File 11: Reunion
Do not wait; the time will never be ''just right.'' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.
-Napoleon Hill
Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.
-Swedish Proverb
A child stood wearing grown-up clothes that were much too big for him even though he was not playing dress-up. He accepted a glass of water from a portly but intelligent looking man and an innocuous looking pill from a young girl. He put the pill in his mouth and used the water to help him swallow it.
A burning sensation began in his stomach like someone drinking strong spirits on an empty stomach. The sensation spread through his body to the tips of his fingers and toes.
It burns! It is like dying. Will it ever end?! As the pain became even more intense, he fell into black unconsciousness.
He collapsed onto the futon covered floor, the portly man and girl started a little. Neither moved forward to help, though. They watched in horrified fascination as they watched the figure on the floor undergo an incredible and almost unbelievable transformation.
Watching, they saw the limbs of the person lengthen and expand to fit the clothes that had previously been too large. It was difficult for the watchers not to do anything as they heard the figure moaning unconsciously in pain at the physical changes.
After what seemed to be an indeterminable amount of time, the changes seemed to slow down and stop. The watchers looked at each other with worry visible in their expressions. The girl made note of the time and the other moved forward and kneeled next to the fallen boy-changed-to-a-man.
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"Shinichi," said Agasa, "wake up."
Shinichi opened his eyes and moaned coming out of the semiconscious state the change had put him into.
"How do you feel?" Agasa asked.
Groaning a little he propped himself up on the futons so that he was sitting. "I feel like an overcooked noodle." He paused a moment as he collected his thoughts, "And I'm tired. I think I'd like a nap."
Haibara walked over to Shinichi, holding a glass of lemonade, "Then you may go back to your place after you have drunk this. It will help you body to recover energy from the changes."
He nodded his thanks as he took the glass and took a long swallow.
She added, "I think you should stick around your house for a day or two."
She interrupted him before he could put together a protest, "I want to make sure that this cure is a permanent one. I don't think you want a repeat of last time." Haibara added a little coldly, "As I recall the last change back occurred before you got to tell Mouri-chan how you felt."
Shinichi looked down in defeat. He knew she made a good point.
Doesn't mean I have to like it, he thought a little bitterly.
The next few minutes were relatively quiet as Agasa helped Shinichi stand and Haibara writing down the instructions for Shinichi to follow for the next two days.
Walking slowly to the front door, Shinichi paused and asked Haibara, "If it's permanent are you going to take it?"
Haibara stopped in her tracks. Agasa also stopped moving. An almost deafening silence settled in around the room.
"I haven't decided yet," she said, undecided tones coloring her voice.
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AH! Sun bright, thought Shinichi as he rolled over in an attempt to go back to sleep but sleep eluded him. Well, damn it. I'm awake now.
He smacked his mouth a couple of times as he climbed out of bed but he stopped when his feet touched the floor.
He smiled. It is so nice to have my feet touch the floor, he thought. He trotted over to the bathroom still marveling at the changes wrought two nights ago.
I can look into a mirror with no problem. I can look people in the eye. Today, Shinichi Kudo returns. Today, I return!
After breakfast, he went over to the Professor's to receive the 'Okay' from Haibara.
After an onslaught of questions and tests, like "You haven't felt any unusual pain or twinges?" to "No markings, moles, or epidermis abnormalities?" which took about an hour. Finally, she said, "Well, I don't see any physical reason why you can't go out today."
When he practically started dancing she added, "While, I'd rather that you hang around for a week for observation," Shinichi's expression feel and he looked like he was going to argue, "I know you. You won't hang around that long without becoming a pain. So…I'll let you go out provided you come in for observation some time each day. Perhaps in the evening when you are headed home from doing stuff during the day."
"Thank you," Shinichi said putting his hands together and doing a little bow as he edged off towards the door, "That sounds great."
Agasa chuckled and Haibara smiled, when Shinichi all but ran out the door.
"What would you bet that he heads over to Ran-chan's soon?" said Agasa.
"I would be very surprised and disappointed if he isn't at Mouri-chan's within the next hour," she said smiling happy because she had truly accomplished a major goal and had taken a huge step towards rectifying the mistake of the Apotoxin.
