Prologue
Ran woke up to the beeping of medical machines all around her. She felt heavy, as if she would never be able to raise a hand or her head up from the bed she was in. Her skin itched as if she had been in contact with the same surface for so long her dead skin had not been washed away for a while. She opened her eyes and was met with mild blue light. She blinked to get her surroundings into focus. She was in a hospital room and it was night. The only light on was the ambient light. She tried to remember why she was there but her head hurt and she decided to try for something else. Her name: Ran Mouri. Her age, 17, her birthday: 7th Julie, her father Kogoro, her mother Eri, her boyfriend Shinichi Kudo. And something inside her felt like crying. Memories of the night after her birthday came flooding in. the men in black coats, the chase, the shooting. She felt her eyes filling with tears. Shinichi, they said he was dead. But she knew differently in her heart. She knew it could not be true. Still her heart started beating erratically, the machines spiked and the beeping intensified and the room was flooded with people she did not know, doctors, nurses. She wanted to get up but they held her down, saying something to them, something she could not quite understand, until all her struggles were met with darkness.
The second time she woke up it was day light and her father and mother were there with her.
'Ran.' Her father started crying when he saw her eyes open.
'Otou-san. Okaa-san.' She felt her voice break from lack of use.
'It's ok, dear, you have been in a coma for 3 months. Take it easy.' Her mother looked at her with tears in her eyes but she was stronger than her husband, she didn't let them fall, at least not in front of her daughter who needed strength above all now.
3 months? Ran had lost 3 months of her life. What else had she lost?
'The doctors say you will make a full recovery. They will keep you here for another week though, just to make sure and then, we can all go home.' Her mother added.
'All?'
'Yes dear, your father and I are back together.'
Ran smiled at that. Finally her parents were back together.
'Where is Conan-kun?' she asked. The little guy was surely crazy with worry, 3 months. That was such a long time.
Eri and Kogoro exchanged careful looks but Ran saw them none the less.
'What happened to Conan-kun? Where is he?' she felt her heart speeding with dread.
'Nothing happened to him dear.' Her mother said smiling 'His family had to come and pick him up. He went back home.'
'I see.' Ran said calming down a bit. Still, something inside her felt that there was more to the story than her mother was letting on.
'In any case, Sonoko-chan and a couple of other friends would like to see you. I can tell them to come back later if you are tired and want to rest.'
'No!' Ran said immediately 'I slept for 3 months, I am rested enough.' She smiled at the thought of seeing her friends again.'
'Very well. We'll send them in.' Kogoro kissed Ran's forehead before he and his wife exited the room. A few minutes later in came Sonoko who lasted a total of 3 seconds before flinging herself at Ran and crying her eyes out saying that Ran was a horrible friend for making her go through all that.
'Sonoko, it's all right. I am well again. I am sorry.'
'Just don't do that again.' Sonoko finally managed to calm down and give Ran a big smile.
'So, what have I missed in the past 3 months?'
'Well, nothing new at school, same old same old. Everyone is going to be happy to see you back.'
'Shinichi?'
Sonoko fell silent. 'Ran. I don't know how to tell you this. I thought your parents told you.'
'Sonoko, you're scaring me.'
'It's just. Shinichi is-'
'Don't!' Ran screamed suddenly. 'Don't say it please. I can't hear it just yet.' She felt her eyes filling with tears.
'I am sorry.'
Ran swiped at her tears furiously. She had to push that information back. She knew it was a false information. She knew it, but somehow hearing it, she knew it would break her heart. 'How was Conan-kun when he went away with his family?'
'Oh, he was good, or so I hear. I was not there when it happened. Just your dad and professor Agasa and Ai-chan.'
'I see.'
'Speaking of, the detective boys are here too. They want to see you.'
'Oh, call them in. They are so much fun, I think I need a bit of fun right now.' She swiped her tears one more time.
The day passed by fast with the children there and Sonoko filling her in on the new developments at school. Turs out same old same old was filled with crazy stories and new things. Ran got herself distracted and enjoyed every moment of it until night fell and she was left alone. She got out of bed on shaky legs and looked outside her window. It was a rainy October day and something of the coldness she felt through the window glass resonated with her numbed heart. She knew what Sonoko failed to tell her about Shinichi. She knew but refused to believe it, still she couldn't help the feeling of dread that came over her every time she thought of her best friend and love of her life.
