Leaderboard

Shinichi blinked, then whispered back, "Are you sure? Who is it?" After a second, he added, "Then you're the ally?" With a wink, Sera grinned, replying, "Yup~ And I figured the second I saw you that you were on my side... The guy who called said there were two others: a rival and a 'third.' The rival is Bourbon." Shinichi froze. "Ah- y- you know about the Black Organization? How-?" Sera sighed, "Ya know, you're pretty dense. I'm not gonna tell you how I know who they are, but I will say that Amuro Tooru was following me on the way here. He's definitely on this train somewhere." Shinichi twitched. "And... you know that Amuro is Bourbon... is there anything you don't know about the situation?" For a moment Sera frowned, thinking. "Yeah... I'm not sure who the third person is. I have no clue whether they're an enemy or an ally... I don't even know their gender or age. All I know is that they're either in Osaka now, or on this train." The two stood together cautiously until the train halted, looking out for anyone acting suspiciously. When there was no development after most of the other passengers had left, they stepped out onto the platform, studying the station. Sera walked straight up the stairs and headed outside with a confused Shinichi in tow. "Where are you going?" "A little while after I got on the train, I found a paper in my motorcycle helmet telling me where to go next. Sorry, I forgot to mention it..." She crossed the street the moment the 'walk' signal appeared, adding, "This baggage claim ticket was wrapped in the message, for number thirteen at Osaka's Kansai Hotel." Sera pointed up at the building before them; sure enough, the huge Kansai Hotel was there, looming over their path. "C'mon, Kudo-kun." Shinichi nodded and followed, annoyed that he was being led around by the other detective, but relieved that he at least knew who his enemy was. "Amuro..." Sera marched up to the counter, setting her claim ticket in front of the woman at the desk. "Oh, number thirteen..." She pulled a slender envelope from a cubby behind the desk, sliding it across the table to Sera. "Here you are, sir..." Sera's shoulders dropped. "It's... ma'am." The woman blinked. "Oh, I'm so sorry ma'am, it's just that, well... You're a bit petite, and with the short hair and the hat, I just thought..." Sera waved it off with an awkward grin. "Don't worry about it, that happens all the time..." She shuffled back to where Shinichi stood waiting and tore open the envelope. After reading the instructions she handed him a folded sheet of lined paper, said, "The hint is 'double-agent...'" and walked off. "Oi, where're you going?!" Sera shrugged. "My instructions said to give you the hint and the paper, and go investigate whatever I thought was relevant. I guess we're supposed to work separately, but toward the same end..." She waved and disappeared through the front doors of the hotel. Shinichi sighed and opened the paper he'd been given, reading it silently. 'Kudo Shinichi, no doubt you have discovered the names of the enemy and ally by now... Your other opponent is the one who will be monitoring you for me on an initiation mission. The third is my newest acquisition: Amontillado.' From across the lobby, a girl with blood-red hair watched Shinichi's movements. The smile returned below her blue-grey eyes as from her headphones, a voice finished its recital. "In pace requiescat."