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Forty-five minutes later, Shinichi stood on the doorstep of the Mouri Detective Agency dressed casually and holding a bouquet of mixed flowers.
He stood on the doorstep nervously. He thought, I'd like to give her roses but she would have to explain them to her mom when she drops by, there are a few roses in here, and besides…I'd rather tell Ran with words. I want to tell her with my own voice.
He rang the doorbell and when Ran asked who was there he said in an official voice, "Special delivery for Ran Mouri."
Ran opened the door and stopped in mid-step. She stood in the doorway with surprise evident on her face. Shinichi, still nervous, smiled shyly and offered her the bouquet.
"Surprise," he said softly.
"Shinichi…how…when…," Ran tried to ask, too stunned to form a proper sentence.
"I wanted to tell you yesterday that I was coming back but I was afraid I might be detained a bit longer."
She stepped forward quickly and threw her arms around Shinichi. "I've missed you."
Shinichi put his arms around Ran, taking care not to crush the flowers he still held. "I know. I don't intend to run off like that again."
He was going to say more but her felt dampness through his shirt and realized that Ran was crying. He could almost hear her thoughts.
Ran hung onto Shinichi for all it was worth, thinking, Shinichi's back! He's back! Thank you so much, thank you! She squeezed tighter to make sure he was real and wouldn't run off.
Sensing her need to be held, Shinichi hugged a little tighter in turn, saying nothing, letting Ran cry into his shoulder, understanding that, for once, he understood her perfectly.
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The rest of the morning was spent with Ran holding tight to Shinichi's arm. Neither of them seemed to care about the looks they received from passerbies as they walked down the sidewalk towards a park.
What am I doing? Shinichi thought angrily to himself. Last time I waited to tell Ran I changed back!
"What's wrong, Shinichi?" Ran asked noticing that he was frowning.
"I just realized I'm being stupid." He looked around the park, smiling when he spotted a bench under a tree. "Let's sit down. I need to tell you something."
Ran felt a jolt when he said that. Wondering, she thought, What's he going to say? I hope…
Sitting down on the bench, Shinichi turned to Ran and grabbed both of her hands in his.
He looked right into her eyes as he began to speak, "Every time I've tried to tell you before something has happened," he started to ramble, "Sometimes it was my fault…most of the time it was mine but sometimes I couldn't control anything. But I am going to tell you now, even though the setting is not what I'd imagined and not what I wanted to give you," pausing Shinichi took a few steadying breaths to calm his shaking hands and nerves.
"I love you, Ran."
"I've liked you for many years and events over the past year have made me discover just how much I care for you."
"I've hated myself because I have made you cry. That was never my intent." Shinichi moved close to a stunned Ran and pulled her into his arms. "I've wanted to hold you for so long now. I found it agonizing to be so far from you."
"I'd never realized how much you were a part of me till you weren't around."
"Shinichi…," Ran said with tears running down her face.
"Yes?"
"I've wanted to hear you say that," she sniffed wrapping her arms around him, "I never thought you'd notice me." Ran scooted next to Shinichi and laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you, too."
Shinichi wrapped his arms around Ran. "I know you are probably angry at me. And I don't blame you but I'd like the chance to make it up to you."
"I'll be mad at you when we go to school tomorrow."
Shinichi chuckled, "If you aren't mad at me tomorrow night would you like to go out to dinner with me?"
"Are you asking me out on a date?"
Shinichi paused and grinned mischievously, "No, I'm asking you twin sitting right next to you."
"You!" Ran said, smacking Shinichi lightly on the arm.
A few more moments of silence passed. He asked quietly, "Will you?"
"Of course," she said sitting up and giving Shinichi a light peck on the cheek causing both of them to blush.
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Shinichi's return to school the following day not any different from his previously aborted attempt to return to the life he knew. Except for one thing. Ran knew how he felt about her. He skipped a little, she's not even mad at me! I can't wait till tonight, he thought joyfully.
I feel like I'm doing everything that I can to not to go to the top of the building and shout how I feel about her, he thought wirily. I feel like I'm doing everything I can not to got up to every person and telling them I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
A few classmates he passed gave him odd looks. They were trying to figure out the last time they saw Shinichi Kudo wear such a goofy grin and why he would be wearing one.
