Number ten!!! n-n
Disclaimer: No, the series nor the characters belong to me... Of course, that doesn't mean I can't borrow them, poke them for a little while, and give them some peppermint patties before they go nite nite... and man.. does that feel GOOD! n-n
Title: Under the Falling Sky
Summary: "After a storm comes fair weather, after sorrow comes joy…" –Russian proverb
The slim figure of a seventeen-year-old young man could be distinguished amidst the semidarkness of his quiet bedroom. The thick shades before his window had been pulled; a few dull, grayish streams of light barely managing to sneakily creep through the barrier, as they dimly illuminated his room, and occasionally himself. The rampant and earth-shattering sound of thunder rattled the windows and ground from time to time, as the everlasting cry of the rain remained unwavering, and unstoppable. Today (just like the entire past week) was turning out to be one gloomy afternoon in the city of Beika, as it helplessly stood under one giant and powerful showerhead.
Well, at least the strong and noisy rain didn't make him feel as lonely in that humongous mansion…
As for the aforementioned young man, – formally known as Kudou Shinichi – he stood concealed from the reporters outside his house, as he struggled to complete the painstaking task of getting dressed. He usually would have made perfect use of his right hand to assist him in the process, but the infamous limb was now completely useless as it lay wrapped in the hard gesso of a cast. He grunted and clenched his teeth in discontentment as he glared at his ineffective arm— the source of his current problems. Sighing in desperation as a few mutters of "serenity now, serenity now" escaped his lips, he decided to slip his right arm through the sleeve of the shirt before any other body part, and once successfully dressing his arm, he slipped the rest of his torso inside the soft cotton t-shirt. Slightly fixing his shirt with his left hand, he looked at his legs to find them concealed behind a dark pair of jeans. Finally— he was done.
The succession of around 5 rings of the doorbell resounded loudly through the entire house, and Shinichi's eyebrow had to suddenly quirk upward. The reporters had rung the doorbell a couple of times before, but never in such a persistent and urgent demeanor. It had to be somebody else. He moved the shades of the window to look at the front of the gates, though a congregation of black umbrellas and television equipment was all he could distinguish. A sigh left his lips, and he turned towards the door to his room, making his way through the corridor and down the long set of wooden stairs. The sound of harsh and pouring rain was becoming even more apparent now, and he had to wonder for a moment, who in the world would make a visit in such a stormy and inconvenient weather. And not to mention, the eager (and pointlessly hopeful, really) reporters that were outside his home. Didn't they have something better to do, than to sadly stand under the tiny shelter of their umbrellas as the rain poured down in sheets around them? Surely, there were more important things in the world than a silly interview with him…
'Jeez people, I just got home today— let me rest…' Whined Shinichi with half-moon eyes, putting on his shoes so as not ruin his slippers with water and mud. He slipped his left foot in the shoe, soon feeling laces underneath his sole, and consequently making him remove his foot. He took away the laces. Second try; he slipped the socked foot in the shoe, but as seconds ticked by, he just couldn't get his heel inside. The task of putting on garments was proving to be very difficult, yet again, as he noted with a large vein swelling on his temple. His left hand, he decided… was pathetic at doing anything.
'Screw this..!' He declared mentally, kicking his shoe aside as he hid his feet inside his slippers once again. Opening the wooden door, as the wind of the streets swooshed its way inside his home, he blinked a little as the flashes of the cameras photographed his profile. Jogging to the gates as buckets of water seemed to soak his clothes, his eyes widened in shock at the sight of Ran's drenched face, closely pressed against the iron bars.
"Ran…" He muttered lowly, and more to himself than anyone else, as he unlocked the entrance to his house and let her in. The girl trotted to his house, and he locked the entryway once again; smiling apologetically as reporters bombarded him with questions of all sorts. He ran back to his house, shutting the wooden doors behind himself, and leaving the rampant talking and strident rain behind.
