The Murder of Shinichi Kudo

[Misaki-chan 164]

Great job Aeyra! It's really good!

[Aeyra 260]

>_<

OMG! Aeyra this is great!! You saved me from boredom!!

I will wait for the next...

Thanks! I'll post the next once I finish Chapter 6 I guess.

Great job Aeyra! It's really good!

Thanks! ( I feel so repetitive...) I guess I'm not completely brainless at ten o'clock at night!

[mabel 59]

In answer to mabel's request (because I'd honestly forgotten- I've been planning out chapters 48-53) here's the next chapter. It may have weird tenses (again) but I hope it's enjoyable!

Chapter 4

Ran's POV

I awoke curled into a ball under my thick winter blanket, eyes sore, body stiff. My memories of last night were vague- blurred visions of a darkened Tropical Land, a police car, and- and Shinichi's body. I remembered it with a twinge of pain; his face was emotionless, as if he had gone to sleep, head blotted with dried blood, bangs stuck together by the crimson liquid, hands just barely grasping the grass in front of him. His azure eagle eyes, that special intense gaze that could pierce through all lies straight to the core of the truth, closed forever, never to be opened again.

But- couldn't it have all been a dream? A horrible nightmare conjured by my overactive imagination? It had to be a dream, I decided, knowing in my heart I was only fooling myself, but holding on tightly to the last bit of hope I had left to cling to. There's no way Shinichi could be dead, right?

I actually smiled a little at the last thought, feeling more confident in my farfetched wish than before. Shinichi had to be alive- he simply had to be. He'd always been part of my life every day, how could he have simply disappeared? Vanished like evaporating water? Ridiculous.

Happier than before, I got out of my warm bed, and shimmied out of my pajamas. Putting on a red turtleneck and dark blue jeans, I looked into the mirror, posing for fun. I noticed bags around my eyes and the red that indicated poor sleep and crying.

I probably just cried during the nightmare, I thought, desperately fighting against my fear that Shinichi was- that Shinichi was- I refused to say it. Who wouldn't cry if they found their best friend murdered? Even if it was a dream...

Combing out the tangled knots that had formed in my hair, it occurred to me that I hadn't showered the previous night. If I had, I would have conditioned. And I showered every day. Why hadn't I last night?

I was probably too tired after hanging out with Shinichi, I presumed, making up excuses for these obvious signs left and right. That's why, that's why... I chanted mentally. No other explanation...

I opened my door, revealing my dad watching TV, headlines too loud for me to ignore. The scene was familiar, a dark alley outside Tropical Land. There was tape where a body had lain... It's not true! I screamed silently, feeling as if I was being ripped to pieces. Not possible!

"Last night at around 10:30 P.M. the body of high school detective Kudo Shinichi was found here on the grounds of Tropical Land. The police have no leads so far, and anyone with any information are asked to contact the police at..." My ears were ringing, trying to block out the words, that reporter who was saying them so apathetically, so bluntly, showing she obviously didn't care. My best friend was dead, murdered, and I'd never see him again. How could she talk as if it didn't matter?

Letting out a loud sniffle, I went back into my room, hearing the television turning off and my father anxiously following me.

"Ran, are you okay? I know how tough this must be-"

"How could you possibly know?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, letting out all of my stored anger. "Shinichi is dead and he's never, ever coming back! How could you understand? Tell me dad. Please." My voice ended almost like a plead for help, but all he did was stand there awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, lost for words.

"Well-um-"

A knock from the door captured our attention, and I looked over to see Satou-keiji leaning against the frame, having entered because the door was left unlocked. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting," she started, trying to judge the situation. "But Inspector Megure would like to see you, Ran-san. It's about the case." She looked uncomfortably to the side and gave a little cough. "But if you don't want to go right now..."

"No, it's fine," I replied, sniffling. "I don't want to stay. It's on the news."

"Ran-chan, it's all you'll be hearing about at our investigation. None of us want you depressed like this. We can always get your testimony as a witness later after you've recovered."

"I might forget important details!" I said, knowing I had to go to Tropical Land. I remembered what I had swore last night. "I will become the detective in your place, Shinichi. My investigation starts tonight." How could I possibly uncover the truth without attending? "Please, Satou-keiji. I want to go."

"Fine. But don't push yourself too far. The grief could have a much longer-term effect if you stress yourself out. Okay?" she informed me.

"That's fine by me," I agreed. I don't think my heart could stand the pain if "I pushed myself too hard".

I followed her down the stairs to the police car, identical to the one I'd rode in last night. Pristine black leather sheets, a gleaming side-view mirror, and an unscratched exterior. "Is this car new?" I asked, looking around to catch what details I hadn't noticed before.

