Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone. My first DC fanfic, actually, my first fanfic EVER.

Chapter 1: Flashbacks


To say that Conan Edogawa was worried was an understatement. He felt as if he finally encountered a case he cannot solve. He was confused, baffled, defeated even. And worse, he also knew that this was one of the most important case of he would ever come across. But he was frustrated that he cannot fathom its depths, or worse, he doesn't want to.

There is only one truth.

How many times had he told himself, and anyone with him, that very same thing? Conan sighed as he crossed the street towards the phone booth. He then waited for his turn, silently urging the woman who was using it to hurry it up.

Yes, there is only one truth. And maybe the truth was about to kick him in the face; only he didn't want to see it. Maybe the case wasn't unsolvable after all; only he didn't want to accept the truth behind it. Maybe this was actually the easiest case he had to solve; only the solution would go against everything he believed in.

He cringed inwardly. This is one of those cases where one cannot win.

But, he had to gather more evidences before he concede defeat.

The woman who was talking non-stop in the phone booth finally replaced the receiver in its cradle and stepped out. She smiled at Conan and ruffled his hair. "I'm sorry I took so long. My son was having problem with his homework. Are you calling your mother?"

My girlfriend, actually, Conan thought to himself. Or rather, the girl whom he thought was just his friend, until the weird events in his life unfolded. And more precisely, the woman whom he wished was his girlfriend. But he merely nodded to the woman.

"That's nice," the woman commented. "Young people nowadays don't think of calling home if they plan on staying home late."

Conan ignored the woman's chatter. He had to talk to Ran. Well, Shinichi had to talk to Ran to clear things out.

You see, Ran is happy lately, very happy. Too happy.

Conan sighed as he endured the woman's babble.

Not that Ran being happy was a bad thing.

In fact he wanted her to be happy. Ever since Shinichi left and Conan appeared, there was always a hint of sadness in Ran's eyes. He would often see tears in her eyes at night whenever she remembers him.

But nowadays, she seemed unusually happy. She's cheerful and bouncy and perky, in short, she was back to her usual self before Shinichi left.
It's been a while since she last cried.

At first, he didn't understand why. He simply assumed that she was beginning to adjust to a life without Shinichi, her best friend, her soul mate, her other half. That thought scared him to no end. But he had no idea that the truth would scare him even more.

His suspicion was almost confirmed a few days ago. He had just come back with Kogoro Mouri from solving another murder, or rather, Conan had solved the case while the Sleeping Detective took all the credit for it.

"We're home," Conan announced happily as he entered the door, kicked off his shoes, and stepped into his slippers. There was nothing like a baffling murder case to uplift his spirit. "Ran-neechan!" He called out.

"Ran!" Detective Mouri Kogoro also called out. "What's for dinner?" As he stepped inside, he tripped on Conan and they both fell down. "Stupid kid!" He grumbled as Conan scrambled away, aware that if Mouri caught him, he would get another smack on the head.
Conan's ears perked up. He heard soft laughter emanate from their living room. "What the-" He peeked into the room, careful not to be seen by whoever's in there.

What he saw shocked him.

Ran was in the arms of another man!


OK, so maybe, not in the arms of the another man, but she and a guy Conan had never saw before was sitting very close on the couch, their heads bend together, deep in conversation.


The man smiled at her. "It's OK, Ran," he Conan heard the man say.

Ran blushed and nodded.

"R-ran," Conan gasped. He felt a painful cramp on his stomach, like someone just hit him there.

"Ran?" The man softly called out to her. Then, he took her hand and enveloped it in his.

I never held her like that as Shinichi, Conan lamented. Why, Ran? Why?

"Y-yes?" Ran asked tentatively.

"Look at me," the guy instructed.

"Huh?"

"I will be waiting for your answer, Ran," he said. "But I'm a patient man. I could wait."

Ran nodded as she turned an even deeper shade of red. She looked at the guy's eyes.

"Ran!" A voice thundered. "What's the meaning of this?"

Conan was never so relieved to hear the thundering voice of Ran's father.

In surprise, Ran and the guy jumped apart.

"D-dad," Ran began.

"Good afternoon, sir," the guy greeted without skipping a beat.

"Who are you?" the elder Mouri demanded.

The guy bowed lowly. "My name is Shinoda Akira," he replied as he straightened up. "And you must be the best detective in Japan, Mouri Kogoro."

Mouri Kogoro laughed, immediately warming up to the stranger. "That's right. Once again my reputation precedes me."

A bead of sweat dropped from Conan's head. What a simpleton, he thought to himself, easily distracted by a compliment.

"Dad, Shinoda-kun is a new student in my class." Ran explained.

"Ran-neechan?" Conan asked as he tugged at Ran's skirt.

Shinoda looked down. "You must be Edogawa Conan," he smiled at him as he squatted down. "I brought something for you," he said as he reached in his pocket.

A lollipop? You're trying to bribe me with a lollipop? Conan had no choice but to take the lollipop Shinoda was giving him.
Shinoda suddenly ruffled his hair.

"Aah!" Conan cried as he moved out of Shinoda's reach.

Ran laughed. "He's sort of mature for his age, Shinoda-kun,"

Like you wouldn't believe, Conan thought to himself as he frantically smoothened his hair. It suddenly became important to him not to look like a slob in front of Shinoda, who looked like he just stepped out from a men's fashion magazine.

"And what were you doing with my only daughter?" Mouri demanded, regaining his composure.

"Oh, dad, we were only talking," Ran replied.

Shinoda nodded. "I have an interesting proposition for your very beautiful daughter." He replied as he twisted around to look at Ran.

Ran blushed. "Thank you," she replied demurely.

"Can I talk to you in private, Detective Mouri?" Shinoda asked. "I want to inform you of my interest in your daughter."
Mouri nodded.

"Come on, Conan, let's leave them be." Ran told Conan as she dragged him to the kitchen. "I'll make you some snacks."

"But-" Conan's protests were ignored as Ran firmly led him away.

Ran instructed Conan to sit at the kitchen table.

"What are they talking about?" Conan asked as he watched Ran rummage around the cupboards.

Ran, once again, blushed. "My future," she sighed.

Ran's future? Does that mean-

Conan couldn't even get himself to finish that sentence. Surely Ran wouldn't gamble her future with a man she just met.

Then, Ran took out a small, velvet box from her pocket. She opened it and tenderly gazed inside.

Conan's eyes widened. An engagement ring? No! It couldn't be true! It's impossible.

Then, Ran took out the ring and slipped it in her fingers. She then surveyed its effects on her hand.
Ran.

"What?" Conan almost fell out of his chair at Mouri's loud protests. "You're stealing my daughter away from me?"

"Oh, dad," Ran groaned and her head fell in her hands. She then looked at Conan then smiled.

Conan forced himself to smile back, but all he really wanted was to go to Shinoda and beat him up for stealing Ran away from him.
But Ran was never mine in the first place.

Conan heard Shinoda's muffled plea for Mouri to calm down.

Ran slipped the ring off her fingers and returned it to the box.

"Never!" Mouri announced. "I will never let you take her away! Never!"

Conan took refuge with the knowledge that Mouri would never allow his only daughter to be at the hands of this stranger.
Still, he wanted to see and hear from himself.

After eating (which Conan did in record time), he and Ran went back to the conferring men. Actually, he went, Ran tried to keep him away from the room, but failed.

Conan was surprised when he went to the living room and saw the calm Mouri talking with Shinoda.

"This young man was very convincing, Ran," Mouri told her daughter in defeat. "He wouldn't take no for an answer."

Shinoda grinned. "I told myself and my parents years ago that if I saw someone like Ran, I would never let her go,"

I should've promised myself the same thing, Conan thought as the very sight of Shinoda made him want to lose whatever it is he just ate.

"Are you sure you're ready for this, Ran?" Mouri asked. "This could change your entire life. And considering that you just met this guy," Mouri's voice trailed off as he glared at Shinoda.

"I haven't decided yet, dad," Ran admitted.

"And I'm not forcing her to." Shinoda replied. "I'm willing to wait for as long as it takes,"

"Anyway, you have my permission." Mouri said. "But it's your decision to make." He looked at Ran meaningfully. " I want you to think about it carefully."

"I am thinking about it." Ran said. "It's just that I don't want to make a decision without consulting someone first."

Mouri got up with a 'hmp!' "I wonder how he would react to this."

He? Shinichi, no doubt. Conan thought. He once again cursed the state he was in. If only he hadn't followed those men in black.

"I know, Ran." Shinoda said. "I understand. I'm giving you all the time in the world to decide about it. But think about what I'm offering you. I could make all of your dreams come true, if only you would say yes."

Ran nodded. "Thank you,"

"Well, anyway, I better go now. It's getting late. My mom's probably wondering what happened to me," Shinoda said.

"I'll walk you to the door," Ran offered.

Walk him to the door? Ran! What are you doing? "I'm coming too!" Conan called as he took Ran's hand.

"Thanks again for everything, Shinoda-kun." Ran began.

"You're great, Ran." Shinoda told her with a dazzling smile. He then took Ran's hand, the one not being held by Conan. "And please," he said as he kissed Ran's hand. "Call me Akira," with that, he turned and left.

"What a slimy character," Conan commented. "Right, Ran-neechan? Ran- neechan? Hey Ran-neechan!"


And since that day, Ran had been happy.

Her happiness seems to be bubbling inside of her, unable to contain itself. It gave her face a certain glow, it added a new dimension to her laugh. And Conan hadn't thought it to be possible, but her newfound happiness made her more beautiful.

If only he was the one who was able to give her that happiness.

Conan mentally shook himself.

There is only one truth. And the truth is Ran likes Shinichi. She told Conan so herself. She might even be in love with him. She couldn't just wake up one day and decide she's over him, right? Love doesn't have a switch that you could just flip on and off, right? Surely, he was just being paranoid. Akira Shinoda was simply Ran's adoring classmate. True, Akira Shinoda may be interested in Ran, but it was Shinichi whom she would choose. Knowing how loyal and devoted Ran is, she would wait for Shinichi, wouldn't she?

"Just how long do you intend to wait?" Sonoko demanded as she took a long sip of her drink. "How long do you intend to play second fiddle to Shinichi's cases?"

"Huh?" Conan frowned.

The three of them were having lunch after serious shopping that left Conan weak and exhausted. He earned respect for women after that experience. How could they possibly walk for hours at end, wearing high-heeled shoes and carrying heavy bags of items and still go out for more?

Ran made a face. "I could ask you the same question," she replied easily. "How long so you plan to play second fiddle to Kyougoku-san's karate tournaments?"

"Ouch," Sonoko grinned. "You got me there. But being a karate champion and all, you, of all people, should understand him,"
Ran laughed.

"Honestly, did he call you up lately?" Sonoko asked, once again turning the tables.

Ran nodded. "He called two days ago, but he's still cryptic, as usual. He refused to talk about the case he's working on."

"How about Shinoda Akira?" Sonoko asked. "The two of you are getting close lately."

"Him?" Ran laughed. "Well, he is kinda cute."

Conan choked on his drink.

"Conan, are you OK?" Ran asked worriedly as she tapped his back lightly.

Conan continued coughing but nodded his head.

"And," Sonoko continued. "How long do you intend to play mother of that kid?"

~TBC