Tralala, having insomnia is good :D Because with insomnia comes inspiration and with inspiration comes this lengthy 3000 words story that could never have been achieved if the writer decided to sleep.
Anyway here's the 2nd part of the 4 part mystery arc and I hope you enjoy it :D Again please pardon my grammars and strange awkward sentences, I would improve.
Also thanks for the reviews :D
I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 5
The Gas Chamber
Tall woody maple trees replaced the tall buildings that had lined the city earlier. A wind blew past and the leaves rustled, some falling gently from their stalks landing on the green grass and concrete road.
"Hakase…it's been 4 hours are you sure you're going in the right direction," Shinichi asked, his eyes narrowed as he saw the forked road ahead. A sign stood in the middle of the split.
"Yawajiru Nature reserve…or Red Pine Park…huh," he muttered.
"Ara it would seem our host for today lives in the mountains, could he be a kappa or an endangered animal?" Haibara muttered, she had her hands in her pockets and was staring at the natural scenery outside the moving car.
"Rubbish," Shinichi retorted.
"He told me it was around here," the professor said nervously, he turned right and before Shinichi could protest, the car climbed up the path leading to Yawajiru Nature reserve.
"Hakase…we might be going the wrong way and if we keep going up this slope…your car-" he groaned as something spluttered and a small explosion caused the car to jerk violently.
"Wonderful," he muttered.
The rains had stopped after they left the jammed up city. Once they hit the highway, Shinichi realized the seclusion in which Shibuya Wataya lived in. 50 kilo meters away from the city was a large nature reserved that housed some of the largest specimens of plants, insects and animals in Japan. It was known as Hotaru Nature preserve; spanning over 100 kilometres in length; the reserve has 4 parks situated within it.
Yawajiru Nature reserve, Red Pine Park, Bamboo Forest and Kairi Waterfall reserve. Naturally, these 4 parks were situated in different positions in the Nature preserve. Yawajiru being the biggest was situated just below the huge snowy peaks of Ishihara Mountain.
The rain before had made the air fresher than before, the trees still wet from the rain had a certain quality of coolness to it that made Shinichi smile a little before frowning. The situation that they were in…was the usual.
"Well things couldn't get worst can it," he muttered, eyeing the professor who was squatting beside his smoking yellow beetle, yelling out in horror as the old engine spluttered and died. Shinichi groaned. Now how on earth were they going to meet Shibuya Wataya now? What is worst though was that they were stuck in the middle of nowhere with no phone reception and no way to call for help.
A wind blew past making the maple trees that surrounded the inclined mountain slope rustle. Shinichi noticed the reddish brown headed girl standing by the side of the road peering at the trees. There was a small smile fitted on her lips, a smile that Shinichi had never seen before.
He rubbed his eyes, had he seen wrong? How could the expressionless, cynical, sarcastic Haibara Ai ever smile like that? To add to his astonishment, the girl bent down to pick up a reddish leaf that had fallen from the tree, before placing it in her pocket.
"That's dirty you know," Shinichi remarked. The girl seemed to stiffen before turning, that small smile replaced by a cold emotionless glare. "If you have time commenting on my hygiene why not help the professor with his engine," she snapped.
Shinichi sighed and looked at the professor who was still crying out in frustration. It was no use; the old car had completely died on them. That was why he kept telling the professor to buy a new car but the stubborn old man had refused to do so.
Just how many stubborn people had he had to deal with before the gods were satisfied? First Ran, then Haibara…now Professor Agasa.
Before he could send a silent prayer of curses into the sky, he noticed a hidden sign just round the bend of the inclined road. Was that there before? His interest piqued and he ran towards it.
It was an old and rotting, hidden behind the bushes below the Maple Tree. A number 4 had been painted on it. Could this be?
He smirked.
Pushing away the overgrown bushes, Shinichi found a small dirt path that seemed to go through the maple leaf forest. The sign had to be an address…an address that they all knew very well.
"So tantei-kun, what have you figured out?" Haibara's voice sounded beside him and he jumped in surprised.
"What the hell Haibara, could you at least give a warning before appearing in front of me like a ghost!" he snapped.
