At Vespania Royal Palace
Shinichi, Ran and Conan are now inside a room together along with one guard, two maids and a man with a beard sitting beside Conan
"I understand the situation... But still, kidnapping them by force was a very wrong move. It's practically a crime!" said Conan angrily to the royal guard
"I'm sorry... Keith-sama is the one who plan it" said the guard that was present bowing
"Calm down Conan-kun" said Ran trying to calm him down
"Of course I can't! Seriously, Kogoro-ojiisan and I were practically crazy last night when it happened!"
"I'm sorry..." said Shinichi apologize
"Is this boy is really a grade schooler? He's more like a mother" said someone beside Conan
A man with a beard and a hat covering his eyes is now listening to the situation from Shinichi, Ran and also one of the royal guard, Kyle of the situation is happening inside the royal family. He introduced himself as Jigen Daisuke, he was supposed to be princess Mira's exclusive guard due to his power in military. Four of them are now sitting face to face as they wait for Keith that was called by princess Mira's uncle and Duke of Vespania, Gerald
"He has a power of that to me..." said Shinichi half laugh
"This is not something funny" said Conan glaring
"I'm sorry"
"Anyway anyway... That's the whole situation from what Keith-san told us" said Ran calming the situation
"Hah... This is such a burden" said Jigen
"Tell me about it" said Conan still unhappy by the situation
Moments later, Keith comes into the room
"Thank you for waiting" said Keith as he comes in
"Hey, I heard most of the story from them but isn't it a stretch to pair me up with this kid?" asked Jigen
"You look like a Japanese father and son pair"
"Give me a break!"
"I'm not happy with this situation either" thought Conan as he slap his forehead
"You're going to get Conan involved as well?" asked Ran worried
"I'm ashamed to admit it but the only people I can trust are in this room" said Keith
"It was Keith-sama's idea to send her highness to Japan at a time like this and as a result, we have manage to identify several suspicious individuals among the royal guard" said Kyle
"This is too pathetic, the one who will be benefit from the princess death is the next in succession. Even this kid would know who's behind all of this" said Jigen as he rubs Conan's hair
Shinichi then glare at Jigen to which Jigen notice and let go his hand from Conan immediately
"Yes... It was certain that it was Gerald-sama who killed the two and made it look like an accident" said Keith serious
"Oi... Is it all right for you to say that out loud?" said Jigen serious
"Then you should have found evidence of it?" asked Shinichi
"No, none at all. We have served the royal family for generations and that includes Gerald-sama as well" said Keith
"I see... You're asking us because you're unable to take action yourselves" said Jigen grabbing the situation
"Only the queen can pass judgement upon members of the royal family. As of now, princess Mira doesn't have that authority yet. That's why, please, we have no time left. The coronation parade has been scheduled for the day after tomorrow"
"No way... Then if the princess is not found by then..." said Ran surprised
"Ran would be in the parade" said Shinichi in low voice
Keith bow to them to which make them have no choice about the situation.
"Now then, what should we do?" asked Jigen to all of them
"First, we need to see the crime scene itself. Conan, I need you and Jigen-san to go there to look into it" said Shinichi
"Alright" said Conan agreeing
"Shouldn't you be the one who come with me?" asked Jigen to Shinichi
"If I can, I will do it but... Having two adults looking after the crime scene will be suspicious. As much as I hate it, Keith-san has a point" said Shinichi serious
With that, everyone dismissed and Ran goes into a room to change her clothes. Shinichi and Conan look at each other since the boy has to go out to look for evidences with Jigen. Jigen then wait in the hallway, which leaves the brothers and Keith inside the room
"Conan, check all of your gadgets" said Shinichi serious
Both Shinichi and Conan take off their blazer, which shows a suspenders and belt. Conan took off his glasses and his other gadgets along with Shinichi who take off his suspenders, belt and watch. Both of them put their gadgets on the table which amuse Keith
"I don't think my soccer belt, watch and glasses are working after what happen in the jet. I'm sure my phone is broken as well" said Conan
"Switch with mine, all of your broken gadgets. Bring my phone with you just in case" said Shinichi as he took out the glasses and phone
"But how about you?"
"I think my basic Judo, soccer skills and Ran's Karate should be enough here since this is a royal palace after all. You're the one who need absolute protection since you're going with that guy on a crime scene"
"Alright alright..."
