Chapter Text
Fluttering his eyes open, Conan fully woke up from sleep, only to find himself in a strange, traditional-styled room. He turned around to see Ran and Kogoro, who have also woken up and have hovered around him.
"Oh, Conan-kun! You're finally awake"
"Ran-neechan..? W-Where... Where are we?" He asked, anxiety rapidly rising.
The two turned to each other, then pointed to the room around them. Inside, multiple people were also here. They were their acquaintances, actually, to his shock.
"CONAN-KUN!" Soon, the bespectacled boy was tackled by his friend Ayumi, followed by Genta and Mitsuhiko. Clearly, they were scared. "We're so glad you're safe!".
In his perplexion, Conan turned ahead to see that everyone in his social circle was here. Professor Agasa, who was half-alseep, Haibara, who was with the children, looking very worried, Heiji, who clung protectively with the similarly apprehensive Kazuha, the Tokyo police officers, Megure, Takagi, Satou, Shiratori, Yumi and Kuroda, who were in front of the door, their weapons raised, Sonoko, who just woke up and is clearly disoriented, Seira, who came near her to protect her as well as help her walk. She was accompanied by Mary, who was holding on to Seira for dear life in vigilance. There was also Kisaki, who got up and went over to Ran's side in worry. Surprisingly, Subaru was also there, right behind Seira and Sonoko, so was Amuro, who found himself near the officers alongside Azusa.
"Where are we!?" Conan repeated the question to everyone, his heart thumping in anxiety.
"I don't... know" Replied Ran "I'm pretty sure I was leaving the supermarket with Sonoko and Seira, but then... I don't recall anything".
"I think someone came up from behind us, and this is how we lost consciousness" Sera added.
"Y-yeah, but, like Ran, I don't think i remember" Said Sonoko, rubbing her head in a daze.
"I just left my office, but I blacked out shortly after going outside" Kogoro claimed, trying his hardest to remember how he ended up here. He was sure he didn't drink anything.
"Last i remember is me and the kids being at the aquarium" Agasa noted "but you were with us Conan-kun, remember?"
"Yeah, we all were there" said Mitsuhiko "but... why can't we recall it?!"
"Why hello, everybody!" An unfamiliar voice came from the direction of the door. There stood a woman with long greenish black hair wearing white and purple traditional Japanese clothing, a headpiece that resembles animal ears, along with more modern bottom jeans. "Been waiting for you to rise and shine".
Needless to say, everyone got into position, frowning at their mysterious kidnapper "And you are?" questioned Amuro and Wakasa.
"Not really important, I'm just a shrine guardian. But if you really want to, I'm Yana. You're now inside of the shrine I'm in charge of".
"What do you want from us? How did you even kidnap us?" Kogoro and Kuroda came up to her and demanded.
"And how's it that you brought everyone even remotely connected to us?" Added Heiji next to him.
"Oh well, I'll cut straight to the chase. All of you, right now, is in deep shit".
...."Huh?" Was the sole response everyone came up with after a brief silence. "W-what do you mean?" Azusa asked hesitantly. Conan, meanwhile, was deathly still at the reply. He had a deep, unpleasant feeling where this is heading, despite not even knowing the woman. The same went for Haibara, Agasa, Heiji, Subaru and Amuro.
"There is a creeping danger that's been hovering around you and none of you are any the wiser. I will help explain this, but first, I'm going to ask you a question".
Everyone looked at each other in qualm, but still feeling slightly hopeful that they're not in danger. An immediate one at least. "What is it?" Asked Seira slowly.
"You all know who Shinichi Kudo is, right?"
The phrase fell like an anvil unto their heads. Why yes, who didn't know about the elusive teenage detective, whose circumstances were shrounded in mystery, and whose current whereabouts are not exactly defined. At least, that's what most people unaware of the truth are thinking. Those who do know are now internally panicking, with Conan trying to subtly message his confidants, dread consuming him. Everyone was here, and if the rythm this woman is going on is any indication, it probably is...
"Yes" was the spontaneous response.
"The 'danger' I was talking about, is something that's been, and still is, chasing him, and it's now on the verge of treatening your livelihoods
"Hence why, it's my current objective to educate you, and hopefully, let you in the know of what you have been missing out".
The group digested the shocking reveal in silence, now feeling as if a huge veil has been lifted. Most notably Ran, Kogoro, Megure and Sonoko, who are aware of Shinichi's mysterious absence, which he claimed was the cause of a difficult case. Even If this vague hazard has anything to do with him, maybe... perhaps they can get the full answers to what's going on to him.
The secretive ones, however, aren't terribly amused...
Heiji suddenly begins laughing out loud, albeit in nervousness, before accosting Yana.
