justonetruth | (no subject)

Ran stopped herself from saying 'You're that Aoko' just in time -- she knew how freaky that must sound. "Does that make you Nakamori-san? Conan told me he'd been playing." She turned around, seemingly scanning the far side of the room, until she was sure that her expression was calm. "How do you mean 'far too old to be seven'?"

Aoko nodded. "Mm-hm, that's me! I guess you're the Ran-chan from his world, right?"

She linked her hands behind her back and acted like she was thinking as she answered Ran's last question. "I don't know. I guess he was just really mature for his age."

"That's right. Thanks for amusing him."

Ran tried to pretend she wasn't worried. "Mature? Conan's always been -- precocious for his age ..."

"I used to play that game with Kaito all the time. It had fun!"

Aoko nodded. "He did seem like a very smart boy for his age, just not as..." she paused to ponder how to word this, "Old?"

"Well, as long as you enjoyed it. Don't think you have to, though. He's perfectly capable of amusing himself." Then again, Conan's idea of amusing himself ...

"Ah." Ran bit back disappointment. "Where did you meet him? The other Conan, I mean."

"Oh don't worry," Aoko ensured the other girl, "I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want to."

"In the dining area. We was there for dinner."

Ran found herself smiling back, even despite her fears.

They'd never made it to dinner, mostly because Conan, sulking after his enforced afternoon nap, generally vanished at about that time, and by the time Ran had found and retrieved him, the dining room was practically deserted. "And you just started talking?"

"I sat down next to him," Aoko responded, "And said hi."

Ran winced. "Sorry," she said. "That was a stupid question but-- well, maybe I'm just being stupid."

Aoko shook her head, her smile still present. "No, it's okay! Are you worried about something?"

Considering what Christie had told her about Conan, if Ran knew as well... she certainly didn't blame the girl for being worried.

"Yes, actually," Ran said and hesitated a moment before trying to smile. "Conan can get into a lot of trouble even with supervision. I'm scared to think of what he might get up to with no-one there."

Aoko nods firmly at Ran in response.

"I'll help you find him!"

"Ah -- thank you," Ran said, smiling. "I can't say that I don't need the help."

Already, Aoko moves toward a chair and peers behind it. "What are his favorite hiding places?"

"Let's see ... sky-scrapers, shadows, anything with a vantage point. He ..." is going to grow up to be a voyeur "... likes people-watching, places where things are happening."

"People watching?" Aoko asked as she stood up straight again. "Hm... maybe he's at the top of the staircase?"

Ran could easily imagine the top of the stairs appealing to Conan. "Let's try it!"

With a nod, Aoko made her way to the staircase, expecting Ran to follow.

Which Ran did, as quietly as possible -- no sense making it obvious that they were coming. Conan wasn't immediately visible, but as they reached the lobby, Ran scanned the surrounding balconies for possibilities. There was a beam, obscured in shadow, and Ran turned away from it deliberately. "I think he's most likely to be over here," she said, gesturing to the beam, the movement hidden from anyone observing there by her body. Hopefully Aoko would catch the request. "I'm going to search those bookcases."

Aoko did, and she nodded. "Alright!"

As Ran moved toward the bookcases, Aoko moved toward the stairs so she could check the balcony and the strange beam obscured in shadow.

"Not this bookcase ... maybe the next?" Ran was almost certain that Conan would be listening in to her somehow -- and hopefully the sound of her talking to herself would obscure any sounds Aoko made. "I really hope Conan isn't getting into trouble ..."

Under Ran's cover, Aoko creeps silently up the stairs (utilizing her Kid stealth to do so). When she reaches the top, she carefully peers at the balcony Ran suspected he was hiding near.

There's a slight amount of rustling from the rafters, Aoko's only warning before she has a sudden and unexpected visitor. "Got you!"

Aoko lets out a startled cry. "E-Edogawa-kun?!"

"Hi Aoko-neechan!" Conan gives her a quick hug (incidentally planting a tiny bug on the back of her top) before squirming to be let down. "Quick, lets hide before Ran gets back."