Her eyes narrowed and she pointed to the professor who had managed not only to remove the entire smoking engine from the car, but had also managed to set the engine on fire.
"Ah Hakase!" Shinichi cried out in horror, peeling his sweater away and running towards the fiery engine that was sitting on the road. He threw his sweater over the engine and stomps on it. The fire grew bigger and Shinichi cursed.
"What did you do Hakase!" he yelled and the old man shook his head in horror.
"I did nothing!"
"That's going to burn down the whole forest alright," Haibara's calm voice sounded behind him and he glared at her.
"If you have time to make such stupid comments why not lend me a hand!"
"Ara, what should I do Kudo-kun, take out the only sweater I'm wearing and hand it to you and stand here naked while you use my clothing to put out the fire?"
Shinichi gawked at her. Seriously, this girl…this girl was going to drive him nuts.
"Take my coat!" a deep manly voice sounded from within the forest. Shinichi found himself staring at a fairly large man. He was bald and a grey beard grew from his chin. He was also very muscular and was carrying a brown leather jackets in his arms. The man had emerged from the small dirt path that Shinichi had noticed earlier.
"Move away from the fire boy!" the man exclaimed and Shinichi did so. He watched as the man threw the leather coat onto the engine. The fire died down slowly, smoking through the leather jacket. Shinichi collapsed onto the ground breathing a sigh of relief.
"That was lucky wasn't it," the man said, smiling. He had wrinkles on his skin suggesting that he was older than he looked.
"Oji-san thanks!" Shinichi called out to the man.
"Ah, there's no need for that, one should help anyone in need," he said. A pleasant tempered man…huh?
"Oji-san are you from around here?"
The man chuckled.
"Aye yes, I live in the mansion just further down that dirt path over there. It's a pretty nice mansion," he said. He then inspected the professor's car and smacked his hands together. "Why not join my family for tea?" he said. "You can call a mechanic to fix your car too while you're there."
Shinichi smirked.
"Are you Shibuya Wataya, Oji-san?"
The old man paused for a while. A strange scary expression crossed his face and Shinichi felt something amiss. The man looked suspicious and afraid and somehow…apprehensive.
"Shibuya Wataya?" the man asked and a faint glint in his eyes.
"What is your business with my son?"
Shibuya Wataya lives with his dad?
"Oh…we're his guests…he invited us for lunch this afternoon but we might be a little late," the professor spoke laughing nervously.
The man chuckled. "I'm Jiru Wataya; Shibuya is my son and don't worry, you can join us for tea instead."
"What a lovely old man don't you think," Haibara muttered and Shinichi gave a cynical chuckle.
"Though he seems to be hiding something right, Kudo-Kun," she whispered.
"Aye…very suspicious indeed." Shinichi whispered.
It was a strange feeling to be surrounded by red maple trees. A strange yet comforting sensation, for despite the cold temperature of the autumn weather, the red leaves of the Maple Tree gave out a feeling of warmth. The vividness and warmness of it was something that made Shiho fall in love with the colour red.
"Welcome to my humble abode," the old man named Jiru Wataya said, his voice deep and loud, reminding Shiho of a certain somebody, an irritating man by the name of Kogoro Mouri.
"This…this is your mansion?" Edogawa Conan, a.k.a, Kudo Shinichi said. There was a hint of disappointment in his voice and Shiho could not blame him. What stood in front of them was not a mansion, but rather a small wooden cottage lodge right in the middle of an overgrown maple leaf forest.
Well…at least it looked nice.
"Ha-ha, tricked you didn't I," the old man chuckled. "This is my workshop," the old man explained, pointing to the cottage. Shiho watched as the curious tantei boy tip toed to peer into the room inside. He was barely tall enough to reach the windows and seeing him struggle made Shiho want to tease him a little.
"Do you need a ladder Kudo-Kun?" she asked.
The boy glared at her, his glasses glinting in the sunlight.
"And who was it that made me this way?"
Shiho felt her heart tighten, the boy's statement was harsh and she could not blame him, after all it was the truth. It was because of the drug she made that turned Kudo Shinichi into the boy called Edogawa Conan. She shrugged.
