Welcome to Real Life

What if the life you were living wasn't real? Everything thing you thought to be true, just a dream and the friends you once held so dear, figments of your imagination.

The crushing weight of the snow bore down on to Shinichi's body. He could feel his mind and strength slipping away. Working against his protesting muscles Shinichi struggled to reach his phone or the soccer ball belt. Giving up he let his hand fall. He just didn't have the strength or, to his surprise, the will to continue. Closing his eyes he drifted asleep.

Chapter One: What's real isn't always real

The smell of disinfectant and alcohol drifted lazily in Shinichi's fogged mind. Slowly opening his eyes he blinked against the white fluorescent bulbs. Squinting he focused on the sprinkler just a few inches away from the light. Closing his eyes again he groaned and choked. There was something pressing uncomfortably against his voice box. Focusing on that he realized it wasn't just his voice box his was his esophagus. He could feel a smaller tube in his nose and soft air blowing gently threw it. Panic crept along his nerves and he could hear his heart rate spike in the monitor next to him.

As he tried to raise his head to look around, exhaustion worked into him. Sighing he collapsed against the pillows and looked around the room with his eyes. He continued to struggle to gag against the tube. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes when he coughed. The door to the room opened and a surprised gasp reached his ears. Turning his head to the door he watched a nurse drop her clipboard and race out calling for a doctor.

Controlled chaos erupted around him and added even more confusion. Two things kept racing threw his mind: Where was he and where is ran?

"R-ran …" It was a horse whisper but it caught everyone's attention. "Where is …"

"Easy now …" A gentle voice echoed above him and gentle hands laid themselves on to his shoulder.

He looked up at the nurse before and his brows knitted together. The door slid open again and he could smell his mother's favorite perfume drift toward him. He swung his head faster than he wanted and winced as pain bloomed behind his eyes.

Yukiko looked so much older, still beautiful, but Shinichi could see evidence of stress and worry on her face. He could help but think about what caused so much age in his mother's face. He saw tears roll down her face and his knitted his brows again. His mother raced to his side and hugged him tightly as if she hadn't seen him in years. Glancing over her shoulder his father also enveloped him in a hug. Tears were also running down the man's aged face. Fear swallowed Shinichi. Pushing them back he stared into their faces.

He studied the relief and happiness there. He also noted the fear and shock. Using them as support he inched up into a sitting position. Even though he was panting by the time the task was done it felt good to a least see people on an even level. Getting his breathing under control he looked at his hands. Surprise threw itself in to Shinichi's face. They were of normal size. Looking at the rest of his body he felt excitement swim into him. Looking back at his parents he saw not happiness for his discovery but nervousness. As if they were afraid he was going to crack. He blinked.

That's was what they were scared of. They were scared he was going to lose his mind any second but why. He couldn't have been happier to be back.

"Shinichi … I want you to try to remain as calm as you can." His father started and gripped the back of his son's neck.

Shinichi could feel his usual calm mask slip into place and steeled himself for what his father had to say. Glancing at the doctor's briefly his mother stood and shooed them out. Tension he didn't realize that was there dissipated.

"What do you remember?" His father asked softly.

What did he remember? Shinichi arched an eyebrow to the question. He remembered everything but the last thing he did remember was snow and lots of it; the thunderous rumble of the avalanche and a heavy weight on his chest. Looking at his father he went to answer when he heard tire's squealing and a flash of headlights. Grasping his head he blinked. He had no idea where that had come from. He looked up at his parents a watched them share a look.

"I remember … an avalanche …" He mumbled softly and looked at them nervously.

"Huh?" Was the reply he got from both of them.

Shinichi blinked again and explained in detail.

His parents stared at him in confusion. Shinichi sighed and ran a hand threw his hair and tried to explain again, before his father walked away to the TV in the corner of his room. It was on but just muted. Shinichi looked at it and watched images flash on the screen of the same avalanche but instead of it swinging off course like he had hoped the village was buried underneath. As the news reporter explain Shinichi felt a chill slip down his spine. The Touto line was also put on hold because of a bombing the governor was also dead. Staring at the baby blue bed spread Shinichi felt his breath constrict. Something was off. In his gut he could just feel it.

"What about Ran?" He asked scared to hear the answer.

There was silence and his parents were looking at each other, again, completely lost.

"Mouri Ran! You know my childhood friend!" Shinichi snapped.

His mother stood a placed a comforting hand on his. "Shinichi you haven't been friends with Mouri-san since the first grade."

Shinichi stared at her in shock. "What?"

She slowly sat on the edge of his bed. "Sweet heart … You got hit by a car when you were 9. You have been in a coma since then. You just woke up."

"How old am I?" It felt kind of stupid to ask but it would help him get a bearing.

"24." Yuusaku answered.

"14 years! I have been asleep for 14 years!" Shinichi shouted and instantly regretted it. His throat screamed in agony.

His mother slipped a glass of water into his hand and he took gentle sips. He eased back against his head board. Shock frayed his nerves to tattered shreds. He didn't know what to say; hell he didn't know what to think! Numbness crept on to him. He forgot about his parents and sat there.

He registered the doctors walking back in checking vitals asking tons a questions and then his parents reluctantly leaving. He didn't remember falling asleep till he woke up. There was a full moon. His mind wondered to KID. Was he real or just another imaginary person. That choked a sob from him. Everything he thought he went through was a lie. None of it was real. Curling into a little ball he cried softly in self-pity.

About two weeks later and millions of tests he was able to leave the hospital. As he dressed on wobbly legs he heard the door to his room slide open and his parents talking to someone. The hushed nervous tones had him curious. Looking up into the mirror he stared at his reflection. The same cowlick stood up in the back. Tired dark blue eyes stared back at him. Hanging his head he rested his hands against the sink and closed his eyes. He wanted to scream. Throw things … and sob like a child. Pain bloomed under his palms. Hissing he stared at his hands. Grinning weakly at the half moon crescents he cursed himself.

There was a soft click from the door as it opened and he looked over his shoulder at his father. Rinsing his hands in the sink he held his face steady against the sting.

"Shinichi … there is someone we want you to meet."

He turned and wiped his hands dry. "Oh."

His father motioned for him to fallow him outside.

"Shinichi … this is Conan … Your little brother."