"Barely a week old. I've been out on cases so much with everyone else we needed a new cruiser. Isn't it great? It's top speed goes over 200km/hr, but that's technically illegal. However, I actually had to catch a criminal by driving that fast..."

Satou-keiji kept me entertained with startling robberies and the long hunt afterwards, high-speed chases, keeping me thoroughly distracted from the worse parts of my life. I laughed along with her; forgetting for just a few moments the truth. My now upside-down reality.

At least she knew what to say better than my dad- she didn't say a word about Shinichi once after entering the car. I was sure that as an officer, she's seen deaths more personal to her. That's why she can help.

However, soliloquy can only last so long in the face of despair. We arrived in matter of minutes, and Satou-san led me to where several officers were already present, and they respectfully stepped out of the way as we approached. I cringed as the scene was unveiled, but breathed a sigh of relief as I realized that Shinichi's body- the still, bloody, lifeless corpse- had been removed, leaving white tape and dark champagne splashes on the grass in its stead. Easier on my heavy heart.

The inspector appeared in front of me, giving a rough cough before staring somberly into my eyes. "Ran-kun, before I begin with my questions, is there anything you would like to ask me?"

"Have- have you figured anything out?" I inquired nervously, wondering if this was the right thing to ask. If I'm to take Shinichi's place, I'll need to know what to do. I should know- he and my dad are both- were- (a painful cringe) detectives. I should have learned something.

"We've gotten the autopsy. It's- it's quite strange though. I've never seen anything like it before and-"

"What?" This got my curiosity. The inspector was experienced- he'd been at several murders. What was so different?

"We were unable to find a cause of death," he whispered, voice hollow and disbelieving. "I had them check over and over, but even they had no idea what was wrong. His skull was damaged and bleeding, however the wound was nothing close to fatal. He's just dead. No poison, no anything. Just gone. Gone." His face was pale as a sheet, blanched with shock. He had been pretty close to Shinichi and not only had Shinichi been killed- this was a murder that would make even Holmes himself struggle.

"Is that possible?!" I blurted out, unable to stop myself. "He couldn't have just died!"

"I'm afraid so, Ran-kun," he stated gravely, shifting his hat. "We discovered that his death took place about half an hour before discovery, which puts the crime to about when you two left. Do you recall anything suspicious?"

"Well," I mused, blinking away tears as Shinichi's last smile filled my vision. "Well..."

"Don't push yourself!" he warned, assuaging me with a comforting pat on the shoulder. "This kind of thing is hard to deal with. We need you for this, Ran-kun. And whether you tell us today or tomorrow there isn't much difference- we'll learn eventually."

"O-okay," I sniffled, ashamed at my sobs. Why can't I just keep myself together at these crucial moments? I thought, angry as hell at myself. Dammit. You're the only one that can tell them about Shinichi's last moments and you can't do anything but cry. What a useless excuse for a best friend...

"By the way, Ran-kun," said Megure-keibu, turning me towards the scene again. "I'd like you to meet someone who'll be helping us during the investigation. Hattori-kun! Over here a moment please!"

Through clouded, foggy eyes I saw a tall, caramel-skinned teenager saunter over, a baseball cap flipped backwards on his head, logo hidden from my sight, viridian eyes filled with determination. The light in those eyes- they gave me the same, awestruck sensation as when I'd look at Shinichi during a case. Utter, unconquerable confidence, cold, hard, steel- scary and a daunting combination.

"Hattori-kun, Mouri Ran-kun," he introduced us. I gave the boy a small smile, and he returned a sympathetic grin. "Ran-kun, Hattori Heiji-kun. You may have heard his name before. He's a famous high school detective from Osaka."

"Nice 'ta meet 'cha!" he greeted me, a distinct dialect marring his speech. "I just wish it was unda' different circumstances."

"Same here." I offered him my hand and he shook it, irises conveying apology as I stared at him. "So- how goes your investigation?"

"Not very well," he replied honestly, a disappointed expression on his face. "I've been searchin' the place all mornin' and I can't find a single clue. This mystery is downright bizarre. It's like it's been taken right out of a story of some kind."

"Heiji!" A feminine cry emanated from the sidelines, and I turned to see a teenage girl about my age waving frantically at Hattori-kun, her dark brown hair put up into a ponytail with a yellow bow. "Heiji! They won't let me in!"

Hattori-kun cringed, sighing before pulling up his hat and twirling to face her. "Of course not, ahou! This is a crime scene! Only da’ people investigatin’ can come in!"

The volume surprised me, and I backed away, the noise still ringing in my eardrums. Ahou...

"Baro! Just wait for me, 'kay? I'll be done with this case in no time at all!" A wink from Shinichi, and then he'd finish up the case like lightning, fulfilling his promise.

So many times before. Why couldn't "I'll catch up with you?" be fulfilled too? Why couldn't he keep just that one promise?

Tears, so many tears, dripped from my eyes, welling up and spilling over. My body shook from sobs, and it must have looked quite serious because the girl ran in to give me a handkerchief.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, holding out the small square cloth with a concerned expression on her face.

"Kazuha!" complained Hattori-kun, green eyes annoyed. "Didn't I tell you to stay out?"

"But- but this girl- um-" she stuttered, her tongue tripping.

"I'm Mouri Ran," I explained, wiping away the moisture.

"Ran-chan was crying! Besides, it's not like I'm goin' ta destroy your precious crime scene!" she protested, rolling her eyes as Hattori-kun countered her.

They continued to bicker for the next few minutes, sharp insults not meant to be taken seriously, eventually straying from her intrusion to ridiculous nonsense. I had stopped crying by then, instead curiously interested in the way they talked to each other, and how, how much it reminded me of-

"Are you two dating?" I blurted out, unable to stop myself. It was rude, but I had to know. Watching them- well, I felt like it was a clip of my previous everyday life, familiar as breathing. I already missed my own arguments with Shinichi.

"Eh?" they replied simultaneously, eyes blank, cheeks champagne-red. Hattori-kun was the first to recover.

"Whaddaya talkin' about?" he exclaimed, frantically waving his arms around in random movements, face redder than a ruby. "How could she be my girlfriend?!"

"We're just childhood friends!" added Kazuha, thoroughly embarrassed. "He's like my lil' brother!"

"I was mistaken then." I felt my smile widen, and then slip away. It was so obvious, the bond they shared, and yet- both denied this one, definite truth. Sad. Feeling a need to advise them, recalling my own lost dreamt romance, realizing how much he would act like Hattori-kun if we had been attacked with the same romance, how obvious our feelings were to friends and strangers alike, I told them, "Just don't wait till it's too late. You can't do anything about it after that. I- I definitely regret it."

They stared uneasily at me, and then each other, sharp green eyes trying to pierce the other, trying to read behind the jade. They said nothing, instead standing still, absolutely silent. I could sense the tension, the hesitant air, the lingering pressure my words had left, hinting for them to share their feelings. Nothing.

"Aww! Come on, Ran! You know he's already like your husband!" commented Sonoko, pushing me forwards. "Both of you confess already!"

Shinichi and I had blushed profusely and looked away from her, ignoring her and continuing our conversation. There had been no way I was going to confess to him two days ago. And now I really wished I did. At least I would have gotten an answer of some sort. Not silence from a cold, frozen corpse.

Shinichi... I think, keeping the sobs from showing. I wish- I wish I told you...

Ran, can you hear me? There was no mistaking that voice, that resonating tone, that arrogance smoothly blended in.

I could almost see his sharp, lightning blue irises, that familiar cocky grin as I turned around and exclaimed, "Shinichi?!"

*LOL I wrote the original of the chapter when I was still a canon geek. I guess I can fake being HeiWa and KaiAo for the time being. ^^ (don't worry, it's not going shounen-ai.)*

Proud supporter of This story. And in it goes. (Into my Signature)

[Aeyra 260]

Proud supporter of This story. And in it goes. (Into my Signature)

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. ^^ You remind me of Chelsea. (she was like- my only solid reviewer for much of the story.)

[mabel 59]

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. ^^ You remind me of Chelsea. (she was like- my only solid reviewer for much of the story.)

Really? Wow.

The story takes the reader to a new point of view... which is awesome!

[Aeyra 260]

Really? Wow.

The story takes the reader to a new point of view... which is awesome!

Thanks! But you might want to alter your sig a little bit. The title is 'The Murder of Shinichi Kudo', not 'The Murderer of Shinichi Kudo'. Just wanted to point that out real quick. ;D

[mabel 59]

Thanks! But you might want to alter your sig a little bit. The title is 'The Murder of Shinichi Kudo', not 'The Murderer of Shinichi Kudo'. Just wanted to point that out real quick. ;D

*FACEPALM* *Changed*

[mabel 59]

Thanks! But you might want to alter your sig a little bit. The title is 'The Murder of Shinichi Kudo', not 'The Murderer of Shinichi Kudo'. Just wanted to point that out real quick. ;D

*FACEPALM* *Changed*

[Aeyra 260]

*FACEPALM* *Changed*

It's pretty easy to get messed up. I remember while writing this story I kept on writing 'murderered' instead of 'murdered'. ^^I'm glad for your support.

[mabel 59]

It's pretty easy to get messed up. I remember while writing this story I kept on writing 'murderered' instead of 'murdered'. ^^I'm glad for your support.