Ran's breathing – as he noted – was fast and ragged, as if she'd run in the middle of the storm for a while. Her hair was damp and considerably messy, suggesting she had not enjoyed of the fairly dry protection of an umbrella, as she currently set her absentminded gaze on the set of stairs, some lonesome furniture here and there, even the walls maybe. Her hand was closed into a fist; her thumb sometimes rubbing her other fingers in a quirky and unidentifiable fashion, as she remained in quiet thought. Shinichi didn't know what to do, and was completely clueless on what would occur next. His fingers kept rubbing the gesso of his cast with jumpy strength, which currently showed more emotion than either of the two teenagers in the room. The sound of raucous thunder suddenly shook the ground once again; the luminosity of a nearby chandelier flickering weakly, as the glass windows rattled in pain.
Ran turned around in apparent decision, her hands tensioning into tighter fists as her eyes finally met Shinichi's. His breath seemed to remain trapped in his lungs, to his misfortune, as he saw the most tragic image of his dearest childhood friend. Her eyes were glimmering dangerously, as a thick layer of tears distorted her vision in sadness. Her irises, red contrasting with pure blue, were overflowing with an agglomeration of powerful feelings as they penetrated into Shinichi's orbs. Her cheeks were flushed and wet, as her crimson lips tugged downward and quivered into a heartbroken pout.
"It was a f-fairly good day today, you know… 'tousan was working responsively.. the house was c-clean, and actually worthy of being called a home… I was finally getting over the fact that.. Conan-kun had returned home with his parents.." Her voice trembled from time to time, though remained low, and drowned with emotion. "Yes; on the other hand you hadn't called, and actually never did call, for a month and I can't.. deny that I wasn't worried about you… but it's not the first time that's happened anyway." She laughed cynically, her lips quickly contorting into a doleful smile as she softly sniffed. "It wasn't that bad.. really, everything was okay… Until now, just a few minutes ago, I decide to turn on the television, and what do I see?
"Your picture— your picture, and a woman in front of Beika Central Hospital blabbering about you. To tell you the truth, at first I was ecstatic when I saw you. So many months after nothing but a few calls, and old photos, I finally got to see you; and I was happy, even if all I got from you was a simple picture on a screen. But then I started to hear what the reporter was saying… Something about you entering the emergency room for a bullet-wound in your abdomen, about three to four weeks ago. And then she immediately added what the doctors had said to her previously— that in reality, you hadn't arrived at the hospital in your normal body, but in the body of a six-year-old. Just a small child… and then they said you metamorphosed into your own body right before surgery was begun."
The bittersweet smile returned to her lips, "The remote fell from my hands... I didn't know what to feel. On one hand, there you were on TV.. you were finally back. You had been in the hospital for a month, but you were being released this very day; and the strangest feeling of relief just seemed to wash over me as I realized this. You were safe, fairly healthy, and once again, just there… You were there, within my hand's reach again… But on the other hand," she continued with a deeper, more dolorous tone, "there was the fact that my suspicions were confirmed… you really had been a six-year-old, merely minutes before you arrived at the emergency room. You really had been Conan." Shinichi's hair stood on end in pure nervousness and his face swiftly paled like a chameleon's; he could see how Ran's eyes were welling up with an even thicker layer of tears, as she dared not look at his eyes and maintained her gaze on the cold floor. As she remained so still and so broken before him, Shinichi suddenly seemed to see her for the very first time that afternoon…
Her dark and wet hair snaking her face and neck; the small shoulders, trembling from time to time, though whether it was from the drenched clothes or passionate feelings, he could not determine. She looked so young and small at that moment, and as his eyes scanned her frame for the first time that early evening, he could not help the intense flush of blood that decided to pump to his cheeks. Her white t-shirt… was completely drenched and soaked with the rain. The material was practically clinging onto her…
And it was needless to elaborate…
Her torn vocal chords were a heartbreaking wake-up call to reality, though. "I was partially glad that you had been him, to be honest! It meant you hadn't been away… that you weren't off with some strange girl, or away from the country on your own; lonely, and with no one to help you. A great weight was lifted off my shoulders when I came to know that you were Conan-kun…" She confessed with the first, heartfelt and candid smile (however small it actually was) of the afternoon. Shinichi nevertheless winced, and internally moaned at her pronunciation of "Conan-kun"; the honey-sweet, cloying manner in which she'd named his miniature self. It made a strange sensation of self-hate form in the pit of his stomach.