"Ara, you were always short to begin with."
"Damm you Haibara," she heard the boy mutter and Shiho couldn't help but smirk. She couldn't help it; somehow she always ends up teasing the guy as soon as she opens her mouth.
"Can't you be a little bit honest," he had told her.
"No," she thought. "That's a little bit impossible Kudo-kun."
The boy in question was pulling Jiru Wataya's sleeve and pointing to the workshop.
"Oji-san are you a carpenter?"
"Ah yes, I make furniture for people you see, but to gain inspiration I need peace and quiet, that's why I build a workshop here." Jiru explained.
Explaining the old man's buff appearance and strong stature.
"Now do you want to see my mansion? My sons and family should be getting ready for tea," he said winking.
Shiho sighed. Well, at least there was cakes right.
"Well I'll be dammed," Shinichi whispered. It was indeed a mansion. A huge bungalow, a white house that was built so high it was three times taller than the maple trees around that area. The old man was boasting, puffing his chest out as he brought them through the main gate.
The gate was made of black iron and crows stood at each side in a slightly disturbing manner. "How ironic," Haibara whispered beside him, "A white house with black crows."
"Oui, oui," Shinichi muttered nervously.
"Mah, at least it's not a black house."
Shinichi's eyes narrowed. The girl was definitely worried and was hiding her feelings under a mask again. She was always like this. That was why he didn't want to take her along today. Haibara didn't need to be tortured by information about the black organization anymore; after all she had left it some time ago.
He sighed.
"This is my grand creation!" Jiru exclaimed, "Now if you kids can tell me what I modelled my mansion after I'll give you a special prize."
You don't need to Old Man; the answer was so simple even 5 year old kids could answer. Just as he was about to reply Jiru's question, Haibara spoke.
"The temple of Concord," she said, "Dedicated to the ancient Roman Goddess Concordia, built in 167 AD."
"My you are a knowledgeable one aren't you," Jiru commented, surprised.
"Of course," Shinichi muttered, "After all she's not a kid."
"Aye, I modelled my mansion after the temple of Concord, the beautiful roman pillar and triangular roof makes it look very grand," he said, "I couldn't help but fall in love with it."
Shinichi eyed the man with cynical glee.
"A beautiful structure huh, though it's been burnt and destroyed so many times," Haibara muttered, voicing his thoughts out perfectly.
"Let's just hope that nothing happens while we're inside," he said.
Just as they were about to head in, Shinichi felt a tap on his shoulder and he turned in annoyance.
"What is it Hakase?"
"Look," the professor whispered urgently. He turned and found the professor glancing anxiously at a woman who had just appeared. His blood went cold and chills went up his spine. He clenched his hands into fists.
Blonde…hair…
Vermouth!
"It's not her," Haibara whispered, starling both the professor and him. "I told you didn't I; I can sense them…their ominous death auras."
Shinichi frowned before looking back at the woman. Haibara was right, it was not Vermouth. He frowned. She had emerged from the side of the grand mansion, using an alternative door instead of the main one. It was strange behaviour and Shinichi couldn't help but call out to her.
"Onee-san!" he exclaimed, "Are you Oji-san's friend?"
The lady flinched and she turned, her eyes widened considerably and fear seemed to overtake her. She was looking at Jiru who was glaring at her.
As he suspected, this old man was hiding something from them.
"Mary didn't I tell you to head home today!" Jiru snapped at the middle age woman with blonde hair and crystal blue eyes.
"But Shibuya-sama asked me to come down today," she said.
"Why?" Jiru snapped and then realized his guests were with him.
"Pardon my manners, but would you like to head in first?" he asked the professor who nodded.
"Take your time, it's our fault for coming late anyway," Hakase said, chuckling nervously.
"Mary!" Jiru called out and the woman tensed, "Since you're here bring the guest in, I would need to speak to that son of mine."
The woman hurried towards them and bowed. Shinichi bowed too and noticed a scar underneath the woman's sleeve. It was an unsettling scar and he gulped. He remembered the scar he had seen on Haibara's body earlier and he grimaced. The woman was scared…real scared. Shinichi suspicions was right.
There was definitely something going on in this mansion.
