Chapter 5: Normal Day
At morning on weekdays, the streets of Beika city would normally be filled with various people rushing through the crowded, messy streets. Students from various elementary, middle, and high schools would be walking along the sidewalk on their own pace, gossiping about their upcoming exams, their boyfriends or girlfriends, or the newest fad. There would also be students busy playing around with their phones, texting messages to either their friends or their lover. Business men and office ladies would be hurrying and scuffling to the nearest train station trying to catch the earliest train so they won't be late for work and yelled at by their short-tempered boss. Then there would be some who seem to live life as slow and as their own pace as they want sitting on one of the benches at the Beika Park and perhaps pondering about the meaning of life. That is the usual scenery on weekdays.
But on weekends, the streets are dead and quiet as a ghost town. Schools are normally out on weekends, most businesses and stores are closed (especially on Sundays), and those trains would still be running but with less people than usual. The only people walking on the streets are unfortunate people having to work their butts off even on the weekends while the rest sleep and relax at their comfortable homes.
Kudo Shinichi was one of those unfortunate people walking along the streets as he yawns. Mouri Ran, his childhood friend, was walking beside him. Compared to Shinichi wearing his Teitan High uniforms, Ran was in her casual, out-going clothes. She had met Shinichi on the way to her the nearest train station.
"So, where did you say you were going?" Shinichi asked as he yawned again.
"Mystical Tropical Park." Ran said. "They're having a special parade there at night for something like the 60th anniversary or something. Sonoko was invited to that celebration party but since she didn't want to go by herself, she asked me if I can accompany her. I'm supposed to meet her at the Beika Train Station at 9:00am."
Suzuki Sonoko is Shinichi (although he denies it) and Ran's close friend. She is the wealthy daughter of Suzuki Shirou, the founder of the great Suzuki Zaibatsu. She comes as a typical pampered girl, but she does not act like one. Although she attends a private school just like Ran and Shinichi, she does not brag nor suck up to any of the teachers or students (although that could be also said to Shinichi). She shops, eats, watch movies, and do other leisure things like any ordinary person. There were even times where Shinichi had to be reminded that she is –actually– a daughter of a wealthy family.
"I see. Well, have fun. Just make sure you return home safely or your dad is going to come right after me." Shinichi visions Mouri Kogoro, Ran's former-police-officer-but-now-a-detective father, strangling his neck and asking Ran's whereabouts. He quickly shook his head as though to erase the image.
"Thanks." Ran smiled. "But it must really suck to go to school on the weekends also."
"I've gotten used to it." He once again yawned. Boy, he must be really sleepy.
Because of his long absence from school while he was Conan (although officially it's been followed up as him being involved in a very big and serious case), Shinichi was forced to attend classes every single day, even during the weekends and holidays, and given piles and piles of school work. This was a contract between him and the Teitan High School administration ever since he returned as Shinichi. Normally, if one were to be absent from school for so long, the school would simply expel said student with or without valid reason and since Shinichi was absent for almost most of his high school second year, everyone else thought that the school would give some kind of punishment. But because of his fame (perhaps the school administrators thought it would be such a waste to expel a famous person such as him) and Shinichi's sincere wish of finishing high school with his childhood friend and classmates, the school decided to bend some of their rules on one condition. As long as Shinichi attends all of his classes every day for the rest of his high school year no matter what (in cases where he is called upon by the police to assist on cases, he is to call the school as soon as he gets word and inform them that he will be late (although the police have also promised that they won't call him that often unless it is a serious one)) and finishes the loads of school work given to him by all of his teachers, then the school administrators will accept his desire of graduating safely with the rest of his classmates.
At first, many of the teachers thought there will be some opposition from some students or even parents for this special treatment for Shinichi (since detective or not, he is still an ordinary civilian). But surprisingly, no one did. There were even several parents calling the school to thank the teachers and the administrators for not expelling the famous detective.
