Life's a War, And Right Now, I'm Loosing, -Conan, Kogoro, open-

[Mouri_Ran]

Peace wasn't a word in the dictionary at the Mouri household. It was nothing more than a past thought, a fleeting thought that had ever since dissappeared, disappeared the day that Shinichi did. It was also a state of mind Mouri Ran had given up on since that day. She was constantly pushed and pulled by emotions and duties, pushed and pulled by her father's work and her studies. She felt like nothing but a rope used in tug-of-war. It was a war between school and her father, Conan and Shinichi, duty and emotion, her father and her mother, and these were wars she was tired of.

She had grown tired of almost everything lately, including her father. She kept him at a shorter leash than normal as she did Conan. While she allowed the near seven-year-old to do as he pleased, she kept a close eye on what he was doing all the time, making sure he didn't get in too much trouble, as he was prone to do. Mysteries just seemed to follow the kid around like a shadow. Wherever he went there were murders, kidnappings, and even robberies. There had even been a few cases with the illustrious Kid that seemed to revolve solely around Conan. It was eerie, but it also reminded her so much of Shinichi. Who else could ride a roller coaster the day after busting a case and be privy to a beheading. Only Kudo Shinichi fit into that category. Only Shinichi.

Ran sighed, plopping down on a couch and popping open a soda. She took a long swig, closing her eyes as the carbonation tickled her mouth and throat, and then opened them again to grab the remote to the TV. With the single push of a button the contraption whirred to life, the fading tones of a Yoko Ono concert echoing around the room. Ran could scaresely believe how long it had been since those first cases of theirs, and she could hardly believe how much her father had progressed up the Private Investigator ladder. And the higher the rung he was on, the harder and more gruesome the case. However, "Sleeping Kogoro" always prevailed.

As a slight burning smell wafted through the air, Ran jumped up in terror and sprinted to the kitchen, a wailing scream left behind in the living room. "My lunch!" She ran to the oven, opened it, and waved away the steam that rose out of it. As she examined the breadsticks and cookies inside, she smiled in relief. They seemed fine, but they were almost done. As Ran fished some oven mitts out of the various drawers in their kitchen, the tones of a new song echoed throughout the apartment, keeping her company as she awaited the arival of the two boys she was determined to feed.

And yes, her father was still a boy in her eyes. He certaintly acted like one.

[Edogawa Conan]

Conan walked through the busy streets of Tokyo, heading home. He had just gotten away from the Detective Boys with a good excuse of having important business. After addressing that to them, he ran, not wanting to explain what it was.

He knew they would want to go with him, but he rather go alone. After all, it was just an excuse to head home. Ran was expecting him for lunch like every other day, except if he had phoned otherwise.

Cases passed by here and there. That was all that was in his mind currently, especially those men in black. He had gotten used to being a kid now, but still concentrated on his mission.

“Leads… Last time, we were close, but…” He shook his head, stopped, looked both ways, and crossed the street.

He was almost home. He could see the apartment, and the words, “Mouri Detective Agency” written on the window. Crossing the street, and he was at the steps. He climbed all the way to the top, stopping to see if Mouri was in his office as usual. Sighing, the boy headed up.

“I’m home!” He yelled taking off his jacket and reaching up to hang it by the door. “Has Uncle returned?”

He made his way to the kitchen to see what the teenager was up to. He knew before he stepped in though, smelling the baked cookies.

((OOC: Yes! 100th post ^^))

[Mouri Ran]

"Lalala"
Ran sang and hummed along to the music of Yoko that came from the TV. She wasn't a big a fan as her father, but listening to him listening to HER so many times, had gotten her pretty accustomed to her music.. Though she wondered how much of her music her dad really liked.

“I’m home!” Ran heard, waving air across the cookies in hopes of cooling them quicker. She smiled at his little boy tone of voice, knowing instantly that it was Conan. And she smiled even more when he appeared. It was always good to know he was safe. She knew that he, for the most part, could take care of himself, but she just couldn't help but worry from time to time. Especially with the business her father was in and how mixed in to that work Conan tended to get. Oh.. He reminded him so much of Shinichi...

"No dad hasn't returned" She sighed, and hoped that he too was safe. Though most likely sitting at a bar.

"How was school Conan-kun?" She asked pleasantly while smiling at Conan. "If you tell me a good story, you can have some of my cookies that I made." She teased him by putting a warm, delicous smelling cookie in front of him and then taking it away. She planned on giving him the treat either way, but as the "big sister" or so she acted, she also felt he had to earn her hard work.

She brushed some of the dough that was still stuck on her apron and smiled at him. "Well?"

[Edogawa Conan]

Looking about, Conan would make his own conclusions on where Mouri Kogoro was. He didn’t see him at the office, and his shoes are not lying around the front door. Shrugging, Conan slid off his shoes, and proceeded into the kitchen after placing his brown backpack beside the coffee table.

Making his way slowly into the kitchen, he could smell the day’s afternoon meal. Conan made his way to the opposite end just in case she still needed to prepare.

