KudoEdogawa presents...
""Always""
Chapter 1
The ringing of the doorbell echoed throughout the detective agency, although she expected her father to answer the door, she knew it wasn't possible, for Mouri Kogoro was currently drunk and sleeping, lying on his desk with beer cans scattered around. The bell continued to ring. Ran stepped out of her room and into the living, and she was right. She gave a sigh. Usually she'd shout at her father, but for once, she didn't mind, because her parents are finally reunited, just like Shinichi and herself.
"Ran-chan! The door!" Her mother shouted from the kitchen. Ran smiled, she's been hoping for such nights for nearly ten years now: her father lazily lying somewhere, and her mother cooking in the kitchen. Ran giggled; her mother's cooking are actually edible now. Ran stayed where she was and continued watching over this scene---this is it, what she has been dreaming of ever since she's a little girl---a perfect family. There is only one person who can make this better...
"Ran!! The door!!" Eri shouted again, sounding just a tad bit mad. Not wanting to start an argument, Ran answered the door.
There he is, in his usual blue suit, holding a bouquet of flowers, and looking a little tired, it's him, the one missing person in that now-perfect living room---her dearest childhood friend, Kudo Shinichi.
"Shinichi!" Ran was shocked; the two of them haven't met for nearly two weeks. "Why...how...gaah! Don't you have work to do?"
"Well," the man said. It has been so long since Ran had heard his voice, and it sounded warm and comforting to her. "It's been a while since I last talked to you, so I decided to push work aside and come spend the evening with you." He handed her the bouquet of flowers.
"Thanks, they're beautiful." Ran said and smiled. "Come in!" Ran said, pushing the door wider so Shinichi could come in, "Mom's making dinner right now."
Shinichi came in and closed the door behind him and seated himself on one side of the square table; the side that he always sat at as Conan. Their conversation attracted Eri's attention and she came out of the kitchen, still holding a spatula, to see who their guest was.
"Shinichi!" She was just as shocked as Ran was. "Oh, dear boy, I haven't seen you in ages! You don't look so well, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm alright." Shinichi answered. "Just a bit tired from the work load recently." He looked at Ran, who was at the bookshelf, placing the flowers in a magnificent blue vase. He smiled at her.
"It's great that you're so dedicated to your work... unlike someone else." Eri said and glanced at Kogoro, still fast asleep. Slightly annoyed, she threw the spatula at Mouri, waking him up. She turned back to Shinichi and continued, "But you still have to take care of yourself, okay?"
Mouri gave a great big yawn and decided to go back to sleep.
Eri glared at him, and talked in a threatening tone. "Get your butt up and clean the table, we have a guest." Not daring to disobey his wife, Mouri got up rather reluctantly and cleaned the messy dining table.
Eri turned at Shinichi again, "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
"Sure, if it's not too much trouble," Shinichi smiled.
"Oh, no, not at all!" Eri said as she retreated into the kitchen, "Well, make yourself at home. It'll be ready soon."
Dinner was wonderful. Due to Shinichi's company, Eri worked extra hard on the menu. Soon, the wooden dining table was filled with sushi of every type, delicious miso soup, teriyaki chicken, and soba noodles. There were lots of laughter, lots of conversation. Shinichi sat next to Ran, and every now and then they would glance at each other, blush a little, smile, and think to themselves...
This is the perfect life...
But neither of them are aware of the devilish giggles Fate was letting out as he looked upon the couple...
The subject of the conversation has now shifted to Shinichi's job, and the Mouri family questioned about his current status.
"Well, my next case involves some things in England, that's why I have to pay the Great Britain a little visit. In fact, I'm leaving tomorrow." Shinichi said casually. But somehow, an uncomfortable feeling hit Ran. This trip doesn't seem safe and comfy to her. She gave a deep sigh and comforted herself. It's okay, it's only a business trip, he's had tons of that before. It's not like he'd get shrunken or lost again, right? ...Right?
The rest of the dinner continued in a merry atmosphere. Only Ran showed hints of discomfort on her face. She sat there, lost in her own thoughts as Fate look from above, plotting the disruption of this "perfect family."
Eri was in the kitchen, washing the dishes, while Kogoro went back, yet again, to sleep. Fate smiled; the two adults have already faced their challenge and overcame it, that's how Eri was now back at the Mouri Detective Agency. However, for the young couple taking a stroll in the park... their challenge has yet to come.
Holding each others hands, Shinichi and Ran walked around the park. They sat down on a bench in front of a Cupid statue, who has his bow and arrow pointed at the bench, and whoever is sitting on it. Ran laid her head down on Shinichi's shoulder, and Shinichi wrapped his arms around her.
They held that position for quite a while, observing the two love doves resting on top of the Cupid statue. Ran broke the silence.
"Look at them, Shinichi." She said, directing Shinichi's attention to the birds. "Do you think they truly love each other?"
Shinichi was silent for a while, and then answered. "I believe so, why do you ask?"
"No reason...I was just thinking..." There was another pause. The couple looked up at the night sky, and Ran wandered aloud, "Is Venus out there tonight, looking out for couples?"
A longer pause. The doves have left the statue; they flew off, circling around each other, like a little dance, and settled themselves onto a nearby tree, and there they slept.
"Shinichi?"
"Yes, Ran?"
"Do you truly love me?"
"Ran," Shinichi said and turned to her, "That is a silly question to ask; of course I truly love you. You will always have my love, and I mean always. No matter what happens, I will always give my love to you."
"Promise?" Ran asked.
"I promise that my love is yours alone," the man said, "And that I'd rather die than be disloyal."
"Oh, Shinichi." A single tear trickled down Ran's face. And for a while they looked at each other, beholding each other's beauty. Then Shinichi kissed her. They wrapped their arms around each other, and as dawn's first light opens the eastern gate, only one thought lasted in their minds:
I love you.
Edited: Forgot when ...
