A/N: Hello again! Sorry for the late, since my monstrous exams were going on and now I've got some days of break so I can update often maybe. Thanks to all who have favourited or followed the story.
Sticky notes: Italics are for thoughts, and flashback if written so.
Responses to reviewer:-
Midnightkiss56-Absolutely you have no idea how enthralled I felt/ still feeling when in midnight I found the first review for any fanfic works! Thousand thank you(s)! I loved the way you said and not just only "loved it, please update!" kinda sentences. I hope sure you'll read this one too!
Warmth and Coldness
Flashback
"Shinichi..well at last you said it!", Ran's blue stars glowed in watts unexplainable.
"So, we're now lovers apart from best friends right?"
"Uh..uh!", they kept looking into their same hued eyes, swept by each other's aura. Shinichi felt the grip on his face by her hands was securing more, simultaneously lowering his head over hers. It got to be that…that special touch..
As the distance between them decreased, their noses brushed against each other. The hot breath of his fell on her lips. Finally, he wound his hands around her waist. Their lips met for that special touch..the so called affection any lover's showed. They were absorbed in this phenomenon so much that the torment had occurred again didn't got their attention, though the beats of the fury were matching quakes in their hearts simultaneously. Because…both had waited for this despite how many hours had went by.
Her heart did cartwheels, and his heart pounded so furiously that the ribcage acted as a barrier for the sudden vibration. After all, this superb-awesome-Meitantei-but-falling-short-in-cupid-related-things managed to do a miracle. Her lips felt so soft over his, he doubted why didn't he kissed her before. Damn this Conan disguise.
Slowly the amateur kisser inched himself from the once childhood best friend. There was a glitter in her eyes, blue orbs glistening more. And Shinichi was cent percent sure, the adventure didn't crashed down the hill.
Ran's hands fidgeted with his hair, twitched her shoulders, then clasped her palms in the most animated (I mean 'anime' also) manner, as if flying over the clouds, she squeaked (which made Shinichi think Sonoko's traits transported to her), "And so many a times you left hints on the road that you wanted to say something, then ended up going somewhere, pretty jerk!"
"Yeah..um, right you are!" Shinichi let out a small laugh and replied by cocking his head shying and running his fingers on back of his head just the typical way when his love related emotions were detected at one go and couldn't help in being silly.
And suddenly..the nerves exploded in the most unfashionable manner..
Eyes wanted to burst out of the appropriate location of his skull…
Every part of the skin reacted as if it touched the hottest temperatures of newest lava…
Breathing had hitched..body temperature rocketed to infinity..
Head felt a thousand ton stone decided to jump on it…
Ofcourse the worst all these symptoms meant! Not he could hold Ran's hands anymore, Bad Timing!
It pressurized his vocal cords to produce even monosyllables, "R-Ra-Ran! Ran! I-I hafta-", with one hand shakily travelled to his left chest.
"What happened t-to you!" Ran found she too stammered like him. Shinichi dragged himself; when all muscles and bones decided to call a strike and won't move; all to his willpower. He at once managed to brush off the helping hand of the girl.
"No you let me help you-"
The tremendous ache withered away, temporarily. Somehow the antibody-antigen functioning with his antidote stopped giving him a final moment to let him speak whatever he wished to. "Ah Ran it was nothing!" he regained his stature in a firm position, as if to give his graduation speeches on the stage, and didn't wasted the seconds, "I have to go."
She blinked, in an attempt to register and digest the persistence of rapid visions. One time hitched to stand up, the other time completely fine? "It's not a an action flick please!", she heard herself to mumble it. "Take time, adjust, and then talk mister!"
"Ran, I'm serious! Now I'm going to leave you here-"
"You will go, again, as routinely!", Ran failed to hide the desperate tears that had started to form dews on her eyes' bottoms. She slowly withdrew her hands from his and looked beside her window, the torment now matching her current feelings.
"No Ran, I mean, I can't go anywhere, but still I'm going..", It was so hard for him to say, for the Detective of the East, such fickle words that did create in his mind but not coming on his mouth. Worse than worst!
"I don't mean you can't go, but I will miss you more than now", The feelings in the form of speech came off of her lips without her will wholly. Since she decided to face the window in order to hide her want of him, she thought he couldn't see that smile had changed into mournful paint on her face.