Keith can't help to get slightly awe by the interaction between the two, although he hid it under his poker face. After putting all their gadgets back, Conan about to go out but then stop by Shinichi as he held Conan's shoulder while bend down to his size
"Niichan?" asked Conan surprised
"Please... don't do anything stupid" said Shinichi serious
Conan smiles as he hug him and let go immediately
"You too, protect yourself and Ran-neechan" said Conan as he holds Shinichi's shoulder
"I will, hurry and get back okay" said Shinichi as he stood up
"Yes"
Conan then goes out from the room which leave Shinichi who still look at the door with seriousness and worried plastered on his face. He noticed Keith's stare, which he ignored and goes to Ran's room.
----------------------------------------------------------
Inside the room, Ran look through the window, which shows Conan and Jigen going out of the palace in worried. Shinichi quickly goes to her side and look as well
"Don't worry, this time he's prepared" said Shinichi serious
"Shinichi..." said Ran surprised
"Believe in my little brother okay? I'm sure he can find some evidences we need to solve the case so that you don't have to go to the parade"
"Um..."
Ran quickly hold on to Shinichi's hand to which without thinking, he locked her hand again. The maids who see can't help to blush, but they quickly stop thinking about it and goes to them
"Um... Ran-sama, please close the curtains. You never know where a sniper could be" said one of the maid
"Ah right... Please don't call me Ran-sama, I'm not a princess after all. Um, have you two been serving princess Mira for long?" asked Ran as she close the curtain
"Yes, I have been serving her highness for five years"
"I came to the royal palace three years ago" said the other maid
"I have only seen her tomboyish side. Has she been like that since she was young?" asked Ran curious
Both maids quickly sadden as they heard Ran's question
"No, her highness is caring and can be easily moved to tears. But... she hasn't cried ever since then..." said the maid as she cried
"She lost two of her family in one day, so she must have been overwhelmed by grief" said the other maid
Ran can't help to sad by the two explanation and tighten her hand. Shinichi look at Ran as he got close to her to calm her down
"She's not allowed to. So she had to create a different side of herself" thought Shinichi realizing the whole situation
Moments later, another guard comes in and stay on the door
"I'm sorry for interrupting but it's already lunchtime" said the guard
"Ah right, let us prepare lunch for you two" said the maid as she wipes her tears
"Ran-sama, Shinichi-sama. Please sit down as we prepare for both of you" said the other maid
"Ah yes, thank you" said Ran as she pulled Shinichi to sit beside her
Few moments later, the maids give them some dishes for lunch and they start to eat
"Wow this is delicious" said Ran surprised
"You're right... Should I ask Conan to make this for me sometime" said Shinichi as he eats
"Try cooking it yourself Shinichi... Poor Conan-kun have to do it all by himself"
"Hahaha you're right"
In different place
"Ah-choo!"
"Oi oi, you shouldn't be having a cold with me" said Jigen unhappy
"No no... It's fine" said Conan as he holds his nose
Jigen spot a bar that opens and he wanted to take one drink before going to the crime scene, which make Conan sigh. The man give the boy a coin to buy a drink in a nearby vending machine. Conan was about to buy a drink until he noticed a man with red blazer is talking with a vending machine who seems to be unhappy by it
"Who is that?" thought Conan confused
----------------------------------------------------------
At Vespania Royal Palace
As both high schoolers are eating, suddenly they heard someone screaming Ran's name which make Ran stand up
"That voice... dad?" asked Ran surprised
"Occhan?" asked Shinichi as he stood up as well
"Please wait for a while Shinichi-sama, Ran-sama. It might be a suspicious person" said the maid as she looked through the door
The maid take a peek through the door which she screams as she quickly shut the door
"There's a suspicious man with a tiny mustache and he looks scary! He couldn't be your father" said the maid in panic
"No... That's my dad" said Ran as she can't help to sigh
"Eh..."
