What? You thought it was done?
Still deciding if I'm including what's happened on the Island after I started writing this or not. It is in all of their pasts, at any rate. Though it would alter Conan not being straight forward with Kaito in the first part....
Also, fic tag~!
"Ran...?"
"Conan-kun, you're supposed to call me neechan."
"I need to talk with you, Ran."
"...Conan-kun?"
* * *
"Hahahaha! What sort of look is that?!" Erika asked, laughing doubled over in her chair.
Conan managed to keep a straight face rather well. "Lambdadelta insisted," he deadpanned.
"It's twenty sizes too big for a half pint like you!" Erika said.
"I imagine it would have gone to Battler," Conan said, tugging on the edge of the cape. The cape that was far too big for him. It did seem more fit for someone Battler's size than his own.
"You could just shrink it with magic," Erika said with a sneer.
Conan just gave her a deadpan look in return. "Do you wish to begin the game or not?"'
"Oh? So we'll play today? it's been weeks," Erika said.
"I wanted to make sure it would be a worthy story," Conan said. "But it's not like time matters for something that's clearly in your head, right? But let's forget that for now. I need to go over the rules."
"I already know the rules."
"Oh, I don't think you do, since these are my rules."
Erika frowned, but he was the game master. It was pointless to protest before even hearing them anyway. "...fine."
"Rules One, you are not allowed to break Knox's 2nd," Conan said.
"I'm the detective. Of course I won't," Erika said, her tone implying that she thought saying such a thing was a waste of time.
Conan smirked. "Oh, I don't think you understand," Conan said. "You see, I am a real detective. I know how real murder mysteries go. I will be holding you to a more realistic scenario. We are, after all, trying to disprove a witch. That means you will not be permitted to use knowledge from this world on the game board."
"I didn't do such a thing befo-"
"Oh, you did," Conan said. "In my game board, you have to deal with things as a human. That means you will not be aware there are murders to occur unless it becomes obvious. You will not be allowed to run wherever you choose just because of the detective's authority. If you want access to something, it must be gained through natural means, not supernatural. If someone doesn't want you on the scene, you must convince them to do it rationally or sneak in."
"What?!" Erika snapped. If she didn't have the detective's authority, then-
"Of course, when it comes to things like secret passages, should I determine you did honestly look, you will be permitted to find them. You will be able to find clues should you act as a proper detective. When it comes to the 'detective's authority,' it will be permitted for the inanimate, should you gain access to those areas. The people, however, will not be mere 'pieces' to provide information or to be killed or suspected. They will act as real people," Conan said.
"And how can we be sure you'll be fair in deciding if they'll listen?" Erika growled.
Conan was silent a moment. "Edogawa Conan appears to be a child. As such, I have experienced many difficulties in working as a detective. I know perfectly well how adults will treat children who want to investigate. I will even be kind and make it be less work than what I would have to put in to be allowed to investigate after meeting strangers. I will judge all your efforts fairly and have the pieces act accordingly," Conan said and smirked. "Satisfied?"
"Isn't that me depending on the Supernatural?" Erika shot back.
"Oh, this is different. HERE all supernatural means will apply. But here is not the game board. Then again, motivations are a bit different. Here, you are disproving a witch. There, you are trying to find the murderer. You don't necessarily need the murderer to beat me. You just need to be clever enough," Conan said. "The pieces will act fairly and reasonably. I have guaranteed that so you can't complain."
Erika scowled. "...fine. Let's start the game."
"Wonderful," Conan said.
~ ~ ~
"That was quite ruthless of you, Conan-sama," Ronove said, serving him a cup of tea.
Conan shrugged, taking a sip with a brief thanks. "She was too arrogant. This sort of game is boring when one person is too arrogant. And it was too easy before."
"But to even deny her the means to solve the riddle? It was quite cruel," Ronove said with an amused chuckle.