From this small incident, aside from being already a full fledge detective, soon Shinichi became very popular among Teitan High. Students would visit his classroom during lunch breaks to either ask for a handshake or a signature. A few would ask what kind of cases he had been through while he was away. Although the teachers did not make it easy for giving Shinichi piles of work, they tend to be pretty lenient with the due dates in exchange. One teacher had even gone as far as telling Shinichi that he was allowed to turn in his work after graduation. Of course this was a bit too much and some students have accused said teacher of extreme favoritism so the teacher was forced to take back his words.
There was also an incident that happened that gave Ran and Sonoko rather tiresome headaches.
Ran noticed when Shinichi came back, he seemed…somewhat different. Of course, Shinichi was still Shinichi. There was no doubt about that. But something felt different and Ran did not have any idea what it was that bothered her until that one fateful day.
*****
It was when the last bell had just rung on a pretty normal day and everyone was getting ready to leave. Ran and Sonoko followed Shinichi to the shoebox and even as they walked down the hallway, several students would stop them (actually Shinichi), talk a few words, and ask for a handshake. This was something Ran and Sonoko had gotten used to after the first few days so it was nothing new to them. As they approached the shoebox, they also witnessed something that they have gotten used to now. A pile of letters, most are love letters, some are letters of friendship, and a few letters with a hint of hostility in it, were stuffed in Shinichi's shoebox. The amount of letters was so much that some fell to the floor and even then, it created a small mountain of envelopes. Ran and Sonoko sighed at the sight but Shinichi, who seemed to have gotten used it to than the first time he'd seen it, casually opened his shoebox and swiftly and skillfully pulled out his shoes. But even as careful as he was, some of the letters overflowed from the box and fell on the floor. Then he noticed something that was unusual than before. A pink envelope fell from the box and landed on his feet. Shinichi bent down and picked up the envelope. It was unusual because it was the- only- color among the mountain of white envelopes. Sonoko who saw what was in Shinichi's hand became curious and snatched the envelope from him.
"Hey!" yelled Shinichi.
"Who in the world would give you a pink envelope?" She eyed him curiously as she slowly opened the letter. Ran, who was as curious as her, peeked from Sonoko's shoulder. Shinichi just shrugged and went ahead to put his shoes on, although he was starting to have a bad feeling about it.
"OH!" He heard Sonoko gasped and he turned around.
"What?"
Sonoko and Ran were staring awkwardly at the letter and then to each other. She slowly handed the letter to Shinichi who was looking at them suspiciously. Shinichi snatched the letter from her hands and shifted his eyes to it.
Dear Mr. Kudo Shinichi,
I've always looked at you from afar and although I try to suppress it, my feelings for you grow stronger and stronger each day. You are beautiful. You are mysterious. You are my angel. I believe that we are destined to be together. I had a feeling that in the past, we were lovers although it was probably a forbidden love. But now that we are reincarnated, this is probably our only chance of being together. I cannot stand the fact that there are other guys after you.
If you feel the same way as me, please do meet me at XXXX on April XX at 7:00pm. On that day, we will be as one.
I will be waiting for you.
Sincerely,
Your Shinya
A cold chill went through Shinichi's spine as he slowly crushed the paper in his hands. He was moving is mouth like a fish waiting to be fed in the pond trying to speak, but nothing came out of his mouth. He was so speechless and his mind was white and blank for the first time in his life.
"Wha…wha…" He managed to breathe.
"Shinya…" Sonoko muttered with a forefinger to her chin. "That's a guy's name…if I'm not mistaken, right?"
"I'd kind of freak out if it's really a girl with that name." Ran muttered also. She glanced at Shinichi who was still in shock. Then out of curiosity, she pulled out one of the white envelopes from the mountain of envelopes beneath her and opened it. Then she quickly closed it as though to forget she'd seen anything. She started to quickly open one by one the pile of envelopes and stopped halfway, her face pale as a sick person. Actually, she was really starting to feel dizzy and sick. Sonoko, who was pretty sensitive of her friend's emotional condition, turned to her.
"What's wrong, Ran?"
"…"Ran's lips trembled as she spoke. "Shi…Shinichi…"
Shinichi slowly looked at her, obvious that he has not recovered from his shocked state yet.