The bullet train into Osaka left the platform at 9:37 am. From within the crowd of passengers a pair of eyes locked onto Shinichi, and the lips below them curved into a smirk of recognition. Feeling the pricking sensation between his shoulderblades, he glanced around, but no one appeared to be looking in his direction. With a sigh of relief the detective tugged his hood down further over his face. It's crazy to go out in public as myself... but if the Organization already knows I'm alive, there's no way to avoid it. He stood there amongst the other seatless riders, his thoughts occupied and his palms sweating. Shinichi gripped the cell phone that sat in his right pocket, which was set on vibrate in case the caller decided to contact him. Without knowing why, he felt that he wouldn't be called until he left the train in any case. Whoever organized this is watching. Most likely he planted one of the passengers. He studied the other Osaka-bound men and women, looking for someone who was alert, secretive, out of place... Like myself, he realized. I'm an easy target to spy on. I make it so simple to pick me out of a crowd... With a sigh he turned his attention back to the people around him, studying everyone's movements and expressions; An old grey-haired man with glasses stood quietly reading a brochure. When he noticed Shinichi, he smiled. "Good morning, young man," he said brightly. Shinichi blinked, replying, "Ah good morning, sir." The old man held up what he had been reading; "This is a map of all the places I'm going to visit in Osaka today~" Shinichi couldn't help but smile at the chipper personality of the fit, positive elderly man. With a nod, the old man returned to his reading, and Shinichi allowed himself another careful look around. A neatly dressed businessman favoring his left foot was leaning against the wall and checking his watch impatiently. He shook his head and tapped the watch impatiently, but didn't seem to notice Shinichi. Three teenage boys in baseball uniforms stood together, talking animatedly and high-fiving from time to time. One had buzzed black hair and glasses, and another close-cropped blonde hair and expressive brown eyes. The third, who was tall and muscular, snickered and slapped his friend on the back. As Shinichi studied them, the blonde one turned and gave him a thumbs up. "You goin' to the game too? It's us against Osaka's minor leaguers." Shinichi paused before replying, "Yeah... A friend and I are coming to watch." As they broke eye contact, he bit his lip. A baseball stadium would be a great place to meet with his 'ally' and discuss the contest in confidence. That was, if the caller didn't bug them or send someone to trail them. He shook his head and continued searching. A mother and son stood together, the mom trying to fix her child's messy brown hair. Neither of them even glanced his way. A girl in a collared shirt and tie stood staring out the window, a pair of headphones in her ears. Shinichi stared at her hair for a minute, which was cropped short and dyed a dark, blood red. She glanced his way, then smiled lightly, turning her attention back to the scenery and mouthing the words coming from her mp3 player. Shinichi could just make out the word, 'Nevermore...' He raised an eyebrow at the strange girl's actions, then shrugged. As he turned his head, a pair of swamp-green eyes locked on to his. "Kudou Shinichi..." "Ah- I..." Sera grinned. "You're Ran-chan's boyfriend! Kudo-kun, right?" Shinichi froze. "Masumi Sera-san?" The shorter detective nodded. "I guess Ran-chan told you about me!" She held out a hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Kudo-kun." Shinichi took her hand and shook it. "You too, Sera-san..." He sighed... No one's observing me. I'm too worked up. Sera frowned and grabbed the sleeve of Shinichi's jacket, pulling him close enough that she could whisper, "The rival of the game is on this train, as is the third..."

Conan was torn from his sleep by the melody of Nanatsu No Ko. Shaking his head he grabbed the phone, adjusting his voice-changer before answering the call. "Hello, this is Kudou," he said in Shinichi's voice. The reply came a moment later, in a voice that was obviously disguised. "Kudou Shinichi... you have been chosen to participate in my game... a deduction contest, if you will." Conan frowned; a contest? But he'd asked Megure over and over not to give his name and number out, and to hush publicity. "No, Megure-keibu did not give me your contact information. I've had it for much longer than that..." He froze, and his breath hitched as he thought of the possibilities; Either it was his dad or Agasa pulling his leg, or... I shouldn't have answered the phone as Shinichi, he realized, his heartbeat moving racing at the same pace as his mind. "From the silence, I assume you've realized who I am aligned with... Good. Now, here's what I want you to do." What have I done? All of the care I've taken not to get caught, to protect Ran and Oji-san... was all of that for nothing?! He swallowed, his breath coming in shallow gasps, as the voice continued. "Aside from the one brought into the game by the FBI, there are three others involved; one is your ally, one is to be your rival, and the third..." He couldn't see it, but Conan knew there was a smirk hidden in the dark silence that followed. "Well, you'll find out soon enough." Conan shook his head. His voice cracked as he asked, "How much do you know?" A snicker came through the receiver, and the reply followed soon after. "You are teenage detective Kudo Shinichi, seventeen when you were attacked by a man known as Gin and fed an experimental poison that failed to kill you... Right now you are hiding out with the famous 'Nemorino Kogoro' in hopes that this black syndicate won't find you and go after those you love... But don't worry, I don't plan on leaking this precious information to the likes of Gin... though Bourbon may find out soon, if he hasn't already... Now, you must take the Bullet Train to Osaka. A representative will meet you there. Your mission will be to unmask the Cat among the Pigeons, or rather, the Pigeon among the Cats..." "And if I refuse?!" Conan was quick to reply. "What will you do?" Another laugh, this one sure and open. "If you refuse to take on the challenge, the rival team will win by default, and I can't guarantee that the circumstances will allow you to concede and part with the prize..." "What is the prize? Who are you? What is this-?" Conan was cut off as the call was ended. "So I have to participate..." He grabbed a coin purse from under the shelf by Kogoro's nightstand, shaking a small red and white pill out into his hand. "Damn, I was hoping to save this to meet Ran on her birthday..." The apotoxin antidote had been one of a dozen Haibara had made over two months ago; when she'd spilled them on the floor, he'd secretly slipped one in his pocket, safe from then until now. There was no way she'd give him one for the contest... she'd tell him to call the police and not get involved, that it was dangerous, that he was a reckless moron... "Yeah, I guess I have to..." After taking some of his clothes from when he'd been Shinichi out of the hiding place behind Kogoro's bookshelf he allowed himself a touch of amusement at Kogoro's expense. "That old man has never found any of my hiding spots, even though he has to constantly hide his extra beer from Ran..." Shaking his head he walked to the bathroom, where he took the capsule and waited for it to take effect. A statement rang through his head as the spasms signaling the approaching transformation began. 'The third... you'll find out soon enough...' What did he mean by that? Who are the three involved? What is the prize? Are Ran and Oji-san safe?!" Twelve minutes later Kudo Shinichi, dressed in a collared shirt, yellow jacket, and blue jeans, left the bathroom and snuck downstairs past Ran's room, leaving the building and heading to the train station. His tracking glasses were in a jacket pocket along with both cell phones and enough cash for a round-trip train ticket and Okonomiyaki. "It's in Osaka... Is Hattori the ally?" Shinichi smiled at the thought of seeing his friend and rival in his true form, at least for a little while... Friend and rival? Then, could he be the rival instead? What if this contest isn't as serious as it seems? His less optimistic side dragged him back to earth. What if it's more so?

