Prologue
By Crystal Snowflakes
Author's Notes: New Detective Conan story! 'Silent Crystal Tears' will be, at one point or another, completed, if anyone cares at all. Secondly, I'm not sure this is a one-shot or not, but I've named it 'Prologue' for now. I have half of the first chapter written... But I'll see how the reviewers like this. Lastly, I don't know if this is going to end up being Shinichi/Shiho or Shinichi/Ran. Mostly Shinichi/Shiho for now... But I can be persuaded rather easily...
Disclaimers: Quite unfortunately, I do not own Detective Conan.
"Shinichi..." Ran said softly on the phone. "It's been three years... When are you going to be back? Why is this case taking you so long?"
...Ran. His voice seemed strained. Forced. I'm sorry...
"Can't you at least tell me what's going on? Nobody knows where you've been these past few years... I'm getting worried..."
I can't Ran. It's too dangerous for you.
She shook her head furiously, "At least tell me how you're doing! I've been in the dark for so long..."
His voice almost cracked. This case... Nobody can help. I'm part of this case and I can't come back until I know for sure this business is done. It's too dangerous for you or anyone that finds out... Please Ran... Please understand.
"Shinichi..." She said quietly, "Three years..."
I'm sorry Ran... I can only wish you knew how sorry I really feel. I have to go now. Bye Ran.
"I... Bye Shinichi."
Take care. A pause. ...I'll miss you.
The line went dead.
"Ran-neechan!" Conan shouted with a bright smile on his face, a hint of childish delight in his voice as he opened the door. He hoped desperately that his eyes weren't too puffed up from the crying in the phone booth.
Her back was towards him, sitting in the chair Kogoro had often when he was drunk.
He felt the hair on his neck rise forebodingly. "Ran-neechan?" He asked, his voice slightly fearful.
She turned around to face her little brother. To his surprise, there were no tears on those beautiful pale cheeks. Her eyes seemed void of anything... No pain, no sadness... "Maybe Sonoko is right..." She sighed bleakly. "Maybe I should move on... Waiting... Waiting won't do a thing... He won't even tell me anything... He..."
Ran... Surely, you don't mean that, right? He felt his chest constrict in pain and his breath quicken abnormally. "Ran-neechan... Shinichi-niichan will be back..." He tried to reassure her.
She smiled that sad smile that he had often seen on her face the past three years when she was thinking about him. "No he won't. I haven't seen him for years now, Conan-kun. I think..." She paused slightly, "I think I'm going to move on... At least attempt to."
You can't mean that Ran... You... Abruptly turning away from the woman he loved, he ran to his room and slammed the door shut.
Downstairs, the woman's head snapped up as she wondered why her choice had affected the little boy so much.
Three days later...
Conan stepped into the house, his eyes downcast and his fists clenched at his sides. "Ran..."
Ran, who was sitting on the couch, immediately scolded Conan. "Conan-kun! How many times have I told you? It's Ran-neechan!"
"Ran... I..." He shook his head, his head still bowed down. No. I want you to be safe Ran. I can't tell you... I can't tell you that I... I love you. Had Ran tilted the little boy's head at that moment however slightly, she would have seen the pained conflicting emotions in his young innocent eyes. "Ran-neechan." His voice turned into that childish high-pitched voice within a second. His eyes were once again filled with that familiar childlike innocence... "I'm going to move away."
"What?" She was shocked. "Why Conan-kun?"
His throat strained and he could feel tears creep up his eyes.
"Is it because your parents are back?"
He shook his head, "No. I'm going to go live with Professor Agasa..."
She held his small shoulders, "Why?"
"You said so yourself, Ran-neechan. You said..." He paused, trying to calm himself. He knew that telling her about this decision would be hard... But this... This was damn well impossible. "You said you were giving up on Shinichi-niichan..." Giving him up means giving me up, don't you understand Ran? You can't have one without the other... You can't have the good without the bad... I don't want to be in the way of your happiness... This is why I have to leave you.
She shook her head angrily, "Conan-kun! You're not Shinichi!" When she looked into his eyes, all thoughts of what she was going to say disappeared from her mind. In his eyes... So much pain... So much... How could such an innocent child have such a haunted look on their face?
He almost laughed at the irony. You have absolutely no idea Ran, do you? "I know how much I look like Shinichi-niichan. My being here won't help you get over him... And plus, I've been enough of a bother..." His voice cracked again, "I'll come visit sometimes when I have time..."
"Conan-kun..."
He smiled as his fingers touched her face. There was so many things he had wanted to say... "I'll miss you... Take care, Ran-neechan." He pressed his lips against her cheek, "That was from Shinichi-niichan. He said he was sorry for everything..."
Ran's eyes filled up. "You've seen him?"
Conan nodded, "He said he was sorry for making you wait for so long... He..." He swallowed the lump in his throat, "He said he won't be coming back..."
"What else?" She asked, softly demanding as her fingers dug into his shoulders from anxiousness.
"He said..." Another lump formed, "He said that he was really sorry... And that..." He choked on a sob, "And that he loved you."
Finally, not able to hold in her tears, she let them out.
Conan, who was still looking at her, his own vision getting blurry, collapsed. I love you Ran. Move on. You made the right choice... I can't let you wait forever.
She held him tightly, "If you need anything, and I mean anything. Just call, all right Conan-kun?"
"I will." He tried to smile.
"And if Shinichi calls... Tell him I forgave him."
He nodded, "I will... Take care Ran-neechan."
She smiled, "You too, Conan-kun."
As the little boy that had lived at her house for three years left, she felt a sudden emptiness. Going to her bedroom, she was surprised by a small gift that was sitting on her desk. An envelope was there was well. Fingers shaking, she opened it up.
Ran,
I know what I've put you through the past few years have been
horrid and unforgivable. I don't think I'll come back, so please, take
good care of yourself. If you need anything, just call Conan. He'll know
where to find me...
I'm sorry for keeping you in the dark, but there is no other choice...
If I could turn back time, I hope I never got myself into this mess...
I send my best to you Ran. Please take care, and like I said, if you're
in trouble, contact Conan or Hattori. They'll find me somehow.
Last thing... I'm sorry I never told you how I felt when I was there...
I love you Ran. Good bye.
Love,
Kudo Shinichi.
Outside her bedroom door, Conan leaned against the wall. It's finally over... I'm sorry Ran. He walked towards the exit of the house, looked around one last time, then turned away forever.
I'm not part of your life anymore Ran. Both Conan and Shinichi are gone...
Another part of his life was just beginning. There was so many things for him to do... So many things Shinichi and Conan had to do... He might never be Shinichi again, but there was always Conan. Somehow, he knew Ran would be fine without him. Somewhere out there, there's someone else that would love her and take care of her.
A small smile graced his lips as he felt a burden lift off his shoulder. His Ran would not be harmed by the Black Organization anymore.
Author's Notes: Hope you guys enjoyed that short one-shot/prologue. This fic will be updated probably weekly until completion. I haven't thought about it yet. Or maybe biweekly. We'll have to see.
-Crystal Snowflakes
Friday, February 11, 2005