"Th-these letters." Ran spread out some of them on her hands to show him. "They're mostly from guys."
"WHAT!?" Sonoko was the one who responded and yelled before Shinichi. "Let me see those!"
Shinichi was too scared to take a peek as he glanced at Sonoko looking through the letters from the corner of his eyes. She, too, started to turn pale and sometimes red as she read through some of the letters. At this time, Shinichi started to regret opening that pink letter that started all of this.
"This…" Sonoko mumbled softly as she finished reading most of them. "THIS IS NOT FAIR!!"
"Ha!!?" Ran and Shinichi both looked at her confusingly.
"How come Shinichi-kun get all the good guys!? I mean…look at these names! Ichinose-senpai, Yabuki-senpai, and even Kotobuki-kun from Class 3-C!! I cannot believe they're all after Shinichi-kun and not ME! How could some person even like a mystery-otaku such as Shinichi-kun!?" Sonoko raged.
"Wait…" Ran looked at her friend in pure astonishment. "You're complaining about THAT? Why don't you start complaining about the fact that the guys you were after were…well…may be gay?"
"Oh, don't you know, Ran? BL is starting to become a common thing nowadays."
"I know but…"
"That doesn't mean I'M gay! What the hell is BL anyway!?" Shinichi yelled, crushing the mass of letters in his hands as much as he could. "And what the hell is it with all these letters? Angel? Goddess? Cute? Beautiful? What kind of hell of a compliment are those!? Are these people nuts or something? Ran, do I look like some goddess or angel to you? "
"Er…ummm…" Ran stuttered.
"Of course not!" He continued without waiting for Ran to finish. "I'm a GUY for god's sake! No guy is going to like being called 'beautiful'!!"
It suddenly hit Ran. She finally understood what was bothering her about Shinichi for the longest time ever since he came back. But could it really be? Or is it just her imagination? Could she just be overreacting?
"Actually…Shinichi…" said Ran slowly.
"What?" He looked up and Ran stared at those beautiful blue eyes for a moment. It was slightly glowing (or looked like it was) being stimulated by his anger. She had seen these eyes for almost all her life and she never doubt that it will ever get clouded from all the negative experiences this stupid "detective otaku "'s been through. It was as pure as she saw the first time when they first met.
"I think I now know what's different about you."
"What? I'm different how?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this but…" She hesitated for a moment then sighed as though to accept the truth, thinking at the same time that this detective won't like what will be coming out of her mouth. "I think you've gone…well…quite prettier than before."
"…Ha?"
As expected, Shinichi looked dumbstruck. But fortunate or not, even with a stupid expression like that, he looked beautiful.
Ran sighed once again, "I'm telling you. I mean, from a girl's point of view, you've become…g-gorgeous."
She saw Shinichi's jaw drop and almost regret telling him that. She knows fully well how high Shinichi's pride is (possibly higher than the Eiffel Tower) and that this detective would rather die than throwing it away. But she had to tell him even though it might crush his rather confident pride because she knows that he will thank her eventually (or so she hopes).
"Well…" Sonoko slowly walked around Shinichi, examining him carefully. "For a guy, you have rather narrow shoulders like a girl. Your arms and legs seem to be just the right length. Not too dangly or short. And what is this? What. Is. This!? You're –so– slender! I think you have better proportions than me! I mean…not saying that you were fat or anything but… Did you go on a diet or something? Your skin is…well, darn it! You have better skin than me! You seem whiter and paler though. Are you sick? And what kind of treatment do you use for your hair!? So soft and…silky. Aargh! Now, the more I look at you, the prettier you seem to become! I swear I can dress you up as a woman right now and no one would notice it's you!"
"Hey! I ain't cross-dressing!" Shinichi yelled, face red in embarrassment.
"I'm not saying you are. Just you know…"Sonoko's eyes swam in hesitation. "That you've become quite a target for some people. Actually, even people who don't go that way might well…fall for you. You're that…dangerous in a different meaning."
"…I have NO idea what the hell you're blabbering about."