Shinichi thought again, and this time seriously. Letting out a gulp of misty air, he remarked straight-headily, "One thing I'm asking you to do. I'm maybe a detective but whose feelings are already red-hand caught by you, there is no wonder you can't do this. So..you do ponder what's with me that's keeping me away from you-"
"And where you fly everytime!", Ran asked in a very cold gesture, given the present situation.
"No, I only reside in your heart! You just have to find what the hell happening with me, and after you deduct correctly, I will remain always to your close. I promise!" The pain again arrived marching cheerfully, interrupting further conversation.
"Now I leave you, best of luck!", with kissing her for last time, he fled abnormally. And Ran played with hem of the blanket, her mind occupied with a certain detective as per he told, whom she caught red-handed. She sighed and decided to rest her injured head on the pillow. The moments with Shinichi also hovered in her dreams. How she wished he permanently was beside her. Wait! He did said he was in her heart?!
Haibara had the peculiar habit of oscillating her small limbs in the air when seated. The scratch of once being a full grown teenager but now a seven year old kid prompted her to do, since her legs like her mind wanted everytime she sat to touch the ground. Who knew the girl with a paranormal evil smirk and acting so precisely but coldly had a soft heart. Where no one had access, and all secrets stayed happily secured.
Not even a person she was sure would be concerned with her long absence. Though the Black Organization would for she was the greatest scientist they could ever use for those experiments. Remembering experiments, the Apotoxin 4869. She created it and ingested it like a fool. Coming to fool, that Conan boy. How idiot he was to feel stranded about Ran even knowing things won't change.
That moron had gone to Ran's cabin for a handful hours. Must be she'd waken up and got him talking. The talking thing was one such issue she wanted to experience. After having saw (incident) and working years under the umbrella of crimes and handling drugs, it was obvious she'd try to act different. If she ever let her walls down, rare was the chance one could find her social. Whatever way she was leading the life, the once brilliant scientist was adjusting to her circumstances.
Ai heard the a thump beside her seat. Turning back she was certain to find the aforementioned miniature detective. When the detective had been in normal form, he had called Kogoro to come, but Ai in this visit was for something else. Head in an awkward downwards position, he asked, "Where's ojiisan?"
"He came but he gone to washroom-oh! There he is!" Without paying any attention to the kids, Kogoro moved inside the cabin. It was good Kogoro was mentioned of Conan's visit in the hospital, otherwise he could create a good scene in the silent dorm. But..nothing about Shinichi..since he was already informed Conan instead took her here. The again interference of Shinichi in an injury case of Ran was not good for the hot-headed gentleman.
The kids shared no words among them. For that, Conan swam now in the tug of confusion. Did he said was right? Or that'd pushed the girl into fatal troubles? Though I didn't say I'm Conan, that is okay, right? Whether he should consider himself romantic or fat-headed baka, Haibara could be his rescue he realized.
"You spent an awful time there!" Ai snapped him from the trail of thoughts. Sure her evil stare could kill anyone, but Conan was used to it.
"Yeah" By 'awful' he knew she meant what took him so long there. "I said her the thing!", he decreased his decibel and spoke sheepishly.
"About Black Organization!" Her face shot up with electric sparks that wanted to melt that nasty honest vocal cords of his. More so the ignition as she couldn't take the name aloud, in a bit of cursing!
"Idiot! I said I love her!" Conan replied cornering his blue eyeballs to the girl.
"God! What makes you feel you hit the goal? Shall I bring it to your notice that your logical immune created a good resistance to that antidote?" Ai commented while resting her orange blonde head on the chair. As usual stupid he is!
"It's none of your business!", by that he cleared any nose poking of her into his matters. At once, he forgot he was the smartest jerk to ask Haibara before. No one understands me, he felt pouted.
"Mmm..and now the lovesick girl will constantly think why he said before ditching me forever! You may be good in detective skills but the Romeo side of yours is terrible!" This one sentence Conan/Shinichi was very much convinced with. And why not..his classmates have been dating much before him! Not the Black Organization always an issue to blame for!
