This one-shot is dedicated to Crazyforshinichi, who asked for a 'real' version of Ran's dream. I hope this satisfies. I should probably also warn that this one gets a little steamy, though I tried to keep it within the T rating. You can decide whether I succeeded or not.


Soundtrack: Flavour of Life – Utada Hikaru


Doki, Doki

"Ran."

Her heart quickened. She would know that voice anywhere—had memorised every intonation, every soft lilt. It was a voice that was as dear and familiar to her as the beating of her own heart. For months, she had listened to it over the phone, feeling like the sound was the only thing keeping the tired organ in her chest working. Just wishing she could hear him in person.

But now there was no phone. Now that voice was coming from right behind her, saying her name with such intensity. Such passion.

Trembling slightly, Ran turned to see the boy who had haunted her dreams and even her waking thoughts since the day he had gone missing. He was leaning against the doorframe, clothes rumpled, and there was an ugly bruise marring his jaw. He looked like hell, but the smile he flashed her was just as she remembered: a little cocky, a little boyish, and designed to pierce straight to the heart.

Thud, thud.

The pounding beat seemed to fill her body, echoing through her in a dizzying rhythm. Shinichi was here. Shinichi was here. Shinichi was here. But wait. Did that mean—could it be—

"It's over," he confirmed for her. "Everything is finished: the organisation, the poison—everything." His eyes met hers, and this time his smile was tender and filled with open relief. "I'm back, Ran."

Ran just stared at him for a long moment. It was over. The nightmare that had torn them apart was finally over. He was back, and he was never going to leave her again. Without even realising it, her feet were dragging her forward, and then she was throwing her arms around him and clutching him to her tightly. So very, very tightly.

"Idiot," she whispered, burying her face into his chest. "Why'd you make me wait so long?"

Shinichi stroked her hair, smoothing the dark strands down her back. "Idiot," he mimicked, and she could hear the affection he felt for her interlaced in every syllable. "As if I really wanted to."

Tears prickled at the corner of her eyes. She clutched him even closer, revelling in every point of contact. This was real. It wasn't a dream. His body was warm and solid, and she could feel his heartbeat syncing to the rhythm of her own. There was no denying his presence. He was here, and he was holding her, and it was everything she had ever wanted.

Ran pulled back a little so that she could meet his gaze. One of his arms still encircled her waist, but his other hand slipped down from her hair to gently wipe away her tears with his thumb.

"Don't cry, Ran," he said with a small frown. "I hate it when you cry."

Of course, that only made her cry more.

Shinichi sighed and cupped her cheek, smiling down at her tear-streaked face. "What am I going to do with you?"

Ran sniffed and tried to make a retort—he had always teased her about being a cry baby—but the words got caught in her throat. Instead, she just stared into his eyes, seeing in those blue depths a sweet intensity that she had first glimpsed when he had confessed to her outside the Big Ben. The intensity of a boy in love.

Thud, thud.

Her heart pounded, beating faster and faster. She could not look away. She did not want to look away. Shinichi's hand pressed down on the small of her back, pulling her close. Her breath caught as their bodies touched. Somehow, the embrace felt different now. More intense, as if all of her senses had been heightened. Or maybe it was just because he was staring at her with such undisguised passion.

Thud, thud.

She let out a shaky breath, lips parting slightly. It was all the invitation he needed. He dipped his head and, hesitating only a second, pressed his mouth against hers. Her eyes widened at the contact, but they fluttered shut a second later. There was no way she could resist the teasing pressure of his lips; no way she could ignore the pounding of her heart that told her to respond in kind. Her body was an instrument attuned to his touch, and he had just plucked all the right strings.

Ran threaded her fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss. She didn't know who was the first to open their mouth; everything was a blur of butterflies and pounding hearts, but at some point the kisses became more forward, more demanding. She tasted him for the first time and indulged in the velvety caresses that come with exchanging silent words. It was intoxicating. Intoxicating and exhilarating and made her feel like the blood in her veins had turned to liquid fire.

She knew they should stop. She didn't want to stop.

Shinichi's arms tightened around her, and he backed her up against the wall. His lips left hers to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down her jaw, skimming along her fluttering pulse, before finding a particularly sensitive spot near her ear. Ran bit back a moan and arched into him almost helplessly, extending her neck to give him better access. It was too much. Too much pleasure. Too much fire. And yet, at the same time, it wasn't nearly enough. Not at all. Her body yearned for more.

She yearned for more.

Ran dragged his face back to her level, kissing him deeply. At some point her legs got wrapped around his waist, creating all sorts of wonderful friction between them. Their hands had also started to wander. She barely noticed that her dress had been hitched up or that she had lost her cardigan. She definitely didn't remember removing his shirt, though she did not hesitate to explore his bare chest. Even if her hands were a little shaky. Even if her fingers did tremble when she found the buckle on his belt.

Shinichi made a soft sound and pulled back. His lips were swollen and his hair was a mess. Ran felt an odd sense of satisfaction that she had been the one to make him look so dishevelled. He might be almost god-like for his ability to piece together clues from what seemed like nothing, but he was completely powerless to her touch. Not that she was faring any better. Her chest rose and fell quickly, and the blood was still pounding in her ears.

"Maybe we should stop," Shinichi said.

"You're right." She swallowed, trying to catch her breath. "We should definitely stop."

Their eyes met—a single moment charged with pulsating need and newly discovered desire. Then he groaned and pulled her back to him, and she was kissing him again, and it was all so exhilarating and overwhelming. His hands grazed her skin and gripped her thighs. She clutched at his bare back, nails digging into lean muscle. Control was thrown aside. Everything was happening too fast. She couldn't keep up; couldn't process anything beyond the dizzying rush of pleasure spinning inside her.

Beyond him.

Ran let out a shaky breath as he leaned over her. Shock shivered through her as she wondered when they got on the sofa. His hair tickled her cheek, and she could feel the heat of him brushing against her exposed skin where their bodies didn't already touch. It seemed the dress was gone, leaving her wearing just her bra and panties. Even he was down to his underwear, but all she could recall in her mind were frantic tugs at fabric and a lot of kisses. Her heart pounded wildly as the full reality of their situation hit her. This was actually going to happen. Him and her. On this sofa. Oh, gods.

She should stop him.

Why didn't she want to stop him?

Shinichi hesitated, still leaning over her. There was a question in his eyes. He was asking permission. Or perhaps it wasn't a question and he was just silently pleading for her to be the strong one. Goodness knew they were way over their heads, caught up in emotions too powerful to be controlled. He'd been wrenched away from her side for so long; the relief of having him back had made her too impulsive.

Made them both too impulsive.

Ran closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she deliberately reached up and pulled him down against her, just holding him.

"Um, Ran?" Shinichi said, a bit at a loss.

"Just stay with me like this." She held him closer, nestling her face against his chest. "Okay?"

Shinichi sighed—perhaps in relief, perhaps in disappointment—and wrapped his arms around her. Eventually, their heartbeats slowed. The fire turned to soothing warmth. The pulsating need faded and was replaced with contentment. He was back, and they were together, and there was no need to rush. After all, this was just the beginning. There would be plenty of chances to continue what they had started on the sofa. For now, she just wanted to hold him. For now, she just wanted to enjoy this moment.

Ran smiled and listened to the steady beating of his heart. It was enough.