"You serious? Ran! Your husband-to-be is thick as a brick! Help, please! "
"I'm telling you! He's not my husband!" This time it was Ran's face to turn red. "Look, Shinichi. We're not telling you to dress up as a girl nor saying that you've become a girl. We're just saying that you've become…more attractive than you were before. And don't look at me like that! Now, I don't know what you were going through while you were gone, and maybe something might have happened to change you drastically. I just want to warn you as a childhood friend that you will need to start being more cautious with what you do. You just might uh…provoke some people."
"I don't get what you're trying to say here."
"She's saying that you need to be more careful because not only girls but guys also will be after you."
Shinichi looked at both of them with one of his eyebrows raised as though to question them. "You're both nuts. Why would any GUY want to hit on other guys?"
"Ugh!" Sonoko sighed in exasperation. "I swear you may have changed a bit but there's one thing that never changes: your thick head! How could you be so dense!? You're so sensitive and sharp when it comes to mysteries and other people's feelings, but when it comes to positive feelings towards you, you're as slow as a sloth!"
"What'd you say!?"
"Yes, I said it you stupid detective otaku! You. Are. Dense!"
"Stop it! Both of you! Honestly, you're fighting like elementary students! Anyway, Shinichi. I think it'll be best if either Sonoko or I always be at your side from now on than leaving you by yourself. I think it will be…yes, it should be 'safer' that way."
"Safe from what? It's not like I'm going to be surrounded by a pack of wolves or hyenas."
"Shinichi…"Ran sighed, placing a hand on his right shoulder. " From now on… you should learn that guys CAN be wolves or hyenas."
"???"
*****
Ran unconsciously chuckled as she remembered Shinichi's confused face when she told him that. She looked to her side and stared at his face. Perhaps from reading a mystery novel until late night, his face seemed a bit tired and paler than usual. But she had always admired those pretty eyelashes, which seemed a bit long for a guy, those pursed, pinkish white lips, and smooth skin. And of course, Ran's favorite, those sparkling blue eyes. She always remembers how the girls in their class would talk about Shinichi's "mysterious" beauty during lunch break while Shinichi was either gone or sleeping peacefully at his desk. Surprisingly, no one seemed to be envious or jealous of his "beauty" (but Ran knows that if it were another girl then it would be a totally different story). In fact, every time another male student approaches him the girls would squeal in joy. Something Ran never understood until Sonoko introduced her to the world of "BL".
After having a crush on him for almost most of her life, she never thought that she would see Shinichi as "that" type. Although Shinichi declared a farewell to her quite a while back to her shock, Ran insisted that they still meet each other. Of course, she still loves him but the feeling was more like something towards a family member now. By the time she realized that she was seeing Shinichi more as a brother and a close friend than a lover, she knew that they could not return to what they once were anymore. She was shocked at first but after calming down, she decided it was best for him and her. Besides, who would want a boyfriend who has a habit of running into different cases while on a date? Especially if that said boyfriend would be too distracted about the case than worrying about where to go, what to do with his girlfriend. Luckily, Ran was used to it but if this were any other girl, that boyfriend would sure be dumped on the first day.
Maybe this was why Shinichi never really went out on a date? Ran thought to herself. Maybe Shinichi knew the dangers and risks of having a girlfriend while he seems to attract mysteries like a vacuum cleaner and perhaps he wouldn't want her to be in trouble? Or maybe she could just be thinking way too much after knowing that this detective is too dense when it comes to love relationships.
"What?" Shinichi said after becoming awkward with her stares.
Ran smiled. A warm smile like a mother would give to her son. "Nothing. Just thought you're cute."
"Say what?"
"Nothing!"
"Besides, why are you following me anyway?"
"I've told you. Either Sonoko or I have to stay beside you if you were to be out alone. And it's not that I'm following you. The Beika Train Station just happens to be on the same route towards Teitan High."
"What am I? A five year old?"
"Well, sometimes, you do act like one."
Shinichi pouted. "I don't."
"See? That face. You shouldn't make those faces around other people that much."
"What face?"