The boy nodded to the answer of her question. Where would Mouri be? Maybe he was called on a case, but then again he would have phone. Sighing, he wondered if the old man did have a case, if he would be able to solve it. Conan nodded, “He solved many cases without my help.” Conan mumbled.

“School?” He muttered involuntarily. How was it? It was the same thing, Boring, but at least he had Haibara Ai to talk to. “I had lots of fun Ran-neechan! We played a fun game today, and at recess the Detective Boys and I played soccer again with upper-classmen.” He stated proudly. Anything would answer that question. If she knew his secret, and he would have said it was boring, and that it was easy beating the third graders.

Conan’s head tilted. He answered her question, did this mean he gets a treat?

[Mouri Ran]

She smiled brightly at Conan and patted his head. "Is that so?" she giggled. "Well sounds like you had fun." And with that she handed out the hostage cookie she was holding on to and gave it to her adorable little friend.

She lifted herself up, from the ducking she was doing to talk to Conan, and dropped all the cookies from the cookie sheet onto a bowl.

"You know, Shinichi used to love these" she told Conan, reminiscing once more.

She sighed, looking a little forlon, and took one of her cookies in hand. "Conan can I tell you something?" She asked softly, without sign of whether it was good or bad. "But its just between us okay?" She smiled and winked at Conan, knowing well that she could trust him.

"well.." she began..

[Edogawa Conan]

Conan just chuckled slightly, glancing between her and the cookie. He would nod to her, take the cookie, and take a bit for her satisfaction. He then smiled, giving her feedback on her cooking. She sure knew how to bake great cookies.

His smile would soon fade at the mention of Shinichi. Maybe he should try to call her soon. It seemed the right day. Then, after today, she would be herself till something else reminded her of him, or so he thought.

He wouldn’t remind her of his cell number she had saved in her phone. There was no way he was going to; considering the phone would be ringing at the same place.

Nodding with a small smile, he waited to her tale.

((*cough* The phone thing... episode 400 I think))

[Mouri Ran]

She knew she could trust him. Sure he was just a boy, still going on about life. But there was something in him, a spark, some chemistry, whatever you wanted to call it, that just let her know that with Conan, everything would be okay. He was young, but he was a smart, he was young, but he was one of her best friends.

Sometimes she needed her girlfriends.. but other times she needed Conan.

"Well.. you see Conan-kun.." She took a bite out of her cookie and swallowed. "I.. I don't know i've been feeling a bit down lately. I don't know why and.. it just feels like everything is against me.." she spoke softly and her voice continued to get softer. "and i'm only one person.. I can't do it all.. but there's a war out there and i'm losing."

She finished up her cookie and then shook her head, back to the smiling Ran she had come to be. She knew that despite it all she had to be strong. "well I just needed to say that ne?" She laughed, holding back tears. She couldn't show that to him. "See I feel better already! Arigatou for listening Conan-kun."

Then she removed her apron and left the kitchen.

[Edogawa Conan]

The suspense was just killing him. What was she going to say? The detective would just smile, tilting his head slightly. Was it Shinichi that was bothering her? The boy tried his hardest to let out any phrase, or even bring up a subject for that matter. Anything would do to get Shinichi out of her head.

Despite his efforts to think of anything clever, Conan looked down at the floor, occasionally staring up to meet her eyes. What would she say?

A war? The detective asked himself, biting down on his lower lip. Tears were visible to his eyes. That wasn’t a good sign. What’s the matter, Ran? the young boy bit back. There was nothing he could really say to comfort her, like all other times.

Whatever it meant though, she found a solution as the seven-year-old nodded his head with a smile. “G-gambatte ne, Ran-neechan.” Conan chirped. “I just know you can do it!” Her thank you was repaid with a smile, and he waited for her to leave before his smile faded and thought a moment on what could be troubling her. Would she tell Shinichi?

Walking into the living room, he watched Ran for a bit. Maybe she would suggest for them to do something to get her mind off things. Watch a movie, or go for a walk. That sounded fine to him.

[Mouri Ran]

Ran sighed. She felt much better to get all that business off her chest, but at the same time it brought the feelings back up and she was feeling melancholy again. She smiled when from the corner of her eye she saw Conan following her. At that point, realizing that if she didn't have Conan, she probably would be much worse off. She closed her eyes and in silent prayer thanked the heavens for whoever it was that brought Conan into her life.

As a thank you, Ran thought, she should do something nice in return for him. It was the least she can do for Conan always watching out for her and giving her a listening ear. Since she always seemed to lay her most personal problems to him more than anyone. Even more than her father or Serena.

Well that settled it! Ran stood up straight and knew what she had to do. She would make this Conan's special day. Anything and everything that he wanted.

She walked over and picked Conan up and set him on the edge of the sofa so that he would be eye level with her.

"Conan-kun, lets take you out to eat!" she said cheerily. "anywhere you want to go. ANYwhere at all! And whatever else you want. Lets make this your special day, nee?" She winked at him and hoped he didn't already have plans.