Part 1

Last dance…

"Ran's point of View"

I was standing in the middle of a huge room at first it was scary for it was dark and I could see nothing but slowly there, lights were turned on. First were blue lights, then red then yellow, they came from the sides of what seems like a circular room and as each were lit it looked more like a dance floor… a spotlight shone on me and I looked around…

"You look wonderful" a very familiar voice called out…

I turned my head and saw shining blue eyes… my heart hopped to my throat when that person came near me… it was Shinichi.

"Why do you look so surprised Ran?" he asked me, I felt so many things at that time…

Anger, for the times he left me

Happiness, for having him in front of me

And

Sadness, for that sub-conscious feeling that he'll have to leave again…

I couldn't speak for all the emotions are stuck in my throat… if I ever spoke tears would just fall… so I just stared at my feet to see that I was wearing white high heeled sandals that I don't remember wearing nor buying… and then I saw that I was wearing an off-shoulder red velvet dress… Shinichi touched my face and said, "Would you like to dance?"… This time I had the courage to speak up…"I would if there was music"

He gave me a very charming smile then…

"You're in my arms

And all the world is calm

The music playing on for only two

So close together

And when I'm with you

So close to feeling alive"

The song "So close" by Jon McLaughlin was being played in background… I then took his hand as he escorted me to the middle of the room… at first we just slowly swayed with the music…

A life goes by

Romantic dreams will stop

So I bid mine goodbye and never knew

So close was waiting, waiting here with you

And now forever I know

All that I wanted to hold you

So close

Then as we danced … we owned the dance floor… we were the only ones there it was a very sweet romantic moment and as we turned… many memories surrounded us as if in a video studio with lots and lots of moving projectors all around

So close to reaching that famous happy end

Almost believing this was not pretend

And now you're beside me and look how far we've come

So far we are so close

He held me closer and I rested my head on his shoulder, the memories faded away… he whispered slowly in my ears

"Ran, I want you to always remember… that I'm with you no matter what… I'll always be here to protect you and I love you"

I replied to him "just promise me one thing," he looked at me and I looked at him "to always be honest with me… no more secrets… I mean… I want us to trust each other okay?"

How could I face the faceless days?

If I should lose you now?

We're so close

To reaching that famous happy end

And almost believing this was not pretend

Let's go on dreaming for we know we are

So close

He nodded back…then gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and said "I just want to say goodbye"… the he runs away just waving back at me…the song slowly ended and I sang along

"So close

We are

Still so far"

The next day Yukiko called me up and said "Ran, honey, I don't know how to say this but… Shinichi passed away last night"

I buried my head in the pillow and wondered, "Could that be his way of goodbye?"