Ran sighed in defeat. "Nothing…just be careful."
"I can handle things on my own." Shinichi said as he tried flexing his rather lacking muscles. He soon stopped after realizing it wasn't working and simply just making a fool of himself. "Besides, shouldn't it be the opposite? Shouldn't –I– be the one to look after you?"
"You may be slender than me but you should know very well that I'm stronger than you." Ran responded back, which resulted in Shinichi pouting again, and she couldn't help but laugh.
"You know, Shinichi." She was in such a good mood that she could almost skip. "I do sincerely hope that someone who could be as equal as you and can envelope all of your feelings, whether it be sadness, happiness, or anger, with her strong arms would someday come up as your life partner. It's sad that that person was not me but…"
"Ran…"
"Now don't give me that puppy look. Didn't we decide that it's best for us? I don't want to chain you away from your detective work…I think I now believe that you were destined to be a detective, Shinichi. Besides…" Her face slightly turned pink. "I've already found someone else. He seems to be a nice guy. He gets along with my dad and mom, too."
Shinichi smiled, which made Ran's face flush even darker. "I wish for your happiness, Ran."
"I wish for yours, too."
She would never forget the look on Shinichi's face the instant she said that. He was smiling. Of course, Shinichi didn't look any different. The smile looked really ordinary yet at the same time slightly different than usual. For some odd reason, Ran had to hold back tears as she stared at him in surprise.
"Shin…ichi…?" She managed to whisper as the wind blew rather unexpectedly.
Shinichi still had his smile on but Ran felt like someone was squeezing her heart so much that she could almost die from it. Now, he felt like someone from far away and no matter how much Ran struggled and stretched out her hands, she would never reach him. The fear of losing Shinichi suddenly spread throughout her body. She had to hold her arms in order to stay on her feet and so that she won't collapse. The temperature around them seemed to decrease also. Ran stared at Shinichi almost in horror as a cold sweat trickled down her neck.
Shinichi…
You're not going to disappear…
…Are you?
**
At night, the city of Beika turns its mask over and reveals its dark, malevolent side. People who wouldn't dare to know neither the warmth nor the bright light of the sun will come out of their comfortable dark dwellings and start to wander the dark streets, hoping to catch a few profitable preys. In most night clubs, hosts (and hostesses/mistresses) would be entertaining their dear customers while competing with their rivals on the designation rates. Men who had just got off from their long, stressful day of work might be heading to the red-light districts or several clubs in hopes of getting some "warmth" and perhaps "entertainment". Women would be out in the streets in revealing, erotic clothing, hoping to seducing those men into their shop and giving them one night of unforgettable pleasure in exchange for money. There would be some people scouting and persuading the innocent young girls and boys with tasty stories of money and greed by their skillful use of words. Some will be hunting the grounds, looking for a good buyer of their drugs while at the same time on the lookout for the cops.
In most bars, both men and women will be drinking their night out. Often a fight will break out under the influences of the alcohol, resulting in either one of them breaking their nose or both of them ending up in the hospital. The bartenders and bar owners hardly react to these fights anymore because they happen so often that they know it's rather useless to try stopping it. Who would risk their lives trying to stop a fight between the drunken lunatics anyway? They can just bill the charges for the drinks (and damages to the store if there are any) to that person later while they are writhing in pain at the hospital.
"What do you mean by 'you lost sight of him'!?"
An old man stood up slammed his fist on the wooden table so hard that his cup of martini shook inside the glass from the impact. He was inside one of the many small bars located deep into the dark alleyway of the city with a look of pure anger on his face. The second man sitting across him on the other hand acted cool and calm even between the sudden outbursts. Most of the customers in the bar turned their heads at the loud sound but soon went back into their conversation as though they have lost interest. Embarrassed by what he had done, the man who caused the small commotion slowly sat back on his seat and glared at the other man.
"Just like what I just told you. 'I lost sight of him'. It's as simple as that." The second man repeated coolly.
