2: Strength

Strength was never Shinichi's best point. His soccer kick was rather admirable, but that's the only thing he's great at. He's never good with fights, much less a criminal with a knife or gun at his throat. But for Ran, that would be a different thing. If a criminal is charging towards her with a knife, she'll karate him. If a criminal is holding her as hostage, she'll just flip him over. And that's something Shinichi could never do with the frail arms of his.

So all he could do was to keep calm and never agitate Ran that much, because a punch from her could be fatal.

But as a child now, Conan didn't have to worry. Ran would definitely not hit him even if he do things that angers her. She would just reprimand and reason with him although every action he did was not because he was playful, such as touching the dead victim's body. It's just too complicated to explain that to Ran now.

And as a child now... he lost his only best strength. Kicking. Yes, he had his power-enhance shoes but when he's wearing slippers or other shoes, it's basically pointless.

That's why Conan was grabbing onto his feet, yowling in pain.

"Conan-kun! What are you doing?" Ran called out as she noticed Conan at the back alley of the agency.

He bit his lips, trying to bear the pain as he pointed at the large boulder on the ground. "It's blocking the small path here. The kittens were trapped inside and they couldn't get out."

Ran stared down at the large boulder, noticing a couple of small kittens scratching the rock with their paw before giving a soft purr. She smiled and placed her school bag on the floor and rolled up her uniform sleeve before carrying the boulder away. It took her quite some effort, but she did it. The kittens immediately crawled out and all of them run off in a flash.

"Now that's settled, you should hurry and go back home Conan-kun. I need to go back to school."

"Eh? Why?"

"I have karate practice later so I'm picking up my stuff first."

They both started walking out of the alley, Conan was not convince. Just earlier this week, Ran said that her Karate training will stop for two months because the karate gym was being renovated. And now she's claiming that she had Karate? How was that possible.

But he'll pretend he didn't know anything...yet

"I'll go up first, tell Dad I'll be a little late for dinner!" She ran up the agency with quick steps and before Conan was even able to reach his own room, Ran was out of the door and running down the stairs, giving a last wave and headed off.

Right... she's totally lying, he knew it. Ran didn't take her Karate clothes with her to her 'Karate lesson' Instead, it was a white bag that Conan never seen before.

Too suspicious.

.o.

Strength is something most girls want their boyfriend to have, to protect her when she's in danger like those movies and drama. But Ran choose otherwise. She learnt Karate under her father's guidance and even won championship for many competitions in just 16 years of her life. She didn't need protection from anyone, she could do perfectly fine by herself.

That's what she thought, and wished.

She would often day-dream in class, dreaming of Shinichi picking her up in bridal style while she's in her white gown, blushing and acting all embarrassed and stuff, just like those children storybooks, the knight would save the princess and they lived happily ever after. But that's something Ran knew that would never happen.

Ran was never the girly type of person. She wouldn't wear fancy and cute dress unless she had to. She wouldn't go all out and make up or do her hair unless she was asked to. It just wasn't her. She's been called a tom-boy for her roughness and attitude, but that didn't mean guys wouldn't fall for her. She got a nice body and perfect face features and not just that, she's kind-hearted and strong too.

"Did you even know how many guys just drool when you're there? Even the team sort of loses focus because of you." Sonoko nudged Ran as she chuckled in glee.

"There's no such thing Sonoko!" Ran huffed.

Conan narrowed his eyes as he watched the two girls beside him.

They were both walking down the streets to have their Saturday lunch and Conan argued about wanting to go although Sonoko was rather pissed off about the idea to bring a kid along. It wasn't like Conan really want to go out like that, it's just that Sonoko always had these stupid ideas of luring guys with her 'charms' or schemes and Ran always ended up joining her. That was why he was there, ensuring that Sonoko wouldn't have any weird plans on her sleeve that would involve Ran at all.

Sonoko clasped her hands together as she stared at the sky with her sparkling eyes. "Ah! How I wish Shinichi was there to watch me! That's what you're thinking aren't you?"

"No it isn't that." Ran looked away.

Now Conan was super interested.

"Ne' what are you guys talking about?" Conan stretched his neck out as he chirped so innocently just like how he should act at his age.

Sonoko was about to speak but Ran quickly covered her mouth and laughed awkwardly. "Nothing Conan-kun! We're just talking about some unimportant school project."

Conan continued putting up that child-like face as he blinked a number of times. "What kind of school project will make guys drool?"

"Oh oh oh why do you care so much?" Sonoko stuck out her tongue. "Kids shouldn't care so much and just enjoy their innocent childhood until it's all over."

"But I want to know!" Conan started jumping about. Hell, he's dying to know what they were talking about. What the hell did Sonoko and Ran done in school now?