"Oh, I didn't deny her them, exactly. All I did was delay her. It's her fault for trying to convince them the riddle will decide the successor. Natsuhi got all paranoid and started to deny her access to anything strange," Conan said, a bit of a smirk hidden by his tea cup. "Besides, it's no good to end things in the middle of a story."
"Then Beatrice-sama found a companion as bloodthirsty as herself?"
Conan was silent for a moment. "Heh, I guess she did," he said with a mysterious smile.
~ ~ ~
"I can tell, you know~!" Asmodeus said with a wide grin as she perched herself on the arm chair of Conan's seat.
"Tell what?" Conan asked with a flat look.
"I am Asmodeus of lust! Do you think I really wouldn't notice?"
"Notice WHAT, Asmodeus?!" Conan demanded.
"Why, you're conflicted heart. Your objects of lust and love, it's more than one, isn't it~? Ah, you have so much, it's almost a pleasure just to sit beside you. And you're just so CUTE~! Kya~!" Asmodeus declared, pulling Conan into a hug.
"Gah! Let go, let go!" Conan snapped, trying to scramble away from her, and only finally succeeding after a minute and looking quite ruffled.
"So, will you admit it, Conan-sama~?"
Conan shot her a glare, but she met him with a wide smirk, forcing him to look away. "...I know about it already, Asmodeus. There are no secrets that I have from myself."
~ ~ ~
"What do you mean you're taking a break?!" Erika demanded.
"I am taking a break," Conan said flatly, standing up from his seat.
"You can't just leave! That's a forfeit!" Erika insisted.
Conan shot her a cold look. "I am the game master. I decide what's a forfeit. Besides, it gives you time to theorize," Conan said and disappeared in a swarm of golden butterflies.
He locked out the opposition from his room. He had no desire for them to interrupt him and if they really needed him, they could send one of his fur-servants. And he needed the time alone now.
He had done his first Twilight.
"Conan-sama?" Belphegor said.
"I don't want to be bothered. I'm reading," Conan said, choosing to stay curled up in the office chair, holding a book over his face, but not even beginning to register the words.
"...Conan-sama, the book is upside down."
There was an awkward silence at that. "Tch, such a cliche," Conan muttered, closing the book and setting it down.
"We're worried, Conan-sama. You left abruptly and your behavior as is is quite...worrisome," Belphegor said.
"...I killed Shannon," Conan said. "For the story, I killed her. Her and five others."
"She is a piece. A furniture piece at that. We are nothing to concern yourself about," Belphegor said.
"Stop that!" Conan snapped, glaring at the girl.
Belphegor looked taken aback a moment. "Conan-sama, what do you mean?"
"That talk! You're furniture, so I shouldn't care?! They're pieces, so I shouldn't feel bad?! Beatrice is a witch, so I shouldn't care she's dead?! Battler's a fool, so the same for him?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU?!" Conan demanded, standing up. He was still his small size, of course.
But Belphegor couldn't help, but think he was taller, and such a piercing gaze. Not even Rudolf had such a look when she fought him.
Kanon was the only one who came close, when he fought in the second game.
"But...we are nothing to fret over," Belphegor said.
"OF COURSE YOU ARE! That's why I'm fighting," Conan said.
"Was it not a promise?"
Conan looked at Belphegor. It was best she was not Lucifer, for the look was bridging on something along pity. To her, it was fine. She was just furniture, meant to make things easier for others to be slothful.
"You really...don't understand," Conan said. "Why I'm here. Who I am."
Belphegor blinked. "...you are like Beatrice-sama, aren't you?"
Conan smiled sadly. "In a way...but also not," he said and shook his head. "As your master, I order none of you to bother me unless it's an emergency," Conan said with a wave of his hand. "I'm going to sleep."
"...yes, Conan-sama," Belphegor said, bowing and leaving the room in a burst of butterflies.
Conan sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "...trying to do the impossible, to perform magic. Really, it's more something suited to you, Beato, and that guy. But I can't let things go as is, can I? I can't let a mystery beat me. Especially not your world," he murmured to himself before finally going to bed.
