Disclaimer: Hello, my name is Ria and I do not own DC or any of its characters. (Group answer: Hello, Ria...)

Chapter 11: Two Doors Down

"Honestly, I think this is the best Strawberry Cheesecake I have ever tasted!" Ran moaned as she put another small piece of the delicious desert in her mouth. Kazuha grinned. "This chocolate cupcake is probably even better," she answered, taking a sip of her tea. Ran just shook her head. "That's impossible. No café should have food this incredible! I'm so torn between wanting to stuff my face with this cake and savouring it for as long as possible! What should I do?!" Kazuha giggled. "I'm in love with this place ever since I discovered it about a month ago. To be honest, I just apply the rule "There's no need to stop before the second serve". One more cupcake should be alright, don't you think?" The other girl smiled brightly. "I believe, that is a great idea! By the way, talking about love..." Kazuha blushed because of the way Ran emphasized the word love, feeling a little uncomfortable. Ran grinned. "The best thing about the guys being on a case is that we finally have girl time! So, spill it! I want to know everything!" She didn't need to explain anything more. Kazuha knew exactly what her friend wanted to hear, but she was torn. At the beginning, when they were only pretending to date, Heiji made her swear not to tell anybody about their charade and Kazuha obliged. And she wouldn't have told Ran, except that now they were not pretending anymore, so was it okay to tell her about the pretend then? Kazuha sighed and tasted another piece of her cupcake. "Well?" Ran urged, staring at her intently, "how did it start? Did he ask you out? What the heck happened?!" Thinking about it for a moment, Kazuha decided.

"Okay, to be honest," she started, nervously twirling the end of her ponytail, "at the beginning it was one huge shenanigans!" Ran watched her, confused. "I don't understand, what do you mean?" Biting her lip, Kazuha looked at her friend. Why shouldn't she tell her? The whole story would make a funny anecdote for their children one day (At the thought of children, Kazuha blushed again) and what could be the harm in telling Ran right now? So she explained the whole story from the beginning. "At first, Heiji only wanted us to pretend to be a couple, since many stupid girls from our school badgered him to go out with them. One day, he just told them he already had a girlfriend – Me." Ran's eyes widened. "So, he didn't really ask you out?!" Kazuha nodded. "It was just a charade. I had to pretend to be his girlfriend at school and at a party and all those girls hated me, while he was suddenly in a nice position." Ran took another bite of cake, shaking her head a little. "I can't believe you went along with that. I mean, wasn't it horrible? You already liked him, did you not?" Kazuha nodded again, feeling like a bobble head. "Yeah, it wasn't great, I can tell you that. At the same time, I realized how much I liked it. And when he kissed me for the first time at Eliza's party I couldn't think straight. It made me realize I wasn't pretending at all. I felt so pathetic!" Ran swallowed and made a face. "Okay, I have to ask: Was kissing part of the deal or did he just do it because he wanted to?" Kazuha blushed a deep crimson. "Actually, it wasn't part of the deal. When he first tried to touch me I made it clear I didn't want that. But..." Kazuha paused and wrinkled her nose. "It seemed the girls weren't buying our story anymore, so I kind of asked him to kiss me. Just to keep up the pretend, of course!" Ran's eyes widened again. "I really don't know what to think. Did he do it because he liked you or just to save his skin?" Kazuha shrugged. "Anyways, I had this feeling Heiji had been jealous at the party when I talked to another guy, but it didn't make sense. The next day he acted as if nothing had happened. But it was suddenly easier to be near him and touch him." Kazuha continued to tell Ran everything. About their Sunday at the cinema, which made her blush even more, how she felt when Heiji told Ran about them on the phone and what had happened during the week. Ran had finished her cake listening intently to Kazuha's retelling, sometimes gasping or murmuring comments. When Kazuha paused, Ran seemed to be in deep thought. "Wait a minute," the girl suddenly exclaimed, nearly knocking over her own mug, "are you trying to tell me you're still just pretending? 'Cause let me tell you, whatever it is you two are doing, pretend is not part of it at all!" Kazuha smiled at her friend's outburst, appeasingly waving her hands in front of herself. "No, no," she laughed, waiting for Ran to settle down a little, "just before you and Kudo- kun arrived with the Shinkansen, Heiji told me he didn't want to pretend anymore. You saw the way he kissed me. That was our first real, official couple's kiss." Ran deflated a little and sank back on her seat. "Kazuha, I don't know what to say! At least Hattori-kun realized you are perfect for him. Otherwise I would have to kill that idiot!"