Seconds later, someone barges in, which to be Ran's father, Mouri Kogoro. Shinichi was in absolute shock by the presence of Kogoro not to mention the timing between them arrive to Vespania and he arrived is really close which can't be a coincidence
"Ran!" shout Kogoro as he comes in
Ran tried to calm Kogoro but Kogoro still in crazy mode and make things worse when Keith comes in and he about to punch him. Luckily, Keith manage to dodge him and so Kogoro was about to take Ran away but Shinichi stop him as he forces Kogoro to sit down while holding his shoulders
"Wow..." said Ran surprised
"Detective brat?! What are you-"
"Occhan, calm down... Hear us out first. Ran is safe, I can assure you that with my own life" said Shinichi in low voice
Kogoro look surprised, to which he sighs. Ran was definitely shock on how Shinichi can stop Kogoro's actions in seconds, but she quickly sits down beside Kogoro so the father can look his daughter is alright or not
"Well she is okay, anything didn't happen right? She's safe right?" asked Kogoro serious
"For now, yes. But I can assure you that it will stay that way" said Shinichi convincing Kogoro
"Explain the situation brat... You're the only one I trust here right now"
"Thank you Occhan... So it's like this"
Shinichi told him everything for the moment he and Ran were drugged until the situation where Keith is sure that the culprit behind the death of the queen and prince are by Duke. Kogoro sigh as he glares at Ran
"Ran... What you did now is dangerous, you should have listened to me yesterday" said Kogoro unhappy
"I'm sorry..." said Ran looked down
Kogoro then look at Shinichi who seems to be still wearing his school uniform from the last time they meet. He also noticed Shinichi seems to have a lack of sleep of what happen to which make him sigh on how much he uses his body to protect Ran at all costs
"Thank you... For looking after Ran for me" said Kogoro as he close his eyes
"It's fine, Occhan" said Shinichi with a smile
Kogoro take something from his pocket and give it to Shinichi. Much to his surprise that it was his and Conan's passport
"That glasses brat seems predicted this to happen. So he told me to bring our passports" said Kogoro
"Conan did..." said Shinichi surprised
"He predicted that Ran will be the one whose going to be kidnapped and you stay, but it seems it backfired when he heard that you are kidnapped as well"
----------------------------------------------------------
Flashback
At Mouri Detective Agency
Kogoro can't help to worry about Ran in the agency and vow to get her at all cost. He even asked Takagi to cooperate with him to take Ran by force in the airport. Suddenly someone comes in which to be Conan
"Ojiisan" said Conan as he comes in
"Oi brat, what are you doing this late at night?!" shout Kogoro as he stood up
"Just hear me out first"
Kogoro was shock by Conan change of tone which seems he let out his high schooler persona instead of his usual grade schooler persona and so Kogoro sit down and hear him
"Ojiisan, if my gut is right. There maybe a chance that they take Ran-neechan to Vespania by force" said Conan serious
"WHAT?! Why you think like that?!" shout Kogoro shock
"Think about it Ojiisan, why they force Ran-neechan to be the substitute? Why bother using her, which can only get more ugly situations"
"That's... right. They only got disadvantage by it"
"That's why Ojiisan, just in case... Bring Ran-neechan and your passport tomorrow. I also want you to hold Shinichi-niichan's and mine as well"
Conan give Kogoro the passports which Kogoro take it in confuse look
"Why you ask me to hold it?" asked Kogoro
"If something really happened to both Ran-neechan and Shinichi-niichan... I might do something reckless, that's why I want you to hold those for me"
"Reckless? Oi oi what are you-"
"Anyway, it's just to be more assured, that's all. Now, it's already late so let's head to bed Ojiisan, I will stay here with you since we're going together tomorrow. Not to mention, you need someone to prepare breakfast after all"
"Oi!"
Before Conan walked out from the agency, he looked at Kogoro one last time
"Besides, I can't sleep in my big house alone... I'm too worried about my brother" said Conan in low voice
Conan quickly walk away from the agency, leaving Kogoro alone in confuse. Kogoro look at the passports to which he conceded and he goes upstairs as well
Back to present
----------------------------------------------------------
"He did ask me to hold those passports and he messaged me saying he forced himself into the plane" said Kogoro
"That boy..." thought Shinichi as he smiled
"Well I had to thank him to force me to bring it, after I heard about the kidnapped, Interpol helped me come here in no time"
"I see... Wait a minute, Interpol? Is it by any chance... An officer who is in charge of capturing Lupin III?" asked Shinichi surprised
"Yes his name is Zenigata-keibu... Wait, you know about him?!"
