The Detective Dogs: Crossroads of an Ancient Capital

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"As I thought, Kyoto is the hometown of all Japanese people!"

Rachel shared Serena's enthusiasm as they exited the train station. They have arrived in Kyoto. Conan trailed behind her. Richard Moore, her father, walked beside them with a bag over his shoulder.

"Alright, I brought you here on a special occasion," Richard points a finger at them in a warning. "So, don't get in my way."

"Yes, sir!" Rachel and Conan happily replied while Serena rolled her eyes.

As they went on their way, Atsushi and Kyōka walked out of the station as well. Atsushi looked around for his supervisor.

"I don't see Dazai anywhere…" He muttered. Then his shoulders slumped. "Don't tell me…"

Kyōka nodded her head in confirmation as if reminding him of his hobby. Atsushi sighed and pulled out his cellphone. Dialing a number, he held it up to his ear.

"Hey, Dazai. We're here in Kyoto, outside the train station to be exact. So where are you now? Or better yet… are you dying?"

"Conan's so lucky, he went to Kyoto," Amy Yeager sighed in disappointment.

"There was a request for Moore from a temple called Sannou Temple," Doctor Hershel Agasa explained. In his hands is a tray of juice glasses with straws. He and the Junior Detective League are in his house enjoying the day. He set the tray down on the table letting George, Mitch, and Amy each take a glass.

"We want to go to Kyoto too!" George Kaminski declared.

"Hmm…" Agasa rubbed his chin in contemplation. "I could take you there, but…"

The three of them cried for a joyful surprise.

"Really?"

"I can meet Conan!"

As they cheered for a trip to Kyoto, the last person looked up from the book she was reading. Anita Hailey, otherwise known as Sherry, is also a recipient of APTX 4869. The same pill that shrank Jimmy Kudo into Conan Edogawa. She is on the run from the Black Organization after she rebelled.

"However," Agasa cut their cheering short. "Only if you can answer this quiz."

The three of them groaned.

"Here we go," George said. His voice sounded resigned as if he expected this.

"You're probably aren't going to take us, right?" Mitch asked.

"Isn't this alright?" They turned to Anita, who turned the page of her book. "Hear him out. It'll kill some time."

"What should we do?" George whispered to his childhood friends.

"Let's try," Amy said.

"Alright." Mitch agreed.

Agasa cleared his throat. "The three of you know who Benkei is right?"

"Yes," Amy nodded. "He's Yoshitsune's servant."

"Hey," George had placed a hand to his mouth and whispered. "Who's Yoshitsune?"

"His childhood name is Ushiwakamaru," Mitch began. "And on Kyoto's Gojyouoohashi, he defeated Benkei, who was aiming to get his 1000th sword. Benkei then became his servant. That is Minamoto Yoshitsune. At that time, the Genji clan and Heike clan were fighting, and Yoshitsune defeated the Heike clan. But he was hated by his brother, Yoritomo. He committed suicide, at Koromagawa of Hiraizumi, where today's Iwate prefecture would be."

"Wow, you seem to know a lot about him," Agasa smiled. "Now the question is: Benkei had a first love named Uzune. When he found out she was going to marry another man, Benkei…"

Became angry

Became happy

Cried

"So, which one is it?" Agasa asked.

"His first love!?" Amy cried happily as her thoughts drifted to Conan.

George and Mitch noticed Amy looking dreamily. They knew who was on her thought,

she had no problem showing it. Their heads whipped towards the doctor.

"Of course, he will be angry!" Mitch declared with a scowl.

"There's no reason for him to be happy!" George agreed.

"So, you say the answer becomes angry?" Agasa asked teasingly. For once, he might finally have stumped them.

"He cried."

Agasa looked at Anita as if she had told them the color of his underwear. Amy, Mitch, and George gasped surprised.

"The answer is cried," Anita looked up from her book. "You got the idea from Benkei's crying spot, right?"

"I'm no match for you, Anita," Agasa sweatdropped.

"Benkei's crying spot?" Amy asked Mitch, who knew more about the stories of Yoshitsune.

"Even a guy as strong as Benkei has a spot that hurts enough to cry if kicked," Mitch rolled up his right pants leg to show her. "That's right here. Mukouzune is Benkei's crying spot."