Some streets away from the café, Shinichi and Heiji were just standing in the small game shop, staring intently the possible suspects in the crowded room. "What do you think, Kudo? Is our deduction right?" The dark skinned boy just asked his friend, nodding in the direction of the shop assistant. Shinichi nodded. "I believe we know who the murderer is and why she did it!" Clearing their throats in unison, the two detectives took a step towards the police officer talking to one of the customers. "There's no need to ask anymore questions," Kudo started, crossing his arms in front of himself, "that man didn't do anything." - "But," Heiji continued, "our murderer sure wanted to make it look like Mr. Yagami was the culprit, that's why she staged an argument between the victim and him. Isn't that correct, Miss Okiyama?" The short haired shop assistant blanched. "W- what? I don't know what you are talking about! I told you, I didn't even know the victim, I'm new at this job!" Shinichi gave her a sad smile. "That's right, you are new at this job. And you also got a radical new haircut and hair colour. We saw the picture in your locker in the backroom. About a month ago you had naturally red, long curls, and now your hair is dark and short. Also, the way you apply make up is totally different from before. Much darker and you don't seem comfortable with it yet." Heiji picked up the speech. "You worked as a waitress in a cocktail bar. We talked to your former boss. He told us you left because of some trouble with a customer who would not leave you alone. Your boss was very sorry to let you go." Looking at the concealed murder victim on the ground, Heiji finished the story. "I think our victim, Mr. Hoshima, was that same guy. He found you here and started harassing you again and the only way to get rid of him was for you to end his life."

The girl gripped the counter she was standing at so hard, her knuckles turned white. A single tear rolled down her cheek. "He... He wouldn't leave me alone! I don't know how he found me here. I didn't tell anybody. H-he tried to touch me when no one was looking." She then wrapped her arms around herself and started sobbing. "No one would help me. The police said there was nothing they could do! What was I supposed to do?" Her sobs echoed through the room as Heiji looked to the ground, somehow feeling sorry for the girl, as Kudo just added "Murder is never the right solution."

When they left the store 15 minutes later, Heiji was feeling down and angry. He was thinking about Kazuha and the helplessness that shop girl must have felt to commit murder. He had never thought about such things after a case, but the possibility that Kazuha might ever get into such a situation made him feel too many emotions at once. "Hey, Hattori, I just called Ran. They are right around a corner, sitting in a café," Shinichi nudged him. "What are you thinking about?" he added, looking funnily at Heiji, who only shook his head. "Nothing," he murmured. When they entered the café, the girls got up to greet them. "Over here," Kazuha called, a big smile plastered on her face. As Shinichi pecked Ran softly on the lips, Heiji crushed Kazuha to himself, needing to feel her in his arms as close as possible. She gasped, but put her arms around him. "What happened?" she inquired, her voice muffled against his shirt. Ran watched them, asking "Are you alright?" Shinichi just shrugged. "Murder case," he stated, sitting down on a chair next to Ran, "but the circumstances were quite sad. The woman who committed the crime had been harassed and possibly abused by the victim and didn't know how else to help herself." Heiji and Kazuha were still standing, Heiji's head nuzzled in her neck, inhaling her well known scent. He felt calmer already. "I'd never let something like that happen to you!" he whispered next to her ear and she smiled a little, caressing his head and pulling it softly away so she could see his eyes. "I know that!" she whispered back and kissed him lovingly. A relieved sigh left Heiji's body as they both sat down, Kazuha holding his hand in hers, maintaining the contact. The situation felt awkward, until Shinichi took a closer look at the table. "How much did you eat?" he asked, astonished, staring at several empty plates. Ran blushed. "Just a piece of cheesecake and a lemon cupcake," she stammered. Shinichi shook his head. "I don't believe you had a feast while we were working!" Heiji chuckled. Kazuha felt relieved to hear the sound. His former demeanour had left her worried. Heiji just looked at the café's menu, handing it to Kudo. "I think we'll just have to feast right now!" the dark skinned boy laughed, motioning to the waitress. Ran beamed. "That's a great idea. We still wanted to taste the macaroons, anyway." Kazuha giggled and smiled at Heiji, who was drawing lazy circles on the back of her hand again. "You should be careful, or you'll get as huge as a whale," he warned her, but she could see a glint in his eyes. "Never mind," she answered, poking her tongue out at him, "now that I have you there's no need to stay thin." She shot him a cheeky grin. Shinichi sighed. "I never thought I'd say this, but I miss their bickering," he whispered to Ran, who giggled in turn. "They are still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. It will come back," she murmured, kissing Shinichi's cheek. Just at that moment Kazuha exploded on the other side of the table. "What do you mean, there's plenty of thin fish in the water, Ahou?" She pulled her hand away from Heiji's, who started bickering back immediately. "Well, that was fast," Ran stated, observing their friends, as Shinichi just nodded.

When Heiji and Kazuha had calmed down (and made up), the day continued smoothly. Since the detectives were fed up with shopping they decided to go see a movie, and Heiji loved the way Kazuha blushed when Ran suggested they could watch the new Cinderella movie. Since Heiji had promised to watch the movie with Kazuha again, anyways, and Kudo seemed to owe Ran a movie of her choice, too, they all sat down in the afternoon showing. Halfway through the movie Heiji leaned down to Kazuha's ear and whispered "I preferred the last time we saw it." in hushed tones. She shot him an embarrassed glance and slightly slapped his hand away as it crept up her thigh. "Stop it!" she murmured, putting the popcorn bag into his hands to keep them busy. Heiji grinned. He loved that he could rattle her like this. Still, he let her watch the movie in peace and just walked next to an equally bored Kudo, as the girls left the cinema chatting happily about the obvious chick flick.