He had long, midnight black hair tied at the back of his head and looked much younger than the older man sitting beside him. His sharp, hazel eyes felt like it can pierce through almost anything, the old man thought. One unique thing on the younger man's face was a long, deep scar across his left eye. The old man had asked this man once where he'd gotten it but the younger man just laughed it off and changed the subject thus remaining the question unanswered.
"I…It is not simple as that!" The older man managed to spoke through his trembling mouth. "We are paying you thousands of dollars and you can't even do one lousy mission!"
That quick instant, the younger man narrowed his eyes and the old man felt as though someone poured a bucket of ice onto his back and realized what he had just said. The other people around him didn't seem to recognize the rather lower temperature around them, making the old man think that maybe he was the only one who felt like he was at the North Pole. It felt like cold, sharp icicles were stabbing through his body as he stared into those glass-like hazel eyes.
"You should watch your mouth if I were you." The younger man smiled rather mockingly but nevertheless the temperature slightly became warmer. "Who do you think you're talking to?"
" I…I apologize." The old man let out a short breath as though he'd been holding his breath for the longest time. In fact, he might have been actually holding his breath after experiencing so much pressure pressed onto his body. "It…It's just that…the fact that you, who's known as one of the top three assassins of the world, screwing up on a mission greatly shocked me and our Lord. Especially after hearing rumors that you have never failed any missions assigned to you."
"Hmm…" The younger man smiled coolly as he took another drink from his cup.
"A-anyway!" The older man continued, sensing the temperature going lower again. "You did manage to see him, did you?"
"I guess."
"Well? Was he…?"
"How would I know?"
"His eyes! Did you see his eyes!?"
"Strautford," The young man chuckled, "Even I, who has an eye of a hawk would not be able to see his eyes if his back were facing at me."
The old man, Strautford J. Williams, pursed his lips at the young man's words. "You definitely have failed this mission then! If our Lord hears of this…"
"And? What would your Lord do?" The younger man challenged. "Even if he hears of this, what the hell can that old, good-for-nothing geezer do? The best he can do is snapping his rusty, old fingers and let some gullible fool like you do all the lousy, painful jobs."
"D…do not insult our Lord!" Strautford managed to speak through his red face. He was shaking so hard in anger but could not burst it out in fear that this assassin in front of him might do something. Even now, the young assassin could easily kill him with a flick of his fingers if he were to even make a small movement. "Our Lord has high expectations on you. I-if you want your full money then you should start taking this mission more seriously. You do remember that you have a deadline, do you?"
"Until the next full moon, right?" The younger man chuckled. "I fully understand, Strautford. I just like to work things on my own pace. "
"W-well…if that is the case…as long as you do the job…then I-I won't complain…" Strautford mumbled. "What do you think though? C-could he really be the…"
"Hmm…" The younger assassin flipped out a picture from his hand and placed it on the table. "I have yet to meet him personally…but it looks like you may have the right one. Congratulations! After searching through the whole world, your organization and your boss may have finally found your goal!"
"D-do not mock me! I just want to know if he really is…" The old man looked around and lowered his voice. "…the Celestial Blue."
"Well like I said, I wouldn't know until I meet him personally. Who would've thought the Detective of the East could be Celestial Blue. I'm quite surprised myself."
"If it weren't for him being the Celestial Blue, no one would even dare approach him. I've been living and dwelling in this world for more than thirty years but I have never heard anyone as cunning and as horrifyingly sharp as him. He may be only a kid but I heard he will do anything to get his own way. Many of our comrades have challenged him but failed miserably. I've even heard that he was the one who led Gin to his downfall."
"Gin?" The assassin reacted for the first time. "From that foolish organization where the members use alcoholic drinks as their codename?
"Yes. They too were searching for Pandora but perished from this world after Kudo Shinichi have revealed all their crimes and most of the top members being captured and arrested. They say that Gin was killed between the struggles against the FBI. I've heard only a few managed to survive or get away from the police and are finding the chance to reconstruct the organization. But I doubt it will work as long as that detective's eyes are on the lookout. I've met Vermouth, she was also one of the top members, a week before the collapse of the organization. I remember her addressing the detective as 'Silver Bullet'. I didn't understand what she meant at first. But after hearing news of the collapse, that is when I understood and started to become afraid of his existence. The 'Silver Bullet'…Y-yes, the only weapon that is supposedly said to withstand against the evils of the world. See? Another thing that scares me about this kid is his charismatic existence. According to the information I've gathered, the FBI, M16, and even the ICPO are trying to recruit this kid into their hands. The whole world's attention, whether it be from the light side or the dark side, are onto him. And he's not even half of my age! He is THAT d-dangerous for people like us wh-who live in the dark side of this world."
"Really, now?" The young man made a sly smile. "Now I'm interested. As the saying even the most beautiful flower has a thorn; this kid is sure…something. I've gone through a couple of missions and targets but this kid has something that the others never had. He sure is attractive...if you know what I mean."
"I'm afraid you're not the only one who thinks that. Almost everyone I've shown this picture to either blew a whistle or raised their eyebrows in amazement. Even our Lord finds interest in him. Add that beauty with Celestial Blue…then he is really a rare kind." Picking up the playful expression on the young man's face, Strautford warned him even though he knew it was going to be useless at the back of his head. "I-I do hope you're not thinking of anything that will jeopardize the mission or our Lord. R-remember that your mission is to only capture Celestial Blue. N-n-nothing else!"
"But that doesn't mean I can't do anything after the mission?"
"I…if the Lord allows it…"
"It's alright…" The young man chuckled at the older man's obvious fear, "I'll probably just kill my boredom doing some bird hunting."
"Bir…what?"
"Oh nothing. Just some 'bird' that happens to like flying around the blue jewel foolishly thinking that it can protect it from anything else."
"???"
"Say, Strautford. Do you know who killed Cock Robin?"
"K-killed a what?" The old man knew that this young assassin seem to like bringing up random subjects unexpectedly and even now after knowing him for a year, he can never get used to it. He was about to call the assassin's name but stopped midway when he saw those hazel eyes. It felt like a knife was being thrust up to his throat almost at the point of piecing his skin.
"Mother Goose." The assassin stood up and picked up the bill. He shifted his eyes casually to the side and then shifted back to looking back at the older man as though nothing happened. He waved the bill in his hand, curling his lips. "I promise to deliver the Celestial Blue by your place until the next full moon. Until then…. Adios, my dear friend."
Strautford waited until the assassin's back disappear behind the bar doors and sighed a breath of relief. He nervously wiped the sweat of his hands on his rather cheap pants and took another drink of his now warm martini to refresh his dry throat. 'M-maybe it is time for a retirement…' He thought. He looked down at the picture on the table and slid his fingers over those beautiful, blue eyes. 'I cannot imagine the struggle that is going to happen if he truly is the Celestial Blue…'
"Celestial Blue is the key to 'unlocking' Pandora…" He recited in a soft voice what the Lord has been telling him for that past few years.
Unknown to him, a young man sitting on the counter behind him smirked at his words. He pulled down the edge of his cap as though to cover his face.
**
"Haibara, I'm home…"
Shinichi entered the living room of Professor Agasa's household while untying his necktie and throwing his uniform jacket on the sofa.
"I'd appreciate if you don't make a mess." Haibara appeared behind from the stairs leading to the basement where most of her research are conducted. "How was school today, Kudo-kun?"
"As usual."
"I see. Would you like some coffee?"
Shinichi looked at her in surprise.
"What?"
"You, offering me coffee? Now that's unusual."
"I see that you would like to volunteer for my new experiment."
"S-sorry…"
Haibara chuckled at the detective's weak response. She won't deny the fact that she had feelings for him a while back but now…she sees him more as a cute, younger brother (because Haibara is older than him in fact).She poured the coffee (brewed perfectly to fit Shinichi's taste) in his special cup (a gift that her and Professor Agasa bought for the detective's birthday) and then also poured some on her own (a gift from the detective himself with identical designs as his). She placed them carefully on the tray so they won't spill and brought out some left over scones that she had baked earlier. Shinichi was waiting patiently on the sofa and smiled as Haibara placed the coffee cup on the table in front of him.
