Written: November 2006

Disclaimer: Sue and die. So not mine.

Author's Note: I love this. XD It's so dumb.

Dedication: To Blake! Happy fifteenth birthday, kiddo! Much love!

Throw Away Detective

By Pedal

"Combat boots become you," I said as I climbed the stairs of the agency, a bouquet of white roses slung over my shoulder. I heard her reply just as I reached the roof.

"Oh shut up—" Ran stopped, gaping. "Shinichi!"

Snow swirled around her as it kicked up from other rooftops and the street, where cars whizzing by blew more up at us. It was blindingly bright out, making her martial arts uniform stand out all the whiter. Her hair had a golden halo of sunlight on the top of her head. It resembled Kazuha's, tied back in a high ponytail.

"Although I wonder if I should even think of approaching you while you're practicing karate outside with gigantic boots that could raze my head," chuckled, smirking.

"Yeah, probably not a good idea," she said curtly as she approached me. I winced and stepped back. "And where in the world have you been?"

"Uh..." I trailed off as she stepped right up to me, her face inches from mine. "I, uh—" My heart kicked itself into high gear, thumping away in my throat.

"Why do you do this to me? Make me wait for so long..." she moved in closer; I had to say something before all of this went to hell.

"It's me, it's Heiji. Kudou's still gone," I told her in Kansai.

"I know." And her lips were on mine. "I miss both of you," she said sadly when she pulled away.

"N-neechan. I can't do this," I said in a low voice, not even trying to hide its shaking. Holding her shoulder, I resisted resting my forehead against hers. "And you got some of my make-up on you." She had kissed the corner of my mouth, and now off-white coated the left half of her lips.

"I know. It tastes like battery acid."

"What about Kudou?"

"You're always here for me. He's not," she whispered, looking down at my chest. Tears slipped silently down her face. Pulling my hands back, I turned away from her. "Hattori-kun. Just let me pretend to be happy, even for one day." A light touch to my shoulder, and I broke.

"That's not fair, Neechan." But she snaked her arms around my waist from behind. I held her smaller hands in my gloved ones; putting on gloves was easier than painting my hands. After a moment fiddling with my hands, she pulled the gloves off so I could feel her skin. "I want to take care of you. While he's gone. But..."

"Ran-neechan! God knows why you let Uncle and me cook it, but breakfast is ready!" came a high voice and quick little footsteps that were soon muffled by the snow. Then he stopped; Ran released me when Conan came into view, wiping quickly at her mouth. "Shinichi-niichan," he bit through a glare.

"Hey, Conan-kun!" I announced suddenly cheerfully in Tokyo dialect. "Well, I better be off. Later, little guy."

I threw the flowers in Detective Mouri's face on my way out.