Author's Notes: Yay! I'm so glad people like my new story. Now, I don't know exactly how many chapters there'll be yet...I'm still in the thinking process. I'll try and make this story enjoyable.

Chapter 2

Once the school bell rang, all the students rushed out of the classroom, escaping the cramped tension of school, and refresh themselves with having to worry about homework, or anything else that dealt with school. All they could care about at the moment, was hanging out with their friends, or their boyfriends/girlfriends. Basically what every teenager would care about.

Except for Mouri Ran at the moment....

She still couldn't understand clearly what happened. First off, she was laying in a hospital room not that long ago with the highest fever, and now, it's like she was wisked away into some other world. Perhaps she was stuck in the subconcious of her own mind? But, why the school? and not at her house? or..

"What're you thinking about Ran?"

She sweatdropped. Shinichi had popped out of nowhere. He blinked, glancing at her. He could tell that something was bugging her, especially since she seemed in such deep thought. He scratched his head, sweatdropping. "What's up with you? You seem diffrent today.."

She looked at him. "Ehh, nothing, nothing at all.." She gave him a fake smile and nodded.

"Liar. Something's wrong with you, tell me."

"I told you it's nothing!" She gave him a glare, as if she was ready to use some of her karate on him. He got the message, and nodded giving up. She sighed, and then walked off. While she did, Shinichi couldn't help but look over as she did.

Ehh..maybe I should keep an eye on her.

She continued walking by herself. Seems like Sonoko didn't notice Ran walk off. But then again, she did seem busy talking to the boys from her class. She sighed silently, as she made it to her house. Looking up, she noticed that everything was still there. The sign on the windows, the cafe that was below the agency, all the cars, buildings, the sun shining, the clouds, everything seemed so normal. She didn't know why, but she had this nagging feeling in her heart that this wasn't normal.

Who wouldn't think this situation was normal when you were laying in a hospital bed not just a few moments ago?

She shrugged, and walked up the stairs into the Mouri agency. She stood there, infront of the door. She didn't hear any sounds. The TV, nor her dad snoring from probably being drunk all day.She gulped, placing her hands on the doorknob. She hesistated, afraid to see what was behind the door.

And then, she felt like someone pushed her to open the door, because she certainly didn't feel her own hand do it. To her relief, everything was okay. The TV was still in the same place, her dad was sleeping in his room instead of the table where he would usually indulge himself with alcohol the night before. She smiled, and threw herself on the couch, placing her school briefcase beside the couch's feet. She closed her eyes, but before she could, she noticed something below her.

A red bow-tie.

She blinked, sitting up right, and reaching for it. Wait a second..this looks..familiar..

Before she could grasp it in her hands, it disappeared.

"What..?" She took a few minutes thinking about it in her head. She knew she saw that red-bowtie on the floor, but, it disappeared! Things just don't disappear out of nowhere..She would've kept thinking about it, if the door hadn't rang. She glanced towards the door. She began to sweat, now nervous at what was going to happen next. She hesistantly stood up, and walked towards the door.

Her heart began to pound faster, and faster.

The closer she got to the door, the faster her heart would pound.

W-Why?..

She stood in-front of the door, the bell rang once more.

W-What's going..going on?

Her hand would grasp unto the doorknob.

Why am I..so afraid to open the door?

She closed her eyes, as she opened the door. At that very moment, her heart stopped pounding fast.

"Ran, are you alright?"

She opened them, glancing at the person who stood in-front of her. "..Shinichi?!" She sounded like she was surprised, something which took him by surprise. He walked closer towards her. "..Ran?" Now he knew something was wrong. She sighed, and closed the door behind him.

"I'm sorry...I was just..um.."

He arched a brow, looking at her with concern. "What? Did you have a bad dream or somethin'?"

She shook. She thought it over. "Yeah! I did..I had a dream that some monster came out of nowhere and wanted to eat me. Yeah..that was it"

Okay, something's going on with her. Just gotta figure out what it is.. "Want me to keep you company then?"

She gave him a fake smile, and then nodded. "A-huh." She walked back towards the couch, and sat down sighing loudly. Shinichi took notice of this, and sat down next to her, but made sure not to sit that close to her. As much as he wanted to help her feel better, or find out whatever was bothering her, he still couldn't forget how he felt. Especially if I get too close..

She sat there, sitting as still as a statue. Her eyes looked filled with uncertainty and sadness. She clasped her hands together, placing them at her knees. She was sure deep in thought. She didn't even notice Shinichi next to her. At the moment, she felt alone, in her own little universe. The sirens outside, the rustle and bustle of the streets and the people talking...

Where all silenced in her mind.

She jerked a bit. A tear fell from her eyes. Shinichi looked at her. "..Ran?"

She began to sob, biting her lip. She tried so hard to resist crying infront of him, but she couldn't help it. She felt so lonely, as if she was stuck in some world that nobody would understand. She looked over at Shinichi, her eyes still filled with tears.

S-Shinichi..

She clenched her fists, biting unto her lip even harder now. Was he fake too? Was this all some weird reality?

He looked at her. Something was definately wrong. "..Ran, what's wrong?"

Shinichi, Shinichi.. She sobbed louder, as she wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she could. She couldn't hold it in any longer, she let out her painful sobs. Releasing it as if she didn't, she would break inside. Shinichi's eyes were filled with sadness, as he wrapped his arms around Ran in return. Patting her back as comforting as he could. He hated seeing her cry, he hated seeing her in pain..

"Shh, It's okay Ran.." I'm here for you..

She held tighter against him, she didn't want to let go. She felt at the moment that Shinichi was the only thing that felt real to her, in this unknown world. Even if she knew where the shopping mall was, or where her school and home was, even Shinichi's house, this world wasn't her own, it was an unknown world.

As she continued holding unto him, filling the room with her sobs, she thought to herself once more. Why? Why was she here? What purpose does she have here?

Did I really...Did I really die?