A/N: Yay, I'm happy to see more reviews! By the way, whoever answers this question right from gets a whole jar of virtual cookies, candies, and a Conan plushie because I've been wanting to know this FOREVER. What's the episode where Ran says "Don't leave me alone!" to Conan on a boat? All I see are clips of it in AMVs, and I think I skipped it. :O You see it in Opening 9 too, I believe, if that helps. :)
Little Secret
Chapter 4
"Ran-kun!"
There came the surprised voice of doctor Agasa as he stood at the front door, it wide open. Conan and Ai turned their heads, and Shinichi frowned when he saw how much Ran had been crying since he'd left.
'Ran...'
"I'm s-sorry to bother you, Hakase...but I-"
"Nonsense! Come in before you get sick from all the rain," he said gently pushing her inside. Ai frowned when she felt Conan's hand slip from hers and he slid off the couch.
'Kudo-kun...'
Conan stood face-to-face with Ran, her looking down at him and him looking up at her. Her eyes were red, and he could still see tears lingering in there, threatening to fall.
"Ran..." he began, but was cut off, as a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around him, bringing him closer to a warm chest. "Ran..." he blushed slightly. Doctor Agasa took this as his cue to leave, while Ai simply turned, her back to them.
"S-Shinichi...do you hate m-me?"
Conan looked more surprised than ever by that question. He pulled away only slightly to look at her red face. "Of course not. What on Earth makes you think I do?"
"I don't know...I just...thought you might after what I did..." she frowned, holding him to her. He frowned, letting his small arms wrap around her.
"Ran," he whispered into her ear. He could feel her tears falling onto his shoulder, staining his shirt, not that he cared. "I could never hate you. Even if you somehow became a murderer, I still couldn't." He felt her form shake, and gently rubbed her back. "Shh.."
Ai looked at her empty hand that was restnig on the couch, before getting up and starting to walk away. That was when she saw something she thought she'd never see. Well, at least not until he was Shinichi again.
Ran kissed him.
Conan's blue eyes were wide behind his glasses, Ai's were growing wide too. All current train of thought had stopped.
It was just a small, simple but sweet kiss. But here's the thing. It didn't last long, because Conan was the one to pull away first. This surprised both girls.
"S-Shinichi? Are you alright?"
"We can't do this, Ran. Not while I'm stuck like this, in this body." At her frown, he bowed his head. "I'm sorry..."
"It's alright...I understand, there's an age difference between us now," Ran said softly, looking towards Ai.
'That's not all.'
Ai was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, letting out a sigh when she felt Ran's eyes on her. She glanced her way, with a cold look that could send chills down anyone's spine, though it seemed to disappear when she looked at Conan.
'You've moved on, haven't you Shinichi?'
As realization started to hit her, she had to get out of there before she broke down. Quickly, she unwrapped her arms around Conan, who blinked in slight surprise.
"...Ran?"
"I need to get back and make dinner for dad," Ran smiled as she kissed his forehead. "You can come back if you want. Dad doesn't have a clue who you really are, though I find it slightly amusing that he's been hitting you over the head all this time."
He rolled his eyes, and she stood back up. She turned to go after waving at him.
"Goodbye!"
Why did that word make his heart feel funny? The way she said it... it was different.
He walked back over to Ai as she left, and the two easily saw Ran running passed in the window, though she glanced back in only to see him standing beside Ai.
He saw a few tears fall as she took off again in the rain.
Conan bowed his head as Ai took hold of his hand again.
'I'm sorry... Ran.'
FIN
A/N: Am I cruel to leave it at that? Well, I was in class and didn't have time to write a whole lot...but I figured Ran would realize he loves Ai before he actually does himself. XD