To avoid the attentions of the school gossipmongers, Shinichi and Ran did not try to dissuade Sonoko from tagging along on the way out of the building. Sonoko dragged Ran off as Shinichi looked at her remembering that they were going out that night.
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Shinichi arrived at the entrance of the hotel. He was taking Ran to Central Kyoto Tower Restaurant, again. (1) Looking at his watch, he realized that he still had ten minutes until she was going to arrive.
Heh, Shinichi laughed to himself, guess I couldn't wait to come.
Shinichi looked up at the sky. He could not see many stars because of the city lights and pollution but still was able to identify the brighter stars. Reflectively, he thought about yesterday afternoon.
I'm glad I told her how I feel. Last time…I was such a coward and beat around the bush…and I paid the price. Shinichi took a deep breath. What's the good saying I've heard when visiting my parents in America? 'There is no time like the present.' I am going to ask her right away tonight. She means so much to me.
A voice broke through his introspection, "What are looking at, Shinichi?"
Looking down, his eyes met Ran's eyes. He smiled at her gently, "I was going to compare you to the sun and stars but you outshine them all."
The word took a few moments to sink into Ran's mind but when they did, she slowly turned a bright red, from her ears to below her collar. She stuttered slightly, "You've, you've been reading Shakespeare or something…"
"Or something," his grin turned rakish. "But I was comparing you and wondering how I got so lucky." That last part is not lie, he thought. I could've died many times this past year.
Still blushing, Ran allowed Shinichi to escort her into the elevator of the hotel. A waiter escorted them to the same table as the last time.
Ran looked at Shinichi with nervousness and hopefulness. She could not help but remember what the waitress had told her the last time she had eaten here with Shinichi. (2) Is, is he going to ask me to…?
"Excuse me, miss?"
Ran started a little. She had been focusing on Shinichi so much that she had not heard the waitress asking for her order. After telling her what she wanted, she turned back to Shinichi.
Shinichi was watching her with a small smile on his face. Ran blushed, as she was so unused to any attention from him. "Wha, what are smiling at?" she asked a little brutally, looking down at her plate.
"I'm just smiling because you are…" Shinichi stopped talking for a moment. Looking up at his face, Ran saw a blush gracing his checks. He cleared his throat, still blushing, he said, rather quickly, "I was smiling because you are looking really pretty tonight."
Now, both Ran and Shinichi sat in silence, blushing because of the unusual communication.
Shinichi shook his head. What am I doing?! I need to be proactive! I need to ask now. He looked up at Ran. Seeing that she was peering up at him through her bangs, he decided that he had better asked before the meal came.
"Uh, Ran?" he said nervously.
Ran looked up at him. "Would you…would you…?" Ran smiled a little bit, seeing he was as nervous as she was. He was as white as a sheet with the only color on his face being the blush on his cheeks. Taking another breath after the false start, he tried asking again. "Ran…would you...would you…," the last part came out as a whisper, "marry me?"
Speaking with more confidence than she felt, Ran asked, "What did you say? I could quite hear what you said."
Standing up abruptly and walking around the table, Shinichi took Ran's hands and asked with more confidence, "Ran, would you marry me?"
Ran sat for a moment, feeling elated that she had just heard something she had only dreamed of in her wildest dreams. Looking into his eyes, she said, "Yes."
When the waitress returned with their food she was greeted by the scene of the young couple embracing each other lovingly.
(1) Vol. 26 file 5; Shinichi took Ran to this restaurant to tell her something important. Name of restaurant based off of a translation, I'm not entirely sure if it is correct.
(2) Another Vol. 26 reference. I'm not telling! :P
Fluff!! Did you ever think I'd give you fluff? I've never written this kind of fluff before. I did some for a Saint Tail story but it was heavily laced with humor. This is different. Tell me what you think. Did I do it right? Did I lay it on too thick? Give me feedback. (You know you like the chapter you've written when you smile at your own writing. Like I did with this one and 7.)
I just realized that this is the…happiest chapter I've written yet. But it was about time! But don't worry, some of the drama returns next chapter. ;)
Posted: 7-28-04