"Are you checking up on Ran because Shinichi asked you too?" Sonoko smirked as she glanced at Ran. "Probably he asked the kid to stay in your house to see if you're cheating on him when he's away."

"Shinichi wouldn't do that, and why would he?" Ran blurted out.

Sonoko winked and bent over to Conan. "Pass the message to your master and say that there's a soccer match in two more weeks and Ran is one of the cheerleaders who is wearing a super shooooort and sexy mini-skirt during the match for the cheer leading performance!"

Conan turned wide-eye.

Ran sighed heavily. "You know... it's really embarrassing to even talk about the attire." Ran gave a sheepish smile at Conan. "I didn't mean to lie to you that day, about my Karate training when there isn't one at the start."

"Ho-How sh-short is the skirt?" Conan stuttered.

"This short!" Sonoko pointed at her upper thigh and laughed. "I should have took picture of those soccer's guys that were hitting on you and then send it to your husband. Damn, I want to see how his face will look like when he sees the picture!"

Conan started ruffling his hair vigorously while Ran was denying what Sonoko said. He's furious, confused and utterly jealous at the same time. The soccer team, hell, the entire school should know that Ran and himself were-

He sighed inwardly before looking down. What were they? They weren't even a couple so what right does he have to stop those guys from flirting with Ran?

"But Ran-neechan, why did you join the cheer leading team?"

Ran gave a soft laugh and shrugged. "The team looks disappointed when they knew Shinichi wouldn't be joining, and then our classmate came up and asked if I want to be part of the cheer leading team, I just agreed." She lowered her gaze and laughed bitterly.

"Ran are you alright?" Sonoko gave a pat on her shoulder.

"Maybe I'm just like the team. Holding onto that last hope that Shinichi would appear that day..."

Ran... Conan held his breathe.

"So I can beat the shit out of him!" Ran yelled as she clutched her fist and punch it in the air.

"Yeah that's right!" Sonoko cheered.

Conan gave a dry laugh as they continued their way to the restaurant.

.o.

Weakness.

If Conan could wish for one thing, it would be to be able to understand Ran's unreadable feelings. Heck, he's the best detective of the east, or the world even, but she's just his life long unsolvable case. She's hurt waiting foolishly for him when he's damn right by her side. She's hurt crying foolishly thinking he didn't like her even once when he had fallen for her since young.

It's so stupid. He wanted her to be his. They have known each other for a decade but he's the one foolishly stupid to get himself in this heap of mess. Getting jealous when he could claim she was his long time ago if he had confessed sooner, or if he didn't turned into a damn child. Getting hurt and worried when he watched her cry in her sleep. Beyond stupid. (But perhaps not as stupid and dense as that detective of the west. Ahou.)

If Ran could wish for one thing, it would be to be able to be by Shinichi's side. It's a stupid dream, really. A dream where she'll just become a housewife, cook meals, make babies, grow old, still love each other. It's a simple dream of hers, too simple. She didn't even try to play hard to get. She loves him, but she didn't know he knew. But she still remained faithful unlike Sonoko sometimes.

Although that didn't include the chances where other guys fall for her and attempted to ask her out and maybe she might forget about that detective freak and fall in love with someone else.

That's what Conan's biggest worries. If Ran were to ever, ever, officially go out with some guy... He wouldn't allow that.

The soccer match was held on the weekend and Conan got the chance to see the soccer match and dragged Kogoro along. Mouri didn't want to at first, claiming he wanted to watch TV but after Conan told him the truth about Ran joining the cheer leading team with sexy short skirt, he immediately turned on his protective-father mode and rushed off in a blink.

"Where's Ran-neechan?"

"No idea, there's no sign of her at all."

Conan snatched the binoculars and looked, true enough, Ran wasn't anywhere at all.

"Did you lie to me just so I can bring you here." Kogoro eyed the child.

"How could you say that." Conan tried to feign hurt in his voice.

It's true. The cheerleading performance started and everyone were shouting and cheering for their own team, eventually, Teitan lost but it was still a good match. Conan spent the entire day observing his teammates playing while Kogoro was just sitting there, with his binoculars looking at girls.

After a while, Conan couldn't hold in any longer and called Ran, asking where she was. In the end she didn't perform with the rest because her partner injured her ankle and there would be an odd number so she didn't participate as well.

So was this suppose to be a bad thing or good thing? He decided on the latter.

Although he didn't get to see Ran in mini-skirt while the other people who seen them practicing did, on the bright side, it's not like he didn't seen her in bath suits, other short mini-skirts, a beautiful dress or even... naked.

Not much jealousy in the air but the idea of Ran wearing something sexy yet Conan couldn't see it seems awesomE SO here it is. Next... ?