"Okay, so... ya kidnapped us, claimed's all 'bout Kudo out of sudden, and that ya'll help us. But, why should we trust you? Like, whaddaya know 'bout this. I mean, we just met you and ya claim ya know everything. Actually, if ya do, what are ya? 'Re ya even human? I mean, is that an actual tail?!" He argued in length, not missing her bizarre appearance, which baffled most of the group. The fact that this woman claims to know about some seriously private stuff does not bode well, and they're aware of it.
Yana sighed deeply, before saying "Well, about the last part, you're not wrong actually. You shouldn't trust anyone who comes to you and says stuff like this so cavalierly. But as you said, yes, I am what you think it is." She nudged to her vulpine tail, something that caught the ensemble off guard, but still left them quite doubtful. Is she really a spirit?
"Actually, all of you" she pointed at Heiji's chest, but it was clear who she meant "... come to me later, I'll explain" she glanced at Conan, Agasa, Haibara, Seira, Subaru and Mary, as to prove her point. The shrunken detective was deep in thought, fearful about the repercussions of such possible devastating reveal, and so was Haibara. But, if her warning is any indication, perhaps they can put trust in her.
But speaking of her, there was no mistaking everyone was confused about her nature. So Kuroda came up and asked "you said you'll give us answers concerning Shinichi Kudo-kun, what do you mean? Why did you feel the need to kidnap us and start an extravaganza?"
Yana smiled, and approached him "I'm glad you caught on. You're right, it's because I'll be showing you guys a series of recordings about him, and what he's been doing all the time, so that you'll be informed about the trouble you're in and about his current status".
And with that, Yana opened the door, and showed them the way "oh and yeah! There are other guests in the other room!" She glanced to the opposing door. When Ran opened it, she found her mother Eri Kisaki, Yukiko and Yusaku Kudo, Shuukichi Haneda, Jodie Starling, James Black, Andre Camel, Hidemi Hondou, her brother Eisuke, Yuya Kazami, as well as Azusa Enomoto.
"Huh!? M-mom!?"
"Ran!" Eri ran towards Ran and embraced her in relief, before doing the same to Kogoro.
"Whoah! It's you guys!" Yukiko shouted in surprise at the other guests, before running to hug Conan as well "You're here too Shi-Conan-kun! We were so worried"
"Wait! Shinichi's parents?! You're here too?" Ran wondered, stunned.
"We were told you were here too in advance by Yana-san. I guess we're going to be in for a treat"
"Jodie-sensei? Eisuke-kun?!" Sonoko yelped at the sight of their old English teacher and former classmate, while Sera and Amuro frowned at her and the rest of the FBI's presence. They were, however, pleasantly surprised at Subaru's presence, but still cautious when they saw Amuro and Kuroda. "You're here too!?".
"Oh hi, Ran-chan, Sonoko-chan! I'm so happy to meet you again"
"Ran-san!" Ran was shocked to see Eisuke again, just as Sonoko was, "H-Hello, Eisuke-kun. How is it hanging?"
"Oh, it's great. I've never been so liberated. I'm happy to see you two, Conan-kun and Kogoro-san!". Kogoro returned the courtesy, still unable to figure out what's going on, particularly the presence of Rena Mizunashi, who's supposedly on absence leave. Conan, on the other hand, was in a different headspace from others, which stung Eisuke a little.
"Um, Jodie-sensei, who are these?" Asked Sonoko.
"Hey, it's Black-san and Camel-san!" The detective boys, on the other hands, recognized them. "Camel-san is Jodie-sensei's boyfriend!" Ayumi hopefully pointed out. Jodie and Camel got embarrassed that the kids still remember this, while Subaru lightly chuckled, and the two teenage girls beamed "Really, sensei?".
"Um, uhh, y-yeah", "Right now... kinda" Jodie and Camel struggled to come up with a coherent answer.
The rest exchanged greetings. Amuro, or rather Furuya, approached Kazami and they briefed each other on late reveals. Sera, Mary and Shukichi did the same. As did the Kudo elders with Conan and co., who were soon approached by Hidemi. So did the police members. In fact, the only person who was on their devices was Rumi, who was contemplating listening in, but was far more invested in Yana's nature and the implications of her request, so she went to her side instead, waiting for her to make her move.
Yana then walked into the corridor, gesturing to everyone to follow her. When they reached what seemed to be a living room, it was a large space with a huge auditorium set at the back, and a row of seats in front of it, kind of like a home theatre. The mix of the modern and the traditional left everyone in awe, particularly the warm color mixing and architecture.
"Here take your seats". So immediately, everyone made themselves at home and chose places. They felt varying shades of mortification at how quickly they adjusted from such blatantly paranormal happening and forgot it all. They figured out doing what Yana says to do is the best course of action right now, though. The only ones who didn't were those who knew everything about Yana's plan. So naturally, she reacted.
"So you guys, come here with me for a sec" she commanded Conan and his secret keepers to follow her, clearly in what will be a very long conversation. Or at least not a shouting match.
To be continued.