"But that same reality meant you had lied to me…" she continued, with the most powerful voice she could muster, which was currently just above a choked and watery whisper. "That despite how many times I suspected and confronted you, you lied to me. You never told me the truth, Shin–" The boy's heart skipped a few beats as Ran's voice came to an unnatural halt; her hand coming up to cover her mouth, as she swallowed roughly and crystal tears fell from her eyes.
She couldn't pronounce his name. It seemed doing so made her break down…
And Shinichi's heart seemed to shatter at this bitter and also sour realization.
The need to not even walk, but run those small meters of distance between them grew to a desperate urgency. Wrap his arms around her to warm her heart, let her cry on his shoulder until her sweet eyes were desert-dry. She seemed so lonely and heartbroken, as she tried to stop her tears from falling to the ground; her figure was merely two meters away from him, tops. And yet why did she seem so far, and unreachable as she gazed at the ground; as if a colossal and apparently unbreakable barrier stood between them, and wouldn't budge any time soon. Was that barrier even existent, though, or were his fears creating a mirage? His fear that she might reject his affection if he were to approach her, simply because he had made her wait for so long. For having lied to her so coldly. He knew her rejection would shatter him into sharp and pointy little pieces, but her, possibly not ever forgiving him? Not loving him any longer, and loathing his very existence?
Merely the consideration of such outcomes was enough to make him ill. Literally ill…
And that's why he continued to press his back against the door; unable to move, or mutter, or even swallow. His head felt woozy, and his cast heavy, and his emotions were starting to swirl in his chest, as he maintained his emotive gaze on the girl before him. He once again felt that strangely keen yet light panic of not knowing what to do…
And figured bringing down the organization was nothing compared to this…
"I just would like to know why! Why wouldn't you trust me with what was going on? Why did you keep such a thing from me?!" She finally exploded, sobs choking her words and tears cascading down her cheeks. She had given up the restraint of her emotions, and finally looked into Shinichi's eyes for the first time in that early evening.
"It's not that I didn't trust you! Ran-"
"Don't lie to me!! Haven't you done enough of that?!" She spat back, freezing Shinichi on his ground. "You lived with us all along, never said a word, not even to me! I'm your friend, Shinichi!"
"I.. I know-"
"We've known each other since we were four! I trusted you! I always shared everything with you! I thought you would do the same."
"Ran.."
"I don't understand! Help me, Shinichi— just what did I do wrong? Was I a bad friend, that you couldn't tell me the truth? And not even now, when I finally know about it all, did I hear it from your own lips. You really made a statement this time, Shinichi! I heard the truth from a reporter. An unknown woman told me what you didn't tell me! I just don't…" Even more tears fell down her cheeks as a hiccup formed in her throat; she looked weak and tired. Completely miserable and heartbroken.
"Why… why would you do that? Why would you do that to me..?" She finished in a whisper, her flaming anger quickly extinguishing into a depressed sorrow as she cried in silence. "I cared about you… I told you all and everything… and you returned the gift with.. n-nothing but lies."
"I did it to protect you." He responded with an awfully serious tone; defending himself for the first time, as his characteristic determination slowly reentered his state of mind.
"Protect me? From what?" She asked as a hand rose to press her forehead; so much crying and yelling had caused her a feverish headache.
"The men who caused my turning into a child… They had initially tried to kill me with a pill, but the drug they administered metamorphosed my body instead. If they knew I was still alive, they would have come to kill me though, as well as anyone who knew about them…" His gaze remained on the ground, his hand subconsciously closing into a tight fist. "I couldn't let you know…"
"I would've kept it a secret, Shinichi, you know that… I would've done my very best to help you."
"And that's exactly why I didn't tell you. You would've put me before yourself; risking your life for me if it were necessary. No, I don't regret anything… You were the last person I wanted involved." He said flatly, his eyes dark with emotion as he gazed back at the girl. "I'm sorry, Ran. But if it meant your safety, I would've lied to you for life."
