is open!"

Shinichi raised an eyebrow. "You never fail to amuse me, Kuroba."

Shiho said, "He certainly is a character."

Kid said, "Ladies first."

Ran blushed.

Shiho just sent him a glare that read: Mess with me, and you're dead.

Kid gulped.

Everyone stepped inside. They were shocked at what they saw before them.

Shinichi stared in awe. "So, this is the secret of Hinamizawa? The god, Oyashiro-sama?"

Another cliffie! I'm just evil, aren't I?

Heiji and Kazuha will be shown next chapter. R&R!