Also, fic tag~!
"Ran...?"
"Conan-kun, you're supposed to call me neechan."
"I need to talk with you, Ran."
"...Conan-kun?"
* * *
"Hahahaha! What sort of look is that?!" Erika asked, laughing doubled over in her chair.
Conan managed to keep a straight face rather well. "Lambdadelta insisted," he deadpanned.
"It's twenty sizes too big for a half pint like you!" Erika said.
"I imagine it would have gone to Battler," Conan said, tugging on the edge of the cape. The cape that was far too big for him. It did seem more fit for someone Battler's size than his own.
"You could just shrink it with magic," Erika said with a sneer.
Conan just gave her a deadpan look in return. "Do you wish to begin the game or not?"'
"Oh? So we'll play today? it's been weeks," Erika said.
"I wanted to make sure it would be a worthy story," Conan said. "But it's not like time matters for something that's clearly in your head, right? But let's forget that for now. I need to go over the rules."
"I already know the rules."
"Oh, I don't think you do, since these are my rules."
Erika frowned, but he was the game master. It was pointless to protest before even hearing them anyway. "...fine."
"Rules One, you are not allowed to break Knox's 2nd," Conan said.
"I'm the detective. Of course I won't," Erika said, her tone implying that she thought saying such a thing was a waste of time.
Conan smirked. "Oh, I don't think you understand," Conan said. "You see, I am a real detective. I know how real murder mysteries go. I will be holding you to a more realistic scenario. We are, after all, trying to disprove a witch. That means you will not be permitted to use knowledge from this world on the game board."
"I didn't do such a thing befo-"
"Oh, you did," Conan said. "In my game board, you have to deal with things as a human. That means you will not be aware there are murders to occur unless it becomes obvious. You will not be allowed to run wherever you choose just because of the detective's authority. If you want access to something, it must be gained through natural means, not supernatural. If someone doesn't want you on the scene, you must convince them to do it rationally or sneak in."
"What?!" Erika snapped. If she didn't have the detective's authority, then-
"Of course, when it comes to things like secret passages, should I determine you did honestly look, you will be permitted to find them. You will be able to find clues should you act as a proper detective. When it comes to the 'detective's authority,' it will be permitted for the inanimate, should you gain access to those areas. The people, however, will not be mere 'pieces' to provide information or to be killed or suspected. They will act as real people," Conan said.
"And how can we be sure you'll be fair in deciding if they'll listen?" Erika growled.
Conan was silent a moment. "Edogawa Conan appears to be a child. As such, I have experienced many difficulties in working as a detective. I know perfectly well how adults will treat children who want to investigate. I will even be kind and make it be less work than what I would have to put in to be allowed to investigate after meeting strangers. I will judge all your efforts fairly and have the pieces act accordingly," Conan said and smirked. "Satisfied?"
"Isn't that me depending on the Supernatural?" Erika shot back.
"Oh, this is different. HERE all supernatural means will apply. But here is not the game board. Then again, motivations are a bit different. Here, you are disproving a witch. There, you are trying to find the murderer. You don't necessarily need the murderer to beat me. You just need to be clever enough," Conan said. "The pieces will act fairly and reasonably. I have guaranteed that so you can't complain."
Erika scowled. "...fine. Let's start the game."
"Wonderful," Conan said.
~ ~ ~
"That was quite ruthless of you, Conan-sama," Ronove said, serving him a cup of tea.
Conan shrugged, taking a sip with a brief thanks. "She was too arrogant. This sort of game is boring when one person is too arrogant. And it was too easy before."
"But to even deny her the means to solve the riddle? It was quite cruel," Ronove said with an amused chuckle.
"Oh, I didn't deny her them, exactly. All I did was delay her. It's her fault for trying to convince them the riddle will decide the successor. Natsuhi got all paranoid and started to deny her access to anything strange," Conan said, a bit of a smirk hidden by his tea cup. "Besides, it's no good to end things in the middle of a story."