"Karasu Naze Nakuno..." Sera rolled over and fumbled for her cellphone from the bedside table, one arm still draped over the pillow covering her face. "What, what?" she mumbled, groggily flipping the phone open. A few seconds later she bolted up and started to throw on her coat. "Third street from the station. Got it." Slipping her goggles on she headed out, grabbing the key for her motorcycle from the desk. Sera stretched and fixed her helmet's chin strap as she climbed on the bike. As a last touch she attached her transceiver to the lapel of her jacket, muttering, "I'm headed to the site now." After pulling out into the street, she added, "He'll be coming too, right?" A smile, hidden by her posture and helmet, flitted to life for a moment, unseen by the caller on the other end of the line. She glanced back as an RX-7 pulled onto the road behind her and the driver smiled. She glared at the person from beneath her helmet, her own smile long gone. "Great..." With a sigh Amuro Tooru set a tray of sandwiches on the table of a grumbling customer. 'Typical picky eater,' he thought. As the customer inspected the third incarnation of his 'ham and tomato on rye with swiss, no crust,' the waiter headed back to the kitchen to retrieve the order of an elderly man two tables ahead. "Karasu Naze Nakuno..." Startled, Amuro set down the empty platter he'd been ferrying the orders on and dug the phone out of his pocket, flipping it open as he stepped into the Cafe Poirot's freezer. "Hello. Ah, yes. On the move... I see. I'll take care of it." In a single motion he closed the cell, stepped out into the kitchen, and dropped his apron on the counter. "Family emergency," he muttered. "I'll be back for the night shift later..." Amuro put in his earpiece as he shifted into second gear two minutes later. Just ahead of him, a thin, boyish teen on a motorcycle cut off a blue convertible. He smiled and slowed, contented to inch along behind her on the way to his destination. "All set," he muttered. Subaru Okiya had finished brushing his teeth and was in Shinichi's library, absorbed in a mystery and a glass of Baker's Mark Bourbon when the call came. "Karasu Naze Nakuno..." Drawn from his book and glass by the tune, he lifted the cell phone from the table beside his chair, pressing the 'answer call' button slowly. "Ah, hello... I'll check that out... Really? That's amusing..." He headed upstairs and stood at the window, waiting until he saw a motorcycle pass with an RX-7 tailing it closely. "Very amusing." With a wry smile, Subaru added, "Uh-huh, I'll see to it." As he walked down the staircase, Subaru allowed himself a laugh. "This case will put everything into place..." At the Mouri Detective Agency, Conan's second phone began to ring, a familiar tune pulling Conan from his sleep.