"I didn't, but Conan did"
"Eh?"
Shinichi started to grab the situation directly by Kogoro's information to which he can't help to smirk
"Occhan... I think Conan was the one who ask him to help you get in here" said Shinichi as he smiled
"Eh?!" asked both Kogoro and Ran surprised
"Conan did mention that Zenigata-keibu told him that Lupin III right now is in Vespania"
Kogoro can't believe by the situation, but it fits so well to which he got another respect for Conan. Ran found the situation confusing
"But when did Conan do such thing..." asked Ran confused
"Maybe he quickly contacted him after the situation in Sakurasaku hotel and before he meet you, Occhan. Well his gut is practically the same as his mother and not to mention, he's genius when it comes to plans like his father" said Shinichi as he smirks
"That brat... is terrifying" said Kogoro as he covered his eyes with his hand
Keith starting to get overwhelmed by Conan's intelligence, to which he's silently listening to everything. Kogoro then look around and notice that Conan is not in here.
"So where's the brat?" asked Kogoro
"He's looking for the evidence with a guard name Jigen Daisuke" said Shinichi
"You sure leave him alone like that?"
"I have no choice do I... Well, luckily he brought his gadgets with him"
"You mean that soccer belt and shoes of his"
"Yeah"
Kogoro and Ran only knows half of Conan's gadgets and they don't know about Conan's stun gun wristwatch and bowtie voice changer since he did use it to him, so they keep it a secret. Shinichi then stand up as he looked at Kogoro
"Occhan, I leave guarding Ran to you"
"Eh? Oh..." said Kogoro
"Lead me to where the rifle is. I want to inspect myself" said Shinichi to one of the guard
"Alright" said the guard
Both Shinichi and the guard goes out to the weapon's room. Kogoro then sigh and look at Ran
"Ran... That brat has been by your side the whole time?" asked Kogoro
"Yes, Shinichi didn't let go of my hand at all time. The only time he let go of me was when Conan-kun was found in the jet" said Ran worried
"Of course... That brat, really overprotective to the glasses brat"
Kogoro look at the door serious
"Well that side of him what I respected... He managed to protect my daughter under that circumstances. That glasses brat also overdid himself. Now my favors starting to pile up even more" thought Kogoro slight irritated
----------------------------------------------------------
At the weapon's room
Shinichi look through the file of what happen to the queen and prince. The guard also show him the rifles that was used on that day
"We control the weapon storage ourselves" said the guard as he open the cupboard of where the rifles are
"I see... It says here that no bullet was found in the queen's body?" asked Shinichi as he looked through the file
"The bullet passed through here... It was found in the dirt nearby"
"And it matched with the riffle that the prince had. I can believe what's written in this file, right?"
"Yes, I was there for the investigation as well. You may take that notebook with you"
"Is it okay?"
Shinichi was surprised at the guard full cooperation
"As the leader of the royal guards, I failed to protect them. And as a result, your girlfriend was endangered as well" said the guard serious
"She's not my girlfriend... But thank you, we will find out the truth" said Shinichi
Shinichi goes out from the weapons room with the book of files in hand. He quickly goes back to the room which see Ran and Kogoro talking to each other in the sofa
"Ah Shinichi!" said Ran smile
"Oh, did something happen?" asked Shinichi
"The princess just arrived, Keith is now meeting her with the one who take care of her" said Kogoro as he stood up
"Where are you going dad?" asked Ran surprised
"I want to drink some coffee, I had a long flight after all"
Shinichi sit down near Ran and suddenly the door open, shows the princess really did come back
"Your highness!" shout the maids happily
"Mira-san..." said Ran smiled in relief as she stands up
"Are you angry?" asked princess Mira to Ran
"I'm not"
"I am... Still, she really does look like Ran. No wonder Conan got messed up too" thought Shinichi looking away
"Why? I made you go through so much trouble" said princess Mira serious
"Well, you didn't really do that, and I already heard the whole story from Keith-san"
"Keith did?"
The high schooler boy then stand up and goes beside Ran
"Since you already arrive, you maybe want to switch clothes so that her father will not be so confuse by your appearances" said Shinichi
"You are?" asked princess Mira surprised
"Nice to meet you,
You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net