"Thanks."
"Normally I wouldn't offer you coffee…but since you've been good this past few days, one cup wouldn't hurt you. But only one cup."
Shinichi frowned. "You and Ran act like I'm some five year old kid."
"You might be one if you keep making faces like that."
Shinichi remained silent by drinking the coffee and savoring the deep, strong taste. Haibara watched him and smiled again, she too savoring the delicious taste of the coffee.
"Haibara…"
"Yes, Kudo-kun?" She responded softly and then widens her eyes at the unusual gloomy expression from the detective.
"Am I…that weird?"
"Say what?"
"I don't know…but recently the guys at school seem to…avoid and acting weird around me." Shinichi scratched his slightly pink cheeks. "Every time I come up to join them talking in a group, they sort of just stare at me awkwardly and stop talking. Maybe they were all sick or something because their faces were red. Even the last time, we were talking about…well, sex and- Hey! I-I'm not the one who started it, okay? It was one of the guys! B-besides what's wrong with guys talking about sexuality!?"
"Nothing. Just thought it was unusual to hear the word 'sex' from you." Haibara replied coolly, although she was trying to hold her laughter after seeing the detective's red face.
"W-well, anyway…we were talking about s-sex. I was drinking a small milk carton Ran offered and accidently spilled some on me. So, I sort of scooped up with my fingers and licked them with my tongue cause you know…it'd be a waste. Like this…" He said as he replayed the gesture.
As soon as she saw that, Haibara quickly understood the situation. "Let me guess. The guys started staring at you like a weird man?"
"How'd you know?"
"Were their faces red? Were they also slightly sweating?"
"Come to think of it, they're faces were slightly turning red. But I just thought the flu was going around. Sweating? Well, the classroom was kinda hot so they might've been. What does that have to do with what I'm talking about?"
Haibara sighed. "It's nothing for you to worry about, Kudo-kun. And no, you are not weird. Even though you may be some dumb and dense detective who always seems to attract cases and mysteries like a black hole and seem to always be in various troubles, you are not weird."
"Why do I feel like you're making fun of me?" Shinichi pouted.
"It's nothing. Just make sure to be careful when you're with your guy friends. In fact, just stay beside Ran-san all the time. You'll be much safer that way."
"What's with you and Ran talking about this 'safe' thing?"
"Kudo-kun…" She sighed in defeat as Ran did. No matter how much the others would warn him, this amazingly slow detective will never get it. She was gradually having dangerous thoughts of opening that skull of his and perform brain tests so she can understand how is it that when it comes to mysteries, this detective can be sharp as a knife but slow as a snail when it comes to other normal things. "I give up."
"???"
"Putting that aside…" Haibara changed her expression to a serious one. "About the dream you had a few days ago…"
"That again? You're just overreacting, Haibara. It was just a dream."
"I doubt it."
"So, you seriously think that I was dreaming about Pandora?"
"How else would you explain it? Kudo-kun. You can't fool me. I know you are trying to hide something. It has something to do with you being Celestial Blue, isn't it?"
"…"
"Kudo-kun!"
"Sorry, Haibara. You don't have to worry. It'll all be over by the next full moon."
"…? What do you mean?"
Shinichi just smiled. But Haibara couldn't help but shiver in fear when she saw that smile. Not because she was scared of him…but scared of something that might be happening soon.
Kudo-kun…
What are you…up to?
*** ***
-Hikaru
Another cliffhanger. OTL
Sorry, everyone! I'm trying my best to update as much as possible but lately I've been really busy. But I do appreciate all the reviews and comments I've received! Although I honestly don't have the time to respond to all of them, I just want to tell you all that I'm very grateful of them!
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
What will happen to Shinichi? Who were that assassin and that old man? What is the secret of the Celestial Blue? What did that old man meant by Celestial Blue being the key to unlocking Pandora? Where is Kaito/KID? How will the story unfold? And will Shinichi ever be aware of Kaito's feelings or his rather attractive beauty? Stay tuned!