"Then Beatrice-sama found a companion as bloodthirsty as herself?"
Conan was silent for a moment. "Heh, I guess she did," he said with a mysterious smile.
~ ~ ~
"I can tell, you know~!" Asmodeus said with a wide grin as she perched herself on the arm chair of Conan's seat.
"Tell what?" Conan asked with a flat look.
"I am Asmodeus of lust! Do you think I really wouldn't notice?"
"Notice WHAT, Asmodeus?!" Conan demanded.
"Why, you're conflicted heart. Your objects of lust and love, it's more than one, isn't it~? Ah, you have so much, it's almost a pleasure just to sit beside you. And you're just so CUTE~! Kya~!" Asmodeus declared, pulling Conan into a hug.
"Gah! Let go, let go!" Conan snapped, trying to scramble away from her, and only finally succeeding after a minute and looking quite ruffled.
"So, will you admit it, Conan-sama~?"
Conan shot her a glare, but she met him with a wide smirk, forcing him to look away. "...I know about it already, Asmodeus. There are no secrets that I have from myself."
~ ~ ~
"What do you mean you're taking a break?!" Erika demanded.
"I am taking a break," Conan said flatly, standing up from his seat.
"You can't just leave! That's a forfeit!" Erika insisted.
Conan shot her a cold look. "I am the game master. I decide what's a forfeit. Besides, it gives you time to theorize," Conan said and disappeared in a swarm of golden butterflies.
He locked out the opposition from his room. He had no desire for them to interrupt him and if they really needed him, they could send one of his fur-servants. And he needed the time alone now.
He had done his first Twilight.
"Conan-sama?" Belphegor said.
"I don't want to be bothered. I'm reading," Conan said, choosing to stay curled up in the office chair, holding a book over his face, but not even beginning to register the words.
"...Conan-sama, the book is upside down."
There was an awkward silence at that. "Tch, such a cliche," Conan muttered, closing the book and setting it down.
"We're worried, Conan-sama. You left abruptly and your behavior as is is quite...worrisome," Belphegor said.
"...I killed Shannon," Conan said. "For the story, I killed her. Her and five others."
"She is a piece. A furniture piece at that. We are nothing to concern yourself about," Belphegor said.
"Stop that!" Conan snapped, glaring at the girl.
Belphegor looked taken aback a moment. "Conan-sama, what do you mean?"
"That talk! You're furniture, so I shouldn't care?! They're pieces, so I shouldn't feel bad?! Beatrice is a witch, so I shouldn't care she's dead?! Battler's a fool, so the same for him?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ALL OF YOU?!" Conan demanded, standing up. He was still his small size, of course.
But Belphegor couldn't help, but think he was taller, and such a piercing gaze. Not even Rudolf had such a look when she fought him.
Kanon was the only one who came close, when he fought in the second game.
"But...we are nothing to fret over," Belphegor said.
"OF COURSE YOU ARE! That's why I'm fighting," Conan said.
"Was it not a promise?"
Conan looked at Belphegor. It was best she was not Lucifer, for the look was bridging on something along pity. To her, it was fine. She was just furniture, meant to make things easier for others to be slothful.
"You really...don't understand," Conan said. "Why I'm here. Who I am."
Belphegor blinked. "...you are like Beatrice-sama, aren't you?"
Conan smiled sadly. "In a way...but also not," he said and shook his head. "As your master, I order none of you to bother me unless it's an emergency," Conan said with a wave of his hand. "I'm going to sleep."
"...yes, Conan-sama," Belphegor said, bowing and leaving the room in a burst of butterflies.
Conan sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "...trying to do the impossible, to perform magic. Really, it's more something suited to you, Beato, and that guy. But I can't let things go as is, can I? I can't let a mystery beat me. Especially not your world," he murmured to himself before finally going to bed.