"But what does that have to do with the quiz?" George asked.

"Uh…well, that is…"

"I get it!" Amy clapped her hands together. "The people getting married are Muto and Uzune. Muko and Uzune make Mukouzune!"

George and Mitch's eyes began to twitch. "It's another big pun," George groaned.

"But since we got the aright answer, we can go to Kyoto right now!" Amy enthusiastically said.

"Uh…no," Agasa said. "Because Anita got the right answer…"

"George and Mitch looked at him, scowling. Amy said, "Anita is part of the Junior Detective League too!"

"Don't leave Anita out!" Mitch scolded.

"My mom told me not to become an adult that goes back on his word," George added in.

Anita smirked as Agasa is backed into a corner. Then, the doorbell rang. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. The doctor wasn't expecting anyone today.

"I'd better get that," He stammered as he exited the area and descended the stairs. Eventually, he will need to get his car ready to go to Kyoto.

Agasa walked to the front door and opened it. The person standing there caught him by surprise.

"C-can I help you?"

"There's seems to be nothing here related to this mysterious picture."

Conan stood on the Gojyou bridge, holding a picture. Richard had met his clientele, who revealed they called him because of the healing Buddha that had been stolen from them eight years ago. The reason it wasn't reported was that the chief believed it would return one day. The reason they called him now is that they received a letter with a puzzle. IF they solved it, they can find the missing buddha.

Which is why Conan has been walking around Kyoto, trying to find a connection to the puzzle. Rachel and Serena went sight-seeing.

On the paper is a drawing of shelves with miscellaneous items. The top row had a cicada, a tengu, and a goldfish. On the fourth row are a chicken and a loach. Between the second and third rows is violet, a tengu, and Mount Fuji. Beside them is an acorn. On top of the fourth row is what Serena assumed to be a stain.

Conan couldn't find anything connected to either of the symbols. He began to put it away when a voice spoke behind him.

"On the Gojyou bridge of Kyoto, the large man Benkei raised his long Halberd. Aiming at Ushiwakamaru, he slashed downward."

Conan turned and leaped backward just in time to evade a slash from an assailant. He landed on top of the stone railing of the bridge. It wasn't until he got a good look at his would-be-assailant that he recognized him.

"Harley!"

The great detective of the west smirked up at him. He is also one of the people who know he is Jimmy Kudo. Conan met him when he decided to come to Beika to challenge him to a deductive duel.

"The gods have done some tasteful things for me to meet you here," Harley said as he rested a wooden shinai on his shoulder. Behind him, three elementary school students in kendo gear ran up to him.

"Mister?" One of them held out a hand. "Can you give me back my shinai?"

"Oh, sorry, sorry!" Harley bent down and gave him back the shinai he borrowed. "Thanks."

As they ran off, he called after them. "Make sure you practice hard!"

"Don't borrow some kids shinai," Conan scolded as he was on the ground again.

"Anyways," Harley got straight to business. "What are you doing in a place like this?"

"Same to you. What are you doing?"

"As a matter of fact," Harley told Conan as they walked to the river. "The murdered owner of the Takoyaki restaurant in Osaka was an acquaintance of mine. He was supposedly a member of a robbery group. I went to his shop often while I was in middle school. I'm indebted to him in away. So, I want to find the culprit and avenge his death."

"That's why you came to Kyoto," Conan surmised, taking out the puzzle. "You're looking for leads to the culprit. If that's so, then I have something good to show you."

"He handed the puzzle to Harley who took it. His eyes studied the symbols on the picture. Conan filled in on what he assumed to be the key to cracking it.

"I see. If you solve the mystery behind the puzzle, not only do you find the Buddhist statue, but it might also lead to clues about the murderers. That's why you…"

"Yeah," Conan's eyes drifted to the left. "If the Genjibotaru group was the one who stole the Buddhist statue, then if we go around the locations related to Yoshitsune and Benkei, there might be some leads as to how to solve the…"

Conan's voice trailed off, which made Harley worry.

"Kudo?" Harley turned his head to the pint-sized detective. Conan's eyes were wide, which increased his worry. He followed his gaze and gasped in shock. Sitting, front to the ground is a mini freezer. But what got their attention was the hand sticking out from under it.