When they got back to Heiji's place, his parents still had not returned from the wedding, but a message on the answering machine told them they had decided to take a detour to visit some relatives. They wouldn't be back for another night. Just as they decided to call for take out, Kazuha's mobile rang. She talked on it in the kitchen for some minutes and returned with a big smile on her face. "I can't believe it!" she exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear, "my father has to work late and he allowed that I could sleep over tonight, since Ran-chan and Kudo are here for only one more day!" They all cheered, especially Heiji, and continued a pleasant evening with Pizza and board games. (Clue... The girl's caved after both detectives gave them puppy dog eyes.) When they finally decided to call it a day, Kazuha suddenly felt self- conscious. She had slept over at Heiji's place several times over the years and the last time had been less than a year ago after a party at their fathers' work place, but now was different. Heiji handed her one of his shirts – the same one she had slept in the last time she was there, she realized – and left her alone to wash up and brush his teeth. When he returned to his room she had already changed and she could make out a small streak of red on his face as he watched her over, which made her blush in turn. "It's short," she stammered, looking to the ground in embarrassment. "You look great," he mumbled, walking towards his bed, "I laid out your toothbrush." She only nodded and walked to his bathroom, her heart racing.

Two doors down the corridor, Shinichi and Ran were just getting comfortable in bed, as Shinichi groaned. "Please don't tell me they're going to do it!" he exclaimed, making Ran gasp. "Shinichi!" she chided, feeling her face heat up. "Oh, common, Ran, we're only two doors down from them! We would hear EVERYTHING!" Ran looked at him in shock. "Stop it! I don't want to think about stuff like that!" He only rolled his eyes. "I don't want to sleep next to that!" he countered, slipping beneath the blankets. "It's only polite. I mean, I could devour you right now, looking so fetching in your little pyjamas, but I won't do it. It's common curtesy!" At that, Ran blushed a deep crimson and snuggled next to him. "I hate it when you make me blush!" she mumbled into his chest. Shinichi chuckled and contently stroked her back. "But I just love doing it." Still, he hoped Heiji and Kazuha would just sleep. "By the way," Ran changed the subject, still lying in his embrace, "did Hattori tell you how he and Kazuha did get together?" Shinichi shook his head. "He just asked her out, I guess." Ran looked up at him and grinned. "Nope, that's not how it happened..."

In his room, Heiji had already slipped inside his bed. His heart was racing. How had he never noticed how smokin' hot Kazuha looked wearing his shirt? She had slept over several times. He had been such a freaking idiot. He was just thinking about taking a novel from his nightstand to divert his thoughts, when Kazuha re-entered his room. Her hair was down and her make up free face still glittered a little wet with water droplets running down her chin. Slowly, she walked towards his bed as he lifted the covers for her to slip under. As she climbed in her feet brushed his leg and he shrieked. "Kami, your feet are cold, Ahou!" She giggled. "Sorry, no slippers," she shrugged, deliberately running her ice feet along his calves. "Kazuha!" he groaned, playfully pushing against her, as they tumbled around in his bed, until he was over her, keeping himself up on his arms. "You're evil," he observed, as she still tried to warm her feet next to his. Her cheeks turned pink, but she smiled knowingly. "But I'm cold," she sweetly told him, her huge eyes looking at him innocently. "I can change that!" he whispered, leaning down to kiss her lips. What started as an innocent, small kiss, soon became more heated, Heiji's tongue exploring her mouth as it danced with hers, his hands skipping along her body as her hands stroked under his shirt. She moaned as he lightly squeezed her bum and he loved the way she sounded under him. Too soon she pushed away from him, her face flush and her eyes dazed, turning them over so she was straddling him. "We can't do this!" she whispered and he blanched a little. "What? Why?" he gasped, trying to pull her towards him again. He could feel her heat through his clothes and he wanted her. He had never wanted anyone like that. Still, she shook her head and slid down from his body. "Ran-chan and Kudo-kun are nearly next door. We can't do this now!" Heiji let out a relieved breath at the word now. "You're probably right," he agreed, though feeling unhappy about her missing body heat. "Kudo, the cock block," he thought wearily, as Kazuha snuggled up next to him, burying her face in his chest. "Goodnight, Ahou," she breathed, her hand stroking his stomach in small circles. He sighed and rested his head on top of hers. "Goodnight."

Author's Note:

Nope, no smut. (Yet?!) (Would you even want that?)

How did you like the chapter. Can you guess what's happening next?
PLEASE leave a review. (And thanks to all who already reviewed the last chapters, it really keeps me going!)

Have a great weekend,
Ria