There was a deathly silence in the room, and the rain suddenly became noticeable to their ears as it continued its pouring motion. The few distant roars of thunder accompanied its symphony from time to time, making the ground quiver in fear. Ran's hand swiftly moved to brush her tears with harshness; her gaze remaining on the cold floor, as her teeth resisted the urge to gnaw her lips in stress. She hated this situation. How she wished to somehow… magically regress, and return to a time where Shinichi and her would laugh and tease their way to school; just joking and having fun. Go back to a moment in their lives, where they were happy, and carefree friends, who enjoyed the beauties and excitements of life; who shared and trusted everything with the other.
Who relied on each other…
A roaring thunder shattered the sky, and rattled the ground with merciless force, as Ran's teeth sunk into the flesh of her lips, and tears cascaded down her cheeks in desperation. An emotional typhoon was still marauding in her body, yet she still attempted to invoke her very last bits of self-control. Her gaze wouldn't dare to move from the ground, fearing her impulsive actions if she saw his expression yet again. His eyes just now had seemed so sad; so pained and matured, as he'd spoken those last words.. there was a sense of resolution, and strength in them as well; and somehow, at the same time, also managed to overflow with tender care, and soft gentleness, and…
No— she wouldn't look at him. She shouldn't... mustn't… couldn't!
More than phobic of his finely-structured and oh-so-perfect facial features, she felt more fearful of her own self. Of meeting his eyes, and doing something stupid consequently. Of not being able to restrain her emotions and her actions. Unwillingness to exonerate him from his past "misdeeds," was the safest moderator of her every movement, she decided in a very weak kind of self-assurance.
But even her last bits of confidence quickly crumbled, as she realized the logic behind his actions. He had lied to her to protect… He had kept her ignorant, to keep her foreign of danger…
She winced internally. Was she already, so quickly forgiving him..?
"I'm very sorry, Ran…" continued Shinichi lowly, oblivious of her suddenly racing heart, as he gazed at the ground and hesitantly stepped towards her. "I never meant for this to happen. I didn't want you to cry, and worry about me. I didn't mean to hurt you… I swear to you, Ran, I never did." Was his quiet yet candid oath as he gazed back at her tearful eyes, stepping towards her a bit more. "You deserved the truth, more than anyone else. I.. I actually planned on telling you everything once I'd go by your house, and visit you soon, but.. I guess that doesn't matter now." He smiled sadly, gulping down the knot of distress that had formed with so much tension.
"I did everything to protect you, Ran. I was afraid those men would do something to you… I could never live with myself if anything were to happen to you because of me. I'd rather have you hate me for the rest of my life, and be healthy and safe, than to spend my years visiting your grave, knowing that you were aware of Conan, but were forced to pay the consequences for doing so. Please, Ran, you… you have to understand.. I'd never hurt you purposely, and I'd never want you to cry because of me… but you not knowing, meant your well-being. I lied to you because I c... care and worry f-for you…" He finished this last with blushing cheeks, not having meant to express those final emotions.