There was a person inside and most likely drowning. If they don't hurry, they could die.

"Harley, get help!" Conan shouted as he ran over to the freezer.

"On it!" Harley pulled out his phone and dialed 101.

Conan placed his tiny hands against the sides of the freezer and attempt to push it over. It was to no avail. The freezer was too heavy for his body, but he still kept trying. Eventually, Harley came over and offered his strength. Together, they pushed the freezer onto its side. This allowed them to pull the man out. At least for Harley.

The Osaka detective pulled him up on his shoulder and checked his heartbeat. To his relief, he's still alive.

"He'll live," Harley told Conan. Conan was staring at the man, who looked very familiar to him. His eyes found the sand-colored trench coat and bandages.

Wait, that guy is…which means this is…

The man opened his eyes and lifted his head with a blank expression.

"Hey, man are you alright?" Harley asked. "We found you in the river. You're lucky that you didn't drown!"

"I…made it?" The man asked in confusion.

Then…

"DAMN!"

Harley felt his eye twitch. Did this guy just say damn? Right after we saved him.

"Tell me," The man removed himself from Harley. "Are you the guys who interrupted my drowning?"

"Umm, yes? In case you haven't noticed, you could have died!"

"I know." Harley looked at him in shock.

"Is this one of your attempts at suicide mister?" Conan asked, deadpanned look on his face.

"Wait, you know him, Ku… I mean, Conan?

"Yep, I met him at Beika station. Everything he said convinced me that he's a suicidal maniac."

"Wait, so that means—"

"Yes, I was trying to kill myself," The man confirmed. "And I believe that everything was going swimmingly…" He glared at them with a twitching eye. "…but then you two, ruined my day."

Harley didn't even know what to say at the man scolding him for saving him.

"But it's not your fault. I was trying to commit clean suicide. One that wouldn't bother anyone. Yet I ended up troubling you, so it's back to the drawing board."

"So how did you end up here?" Conan asked. "I doubt drowning was your first idea."

"Correct young detective. I was trying to kill myself by freezing myself. Unfortunately, they didn't have a big enough freezer for me, so I had to empty one and stuff myself inside. But I couldn't fit. Eventually, I got stuck, so I had to get my coworkers to help me out. Then one thing leads to another and I ended up here."

"I see," They sweatdropped. They wondered how they would talk him out of suicide when they heard running feet. The odd thing they saw was that his hair is white and has a streak of black on one bang.

"Oh, hey Atsushi!" The man cheerfully waved at his subordinate.

"There you are!" Atsushi breathed, clearly out of breath.

"Can you do us a favor and pay for their meal? I'm afraid that the river has taken my wallet again."

"WHAT?!" Atsushi exclaimed. Even the detectives looked surprised as well.

"We're not exactly hungry," Conan tried to decline.

"I've burdened you, so I owe you an apology," The man explained. "Besides, nothing like a good meal in our stomachs to cheer up. Don't you agree?"

"But sir! I don't have enough money to pay for all of us?!"

"Hmm, that's too bad. We can't have you guys pay for it, otherwise, it wouldn't be an apology. So, we'll have to go to plan B. We just got to find—"

"THERE YOU ARE, YOU BLOCKHEAD!"

All eyes turned to a tall and slim young man with dirty blonde hair tied into a ponytail. He wore a beige vest over a black long-sleeved dress shirt, a red ribbon tied into a bow around the collar, and beige pants and plain brown shoes. In his hand, he held a notebook with the kanji for 'Ideal'. His green eyes glared down below at them.

"Oh hey, Kunikida!" The man cheerfully greeted. "Thanks for helping us with pay for a meal! The boys will fill you in on the details."

"OH NO, YOU ARE NOT DOING THIS TO ME AGAIN!" He shouted, but he was ignored.

"So, what are your names?" He asked Conan and Harley.

"Conan Edogawa."

"Harley Hartwell."

"Osamu Dazai," The man smiled. "Pleasure to meet you, my new friends."

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They meet at last. Also, Happy Halloween!

See you next time!

Also, Thank you RAX for seeing potential in this story.