A girl wearing headphones and an indifferent expression slipped into the bathroom at Kansai Hotel, tugging a change of clothes from her duffel bag. She exchanged her collared shirt and tie for a tee shirt displaying a popular band and a jacket, covering her dark red hair with a black baseball cap turned around backward. She threw out the brown contacts that had been left for her, but set a pair of thick-framed glasses at the bridge of her nose. The mp3 player from her pocket was dropped in the bag, swapped for a paperback book titled, "Best Collected Horror Stories." After depositing the duffel bag behind the baggage claim counter, she opened the book to the most worn, dog-eared page within its covers and began to read as she walked. 'The "Red Death" had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous.' Shinichi read over the letter twice, his hands shaking. The black organization had introduced another member. Amontillado... Someone was following him around, or had planted a tracer on him. He glanced around quickly, but didn't see any familiar faces. With a relieved sigh, he headed outside, following the flow of traffic down the sidewalk and letting his mind wrap around the case. The caller who had forced him to participate in the 'deduction contest,'... presumably that person... wanted him to find the "Pigeon Among the Cats..." He knew that The Cat Among the Pigeons was an Agatha Christie mystery, and the metaphor and hint led him to believe that he was being called upon to do someone else's recon work. There was a mole in the Black Organization; someone aside from Akai Shuuichi and Hondou Hidemi was leaking information to the police or another enemy of the Organization... When he found out who it was, Shinichi knew the Organization wouldn't just let him be... The informant would most likely be killed, used as an example to discourage others from thinking twice about their alignment. I can't let that happen... but- what about the prize he was so keen to tell me existed? What is it that he holds which could compel me to throw another human being's life away? Shinichi was convinced that there was nothing, but a sense of dread gnawed at his resolve... Impulsively he drew the cell phone from his pocket, dialing the number he needed with shaking fingers. His heart beat louder with each second, the ringing driving blind hope into his heart. 'Please, please pick up...' After five eternally drawn out seconds, the call connected. "Shinichi?!" He almost couldn't find the words, but he managed to whisper, "Ran? Where are you? Are you safe?" A laugh, then a heartfelt reply assured him that she was in no danger. "Shinichi, I'm fine. Dad hasn't been on a dangerous case in weeks, and you know he'd never let me get involved... is something wrong?" Shinichi sighed, then replied, "No, nothing at all... I just met the kid with glasses at the train station, and we decided to play some soccer together." That would explain his absence, and the call... "Train station...? Are you able to come to Beika?" Shinichi let out a mirthless breath. "I don't know... I have a short break right now, but not enough to take the train to the city..." He paused, thinking of what he meant to use the emergency antidote for, and added, "But if I solve this case within twenty-four hours, I promise, I'll come see you." Ran was quiet for a moment, then she responded to the words she had hoped to hear for months, a smile countering the tears in her eyes. "Okay... I'll hold you to that, Shinichi." With a grin, Shinichi said, "I've got to get back to work now so I can get that case finished, okay? I'll just bring Conan with me, since it's nothing dangerous." Just as he was about to hang up, Ran asked, "Will you bring Conan-kun with you when you come? I'd rather he didn't take the train back by himself." Cornered and with no excuses, he grasped at straws, trying to come up with a lie that wouldn't hurt anything. "Ah, well... we finished soccer a little while ago. He said he was actually here to visit Hattori on a surprise visit, so he'll be coming back in a day or two..." He didn't add 'as soon as I get out of your sight and change back.' Ran seemed satisfied with the reply, though her response wasn't exactly happy. "Conan-kun's always running off without telling us. Tell him to call me, okay?" "Alright..." Shinichi smiled, adding, "Bye, Ran." After hanging up he realized he was standing still in the middle of the sidewalk, and immediately began walking. At the intersection and to his right was a trolley, ferrying tourists about Osaka on a sightseeing venture. On a whim he jogged up beside it and scanned the vehicle. The old man from the train was sitting at the back, studying the brochure he still held. With a smile, Shinichi climbed the short stair to the cab. "It's nice to see you again, sir," he said. The man looked up from his booklet, then returned the smile and the greeting. "Hello. Are you enjoying the city?" With a nod, Shinichi replied, "Yeah, it's a great place-" The trolley pulled away from the corner, turning just as a teen in a grey jacket and baseball cap was boarding, which threw her across the laps of a couple of passengers. Shinichi was knocked over as well, and he told himself to remember that trolley floors were really uncomfortable to land on. "Oi, watch it!" the girl called, picking herself up and jamming the cap back down on her head. She glared at the driver as she fixed her glasses. The man turned his head slightly. "Sorry, I didn't see you..." With a frown, the girl picked up her book from the floor, situating herself beside Shinichi, who had managed to stand back up. "Sorry 'bout that," she sighed, dusting off her pants. "My fault I almost missed it." She held out a hand. "I'm Natake," she said. "Ah, Kudou," he replied. Then he froze. Great, I just told my name on a crowded trolley... If somebody is watching, I'm a wide open target now... "Kudou-kun, huh? Nice to meet you." She returned to her book without another word, and Shinichi sighed in relief at the dumb luck that for once, someone hadn't recognized his name. Natake, meanwhile, smiled as she finished the story she'd been reading. 'And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.'

This is one of my tons of comics... This one features Natake Erru, my Detective Conan OC and the Black Org. member known as Amontillado. She becomes a classmate of Ran, Sonoko, and Sera, and is the youngest member of the BO at seventeen. She has short cropped hair, dyed the color of blood, and normally wears collared shirts and sometimes backward baseball caps, and constantly listens to and reads Edgar Allen Poe's stories and poems.

New pics:

Awright, here's my thread for the artwork I'm working on. It's mostly going to be pictures or reaction comics of the characters from the books and show I'm working on. They'll likely all be in anime style, although maybe I'll make a few realistic ones every once in a while~ Here's the first, a drawing of Edwin, a main character in the show I'm writing: