Note:
Hello! :3 Welcome to another update! I hope you enjoy this little piece! Special thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, followed, or simply read this story, as always! You guys are the best! Love you! :3

Disclaimer: I do not own Detective Conan! :(

-.-

Unchanged

You stand before me.

I try to calculate the amount of time that has passed since that fateful day in Tropical Land. A year? Two years?

I do not know anymore; since you left, the seasons changed and blended. Time passed quickly. The scenery drifted. And yet, you stand before me now, and you are unchanged.

Your eyes are the same blue. Your face looks the same as well, with your strong jaw, your angular nose, and your high cheeks. Although, I can see the wisdom has increased—you have surpassed your limit, haven't you, in the past year or two?

And yet, you are unchanged.

But how do I know? Two years or a year—time changes people. Either for better or worse, change will occur. I have changed.

I am not the small girl you left. I am not the same girl that cried her eyes out that day, when you didn't come back, and cried her eyes out again when she received your first phone call then.

Do you know that? Somehow, I know you do. Your eyes are looking at me, curiously. But don't my eyes tell you something? Don't they tell you that despite all the changes in me, I still miss you? Don't they tell you that my emotions are just as unchanged as you are?

No, no, I don't think they do…

And I don't think you are unchanged either. You did change. Of course you did. Maybe I am just eluding myself. Maybe you are not even here and it's just another dream and I will wake up…

Yes…

Maybe…

You open your mouth and I hold my breath.

"I'm home."

Your voice is still as deep as I remember, still as soothing and warm.

You're home?

"I'm not leaving again."

You'll change your mind tomorrow. You always do. You'll disappear.

"I won't. I promise."

My unchanged heart wants to believe you. But my mind tells me you are a liar.

"Ran…"

Don't call my name like that! Don't call it so familiarly after all this time! Don't.

You reach your hand out and you lay it on my cheek. My eyes widen in shock. The old you would have never done this. The old you would have blushed and stammered and got away from me quickly.

And yet, you cup my face and peer into my eyes.

"I promise."

Yes, you have changed. But your resolve, as I have always known it, is still unchanged.

"Welcome home."

-.-

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Till next Friday!

Take care, sweets!