"And for that you called me, and I thought what the Meitantei felt my need here?", Rolling her cold brown orbs to the kid she asked.
"Umm..since I can't tell this to anyone..you know it's complicated!", Conan shrugged his shoulders and finished his nearly stammering sentence.
"Or only that you said?", Suddenly Ai's suspicion grew to fullest. "Tell me!"
"I said her to deduce herself..about what can be the reason behind my irregularity!", and again Conan said, "Haibara! Enough with pretending! Look, I don't want to put her in trouble..I promise I'll make her convince the true fact later precisely!"
"Don't think I will let you do that. Remember my threat when you were in the hospital? That still continues, Shinichi! Well how many ones you're determined to make promise and shatter like fragile glass?" Ai had spoken rather in a permitted volume. Bad was Kogoro heard them while coming towards them.
"Oi kids! Don't talk loudly!", He shouted on them during pulling his coat to his arms. As he saw the doctor in-charge of Ran's health walking past him, he called him, "Dr. Akimoto-san! How's my daughter…Dr. Akimoto-san..!"
"Now who is shouting?", both the kids murmured in unison seeing the doctor was in too hurry to hear the weird detective screaming.
Later that noon, they arrived on informing Ran would be released within two days of continuous check-ups.
And things in the house were sure would change. Starting with the regular routine, making eatable meals, preparing the grade-schooler ready for school, clearing the oh-crap mess of trash cans here and there(sad she's treated like that!).
Apart from all these adjustment, they would miss Ran. Mouri Ran was one of them, maybe the most active member in the home. Managing school and stuffs, homeworks, she never did complain that she used to do chores more than an average teenager, ignoring some rare angst days! Leaving the part that she left something pricked her constantly, she did everything with a smile.
Or that 'something' ever let her to smile actually?
Not only the Shiragami sama case, during the visit in London also, and don't forget how Shinichi elegantly brought his dad's gold card to spend lavishly in that restaurant! Just..to tell her. How he blindly(there's no other adjective to describe it) was in that love. The thing was, the karate champ's mind never worked on the search that the tropical land visit was instead to tell her. Why he saw the black guy that day?
The damn Kogoro really felt concern for the girl who knew how to protect herself. Why didn't she kicked him rather waiting for Conan? The same question which didn't leave him even coming back to home, had pestered the high-school-but-sorry-now-a-grade-schooler detective.
Conan had asked ojiisan his permission for a round trip around the explosion-prone scientist's yard. Swiftly locking his hands in his pants' pockets in the Kudo manner, he kicked pebbles, irrespective how odd fashioned his too much maturity drew curious eyes of said elders.
Home without Ran felt trees without chirping birds. The mentioned injury that Ran got was any matter of fatal concern, still he felt morose, given his stupid attitude without sense thoughts.
He occupied the bench as lonely as his current moment, secluded to a furthermost point of the park. He let out a sarcastic laugh about the simile. This used to be the place when Shinichi gave a vacation to cases spent chattering with Ran in their early teenage.
Now slowly Shinichi picturized himself a complete jerk! Reckless! Idiot! Moron! The amount of blaming adjectives would still fall short compared to the insane job he did. These idea came from where? That I will wreck her life? I don't have the right to further torture her..
You could have said Shinichi-niichan is a cheater! He doesn't care for you, Ran-neechan! So go find someone who is for you..who won't leave you like him. You immature broke her heart for your own pleasure? Say, can you ever get back as Shinichi?
I knew this is last time..and I-I thought this chance will fade with my form as well so..no, No! Point of hurting her!
Even a scientist like Haibara knows more than you! You will always be called Conan-kun, not any names like Shinichi, leaving the ones know you..
Then it means..?
Forget her, letting her forget you as well. Only one way you can crack…don't ever acknowledge the true self of yours to her, after she finds you. There's no need for some mean words to break the already torned apart heart! You have your decisions..act like Conan rest of your life or see her shrink in pain..
The rustling of leaves, children running before they get caught in hide and seek, proved taciturn to his ears. Nodding his head I accordance to the sense part of his, he tightened the wrap of shawl around his neck.