"Where is Shibuya anyway?" Jiru asked as they were about to enter the mansion.
"I'm not sure," Mary said.
"Hmm," Jiru muttered and opened the doors. Red carpets lined the wooden flooring below them. There were old paintings plastered on the white walls and a chandelier hung above them casting out golden rays of light.
It was a weird sort of mansion. There were no stairs, leading Shinichi to deduce that there was no second storey. A long straight corridor that stretched down the mansion towards the end, numerous doors stood beside the corridor, each leading into smaller rooms. A rectangular shaped one storey Mansion…huh…
"The statue of Medusa," the professor whispered and Shinichi turned finding himself looking at a rather grotesque white statue. "And look Plato."
Indeed various statues representing Greek mythology and history were on display. Shinichi frowned, not only was this man, Jiru Wataya, obsessed with Greek Art he was also obsessed with Greek Mythology. Just how much of a nerd was he.
A statue caught Shinichi's eye and he paused in shock.
"Tithonus," Haibara whispered, a smirk plastered on her face. She was facing the ground and Shinichi could not see her expression clearly. "The man who asked for immortality, was it?"
Shinichi shook his head, "No idiot," he said and regarded the statue of a handsome young man embraced by a woman with wings, "He was cursed by his angel."
"Ah father there you are!" a young man with curly black hair greeted the old man. He had a stubby figure and if Shinichi had a say, he'd say that this man was as fat as Professor Agasa.
"Shibuya Wataya?" the professor asked and the young man glanced at them.
"Who are you?"
"Their guest Kazuya," Jiru answered and the young man's facial expression was replaced with restrained anger. "Why did you invite them, have you forgotten what day is it today!" he snapped.
"Now, now don't be rude Kazuya."
The young man seemed to sigh before giving the professor a business like smile.
"My name is Kazuya Wataya, my brother's waiting for us to have tea, he called me down 15 minutes ago."
"15 minutes ago?" Jiru asked.
"Yes, at exactly 4pm," Kazuya said peering at the watch on his right wrist.
Jiru frowned. "Isn't tea time supposed to be at 4.30pm?"
Shinichi peered at the old man, a strange feeling welling up in his chest. The feeling he always get when he feels something is amiss, that nagging feeling that told him something was wrong.
Yes, something was very wrong with this mansion. It was not the countless Greek statues that stood at every corner of the house or the strange layout of the mansion but rather…
"Hey Kudo do you smell that, I've been smelling it ever since we entered the mansion," Haibara whispered.
Shinichi gasped. That was it…the smell, the strange rotten egg smell that seemed to be floating around the mansion. The familiar smell of death.
"Where's the kitchen!" he snapped, his voice shocking the adults around him.
"It…it's at the end of this corridor," Kazuya said, pointing at a door.
He took off running and Haibara followed him. No, it couldn't be…he should be wrong. Yet the smell told him otherwise.
"Hey what's wrong?" Haibara asked.
Shinichi flung the doors of the kitchen opened and pressed his sweater's sleeve against his mouth and nose. Before him, in the kitchen were the various unconscious bodies of Shibuya Wataya, his wife Mira and their two children. Shibuya Wataya was on the ground, his wife near the windows and their two children seated on the dining chairs. The gas…the gas from the stove had been leaking. They had been poisoned! Poisoned by gas.
Suddenly a strange sound filled the room, a strange whirling sound.
As if watching a nightmare, Shinichi saw a smoking cigarette slowly dropping onto the kitchen floor.
"Haibara RUN!" he screamed and he held her tightly, pushing her away from the kitchen. A hot blast of air followed by a strong blast blew both him and Haibara hard. Shinichi felt his body slamming into a wall and felt Haibara squirming under his grip. He cried out in pain and watched as a fire ball ripped through the kitchen where Shibuya and his family sat.
There was a scream and pain ripped through Shinichi.
"Shinichi!" a voice screamed his name.
"Ran?" Shinichi muttered. No it can't be…the voice was different, different from Ran's. It was colder yet…yet…
Pain gripped him and darkness came.
Next Conan Clue: Hair Dryer just kidding hehehe or was I :D