"You'll understand, won't you? My reasons for doing all of this..?" Practically begged Shinichi in a very quiet voice; rising his left hand to touch her cheek, but his breath and semi-gulp became stuck in his throat as her hand slapped his away. "Don't..." was her quivering reply, so harshly spoken it caused Shinichi's heart to crack loudly. "Just don't… touch me, Shin–" Her hands sprang to her mouth once again, the pain in articulating his name had returned with full force. Crystal pearls escaped the prison of her tightly shut eyes, and she attempted to blindly move around him to flee the scene. "I-I have to g-go.." she whined mournfully, her heart sinking like a rock as she felt his warm hands around her waist. "Shi… Shinichi, don't... don't do this." But his embrace merely tightened in force. He brought her face to the crook of his neck, and approached the nearest wall, pushing her back against the cold brick and pressing himself tightly against her. She struggled weakly, though whether because she was emotionally and physically tired, or she was simply being considerate of her strength, he wasn't fully sure. But light punches and pushes were being dedicated to his arms and shoulders nonetheless; and Shinichi kept himself resolute, and his insistence remained unwavering. Sadly, she probably hit him five times at most, before breaking out into loud and helpless sobs, earning an even tighter hug from the man as she sank her head on his shoulder. Shinichi swallowed roughly, brushing his cheek against her ear while his left hand kept her firmly pressed against himself. How he hated this situation… No, more like loathed it. Everything about it was wrong— Ran crying, his wounded heart still bleeding from her rejection, his lips not able to part and articulate a word, his casted arm not able to pull her even closer, the rain sobbing loudly, the dim light of the chandelier flickering from the storm…
Okay, maybe the last was irrelevant, but he surely couldn't remember a time where he felt as gloomy and worn as now. With Ran leaning against him, hiccupping tiredly as her hands embraced his neck. With his heart throbbing in the most uncomfortable pain, as he wished for…
Wait a minute— what were Ran's hands doing behind his neck? He could've sworn he had never felt them there…
"I'm sorry.." her watery whisper spoke, muffled against the cotton of his shirt as another shudder broke through her body. Shinichi's left hand caressed the small of her back – a subconscious movement of sorts – as he felt her slowly relax under his arms. He had to admit, the situation was becoming highly pleasing to the senses, but he still had to wonder why she would apologize for anything during this evening? Was it because of her cries, or protests? Jeez, if there was something he was completely sure about, was her undeniable right to explode at him tonight…
The girl slowly pulled back from his embrace, gulping audibly as she dared to look back into his eyes. Her heart soon leapt into a sprint (a common tendency it unfortunately followed whenever he was near), and the shaky sigh that left her mouth could not possibly be stopped, as his tender gaze met hers. With an impressive degree of care, Shinichi's left hand rose to cup her cheek, his mind soon cheering in happiness once he reached the soft skin, and didn't feel a rejecting slap on the course. Instead, she fluttered her eyes into a close, seemingly enjoying the sensation of his thumb against her cheek, brushing her hot tears away. Her cheeks were still lightly flushed, and the strands of wet and dark brown hair clung to her face and neck, resembling the loveliness of a bindweed. The full lips above her chin were red and glossy, slightly parted from crying, and absolutely attractive. Shinichi simply couldn't wait until she reopened her eyes, and slowly bent his head forward, meeting her mouth with his own in a calid gesture of affection. He felt her slightly gasp in surprise, her lips quivering the smallest and most negligible bit, before moving for an equally warm response.
It was wonderfully lovely, to say the least. Their hearts were palpitating like two madmen's, and they both tried their very hardest to control their breathing through the kiss, not make it too ragged nor to slow, as they continued to press their lips with as much tenderness as possible. It was a difficult task, considering they were completely inexperienced kissers, but neither of them complained. The overwhelming sweetness and intimacy of this experience, of caressing each other's mouths in slow and devotional movements, as they remained closer than ever before. It was enough to send them both tingling in balmy pleasure, as they realized they had clearly crossed the line of friendship. Something that they had dreamed, and desired, and craved for so long…
The strange taste of salty tears and sweet raindrops mingled between their lips, slipping from one mouth to the other, and teasing them to press, and caress with more fervency. It was a necessity which they simply could not resist, as Shinichi pressed Ran's body further against the wall, and gradually quickened the movement of his mouth. The increasing ardor of the kiss made a shudder run through the girl's spine, though she didn't think, nor dare of making a sign of complaint. On the contrary, she allowed herself to melt against his warm body, as her own muscles became hot butter from ecstasy.
And as Shinichi shyly invited her into his mouth, opening his lips and soon encountering the fantastic feeling of a hot and timid tongue, the sound of a click was heard at his 8 o'clock.
Fluttering his eyes open to gaze at the purveyor of the sound, both Ran and Shinichi's eyes widened in shock, as they met the happy-go-lucky and grocery-holding figure of Kudou Yukiko.
Who had (for practically a nanosecond) mysteriously tucked her hand in her coat. Nah… for no apparent reason whatsoever. Not that Shinichi and Ran, in the midst of embarrassment and an attack of the jitters, had noticed her movement anyway…
Their bodies instinctively separated as if a bee had mischievously stung their butts; their cheeks quickly transforming into brightly crimson neon lights, as a few loud stammers managed to be so eloquently spoken.