After having cup noodles for the absence of a sensible cook, he went to bed. Good, ojiisan tried to behave properly; his amazing skill of littering cans atleast temporally stopped, sighed Conan. It was normal after finishing his super easy homeworks, he would travel to Ran's room and that started the endless hours of sharing own schools' happenings, then tucking him to his bed.
That was the only way and hours he got to know Ran, not Ran-neechan! Gossips of her were mainly with Sonoko, sensei saying anything. But the big part, ofcourse the annoying teasing and sometimes if fate didn't favored, some pinpointing from fan girls of Shinichi. The kid in disguise loved his mentioning part greatly.
Ran's eyes would beam just like her smile when saying how still everyone teased like she was his wife, or something restricted for official lovebirds. Then again, her bright eyes would grow dimmer, and no one knew that thing so well like our detective. He could only try to wrap her back with damn small hands, could wipe her hot tears. But not sending the real culprit of her sorrow to jail, since it was he himself.
Loneliness? Yearnings? Or confusion regarding his feelings? Which one did accompany the outer appeared kid to his bed he couldn't recollect. A big yawn immediately swiped away tensed worries and his eyelids grew weightier ..
Sonoko had made quick visits to her instantly after returning from school. Her sheer girly gossips and shopping information did a good pain reliever and distractions from the unexpected events in a non-forgettable day like Ran endured.
Eri had insisted on first her visit to take Ran in her home. Though Ran convinced her that the injury was nothing that sort to take rest. Quite hard it was to convince someone who rule the court efficiently.
Ran cogitated how different her day starting from morning went through. Other than few checkups by nurses and medicines given, she was all alone in the dusk. And thoughts do rile up where you're alone..
Not even a detective or associated with any police branch, yet she was among the few teenagers who saw murders and dangerous criminals at sight. The constant play with cases and solution and then another was part of her life. Still..she could never think, a generally unromantic type Meitantei could say those!
Did he know her heart raced when he said the three words..simple but highly addictive? Now with the status update, if that could ride the roller coaster of their lives for eternity..
Tracing the memories, she blushed with the kissing part. Not once..but twice he had managed to do! However Ran found Shinichi was a terrible kisser. Still..it was ecstasy, for a girl like Ran who ventured this in her dreams till before that.
Ironic to her blissful imaginations, fate had created reality harshly for her..she couldn't fathom this was the last time she would see him..
Then a moment replayed infront of her eyes, which she deliberately wanted to shoo away like fly. Scenes of last night dashed in her rather absent minded tired brain. A very cute, completely charming dream she was having. Hand in hand with Shinichi, he saying something in her ears that made small childish smile brightening her face.
Later, something abrupt, not-to-mention things she saw..which made her red like tomato. As she was battling with the sensation, suddenly her whole body collapsed on the floor! End of dream. Result-a sprained ankle and muscle stiffening.
Could she say why her limb infuriated so much in the morning? That would definitely flourish her cause with emblematic dream. Mmh..that was only reason why she couldn't try to angle her stony foot that was so fearless compared to harmless robbers. Damnit! Why I had to see the dream last night..that would never brought me here? That would never made that adrenaline rush inside Shinichi too!
Next the day was not something of great exciting things occurring. Next morning she would be released. So she kept counting hours then minutes when the time would arrive. Her eyelids slowly fell leading her to the land of impractical.
But dreams sometimes appear more realistic than the present situation. Ignoring the stinging pain, she sat up on her bed in a haste. Ran realized her whole body was sweating, some trickling down her cheeks. It was fairly cold to be in any kind of warm feeling. The temperature had risen for the scenes she saw, she heard, she judged.
Ran brought knees up to her chest, she rerun her past dream. It felt so real, but so impossible. The dream uncovered an ugly truth, which her mind wanted to discard but heart echoed constantly. This can't be..never that happened before or can in future..but humans do make impossible! Like who thought before the medieval era that earth can rotate around sun? First I should get back home…
A/N: A story consisting only angsty POVs, mmh..!
Why Haibara and her thoughts here, I don't know! And why the hell even Shinichi called her (that business of her was not so worthy), still in my buffering blurred mind. I just wrote and posted it, because I'm freakin' paranoid with this fandom and can't think anything else write now. Maybe Haibara would wonderfully be given a job on later chapters, not sure though..
Please think reviewing…