She shook herself. Damn it Ran, this is no way to think. Shinichi is alive, and you will see him again. She slapped her face with both her hands and went back to bed. She was tired and sleep took her soon enough.
The week passed by and she would be sent home the next day when Heiji and Kazuha came for a visit.
'Ran-chan!' Kazuha hugged her 'We would have come sooner but-'
'It's Ok Kazuha-chan. How are you two? How is everything in Osaka?' she smiled brightly.
'You know, everything is still the same. Heiji is still an idiot who solves cases and I am still stuck making sure he doesn't get into real trouble.'
'Oi, you. Who is getting who out of trouble?' Heiji retorted.
'That would be me getting you, Aho, out of trouble.'
'Oh, yeah, and what about last week, when you were almost mugged by those guys?'
'I could have handled them fine myself.' Kazuha dismissed him.
'Right! Well next time you start screaming for help I'll let you handle it yourself.' Heiji huffed and Ran started laughing. Those two never change.
The two Osaka-residents looked at their friend laughing. And smiled
'It's good to see you like this again.' Heiji said.
'Well, 3 months was a long time. I am eager to get back up at 100%.' She smiled at the two friends.
'That also includes getting some meat on you girl. You lost too much weight.' Added Kazuha
'Yes, true.'
'I'll go down to the restaurant, see if they have anything better than this hospital food.' Kazuha smiled and dashed out when Ran smiled at her.
Heiji was left alone with her.
'Heiji-kun. You won't lie to me.'
'Ran-san…'
'No, first listen. You are Shinichi's best friend. Everyone wants me to believe he is-.' Ran shook away the tears threatening to fall 'Tell me the truth.'
Heiji sighed 'Here. This is for you.' He gave her an envelope 'He left it for you.'
Ran took the envelope with trembling hands.
'I'll give you some privacy.' Heiji left her feeling like a coward. He couldn't tell her. He left it to the letter.
Ran moved from the bed to the chair next to the window. And opened the letter
Ran,
If you are reading this it means that I have failed and I can't come back to you as I promised I would. I promised I would tell you everything once the case I was working on would be solved. I am sorry, I couldn't solve it. It was too big, even for the great detective of the East.
I want you to know that I love you, I loved you from the first moment you smiled at me in kindergarten. You were the one thing that made me strong though out all the ordeal. Your smile and your kindness, please don't ever lose them. I want you to promise me, even though I know I have no right to ask after breaking my promises to you, I want you to promise me. Live your life to the fullest. Smile every day. Laugh hard. Love harder. And please, forget me and the pain I caused you. This way I will be happy, knowing that you are happy too.
I love you,
Shinichi.
Ran felt the tears swelling in her eyes. This was it. This was the end. She felt herself numb with pain. Her vision was blurry with tears but she managed to hold them in. He was gone, she would never see him again. It was over. A part of her wanted to go back into the blissful oblivion that had been the coma. But she knew it was not possible, unless she did something stupid and she couldn't bring herself to give this pain to her parents and friends. This pain that meant a loved one was lost to you forever.
'Shinichi, you idiot!' she whispered as she let her head fall back on the ledge of the armchair. She looked up at the ceiling blinking rapidly to shove the tears away. Her heart was beating slowly, but she heard every beat as she counted, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8…the heartbeats she was taking without her love next to her. It was foolish, because, she knew, he had been gone from her side for far longer than that, but in her mind, this moment right here, marked the beginning of her life without him. And the count continued on in the back of her mind as she pulled herself up.
Live your life to the fullest. Smile every day.
Yes, she would do that, for everyone in her life, she would do that.
'Ran?' Kazuha came in with a tray of food.
'Kazuha-chan, good I am starving.' She set the letter back in the envelope and with a smile on her face, greeted her friend.
Well what did you guys think? I am not always up to speed on what happens in Detective Conan since I don't follow it closely but I was feeling nostalgic one day when I came across one of the movie clips and this little story took shape in my head. It's mostly going to be small episodes in the lives of Ran, Kazuha and occasional appearance from Ai and Aoko and naturally the detectives will be there too at some point or another. Hope you enjoy it as much as I liked writing it.