"Tadaima, Shin-chan!" Sang the woman in her usual cheerfulness, pretending with wonderful skill as if she'd seen absolutely nothing. Both Shinichi and Ran's mouths hung speechlessly. "I got a few things from the store.. there was absolutely nothing in this house… Oh, and your father is still out; I sent him to buy the medicines your doctor prescribed…"
"Eh… o-okay."
"Ran-chan! It is so wonderful to see you, you've grown so much!" Exclaimed the woman giddily, setting the paper bag on the ground to hug the teenager tightly, and later examining her with a toothy smile. Her expression soon turned into one of surprise though. "Oh my! Did you get caught in the storm, Ran?" The girl followed her gaze with blushing cheeks, as she noticed it lead to her chest. "Your clothes are soaked!" And indeed, her white shirt gave a wonderful display of its contents… Her arms jerked to cover herself, blood rushing to her cheeks with amazing speed as she gazed at the ground. 'Earth, swallow me whole…'
"Gosh, you must be freezing in that— Oh wait, I got it! How about you take a nice, hot shower upstairs? Shin-chan can let you borrow some dry clothes once you're done, and then you can stay over for dinner!"
"What?!" Exclaimed the twosome in disconcert, their cheeks glowing at the concept of dining together after…all of that.
"C'mon Shinichi, take her to your room and you both pick some nice clothes. I'll be out in the kitchen, preparing dinner." She said with a wide smile, pushing the two madly blushing teenagers towards the set of stairs. Shinichi directed a secretive glare to his mom, soon gaping in bewilderment as he saw the mischievous grin on her lips. "Off you go..!" She mouthed with a playful wave of her hand, baring her white teeth in the largest, most gleeful smile she had dedicated in a long time. It was hard not to convulse in a loud fit of laughter, as she saw the awestruck expression of her dear son, stumbling a little on his way to the bedroom, as Ran silently accompanied him, clearly within the depths of the oh-so-sweet lala land.
The two disappeared once they reached the second floor of the Kudou mansion, and the woman chose that moment to casually slip her hand inside the right pocket of her topcoat. Pulling out a rectangular machine of silvery plastic, her index finger pressed a button which soon lit into bright green; the once-black screen before her, automatically gaining luminescence, and illustrating the recently-taken picture as her eyes glimmered with pure glee. Her grin merely widened in the company of a soft blush.
"Yukiko.. what are you doing just standing there?" Asked a man with a quirked eyebrow, just having arrived from the pouring streets, and holding a small paper bag in his hands.
"Oh, Yuusaku! You got Shin-chan's things— I'm glad!" She said with an awfully palpable cheerfulness, rising on her tiptoes to kiss him hello, as she took the bag from his hands.
The writer looked at her with a strong air of amusement, "Whatever happened to you..? Not even you, my dear, are this happy…"
"Oh, shut up.." she retorted with a small grin, "Oh hey, are you busy this afternoon, by any chance?" She quickly asked, though remaining silent as she waited for his response.
"Umm... no, I don't think so. Why? Do you have something in mind?" Asked the man with genuine curiosity, noticing his wife's gaze turn to the still brightly-shining camera. She soon looked back at him, giddiness widely visible in both her blue eyes and toothy smile as she shrugged in a useless attempt to brush off her excitement. "No reason… just thought of going frame-shopping…"
A/N: Oh wow! Isn't this neat? It's been horribly dry here for the past few months, and just when I write this story, it starts pouring madly outside!! Heck, that's just Got to be the power of witchcraft… xDDD
Oh gosh, I better stop saying stupidities and further ruining my reputation.. xD
And I have (yes, still) not a lot, but tons of homework… I have to read Great Expectations in two days!! That book! Yes, with that annoying little girl, that I just feel like strangling because, damn her, she's just so darn mean, and she hurts my poor Pip, and I swear, when I get my hands on her—
:-::Sigh::-:… Okay. That's it. Rani's suffering from dementia. No help for her now… xD
Anyways, I'm off! Yet again.. UU¬¬
Please let me know, darlings, of what you thought of this story!! n.n I'd love to get feedback from you